By Shereen Siewert

Marathon County Health officials have confirmed Marathon County’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 in a news release sent early Friday.

The person who tested positive has a history of recent travel within the U.S., the release states. The age of the victim was not specified, nor were the number of pending tests for Marathon County.

The person who tested positive is currently isolated at home. County health officials are working to determine how the person may have become infected and will be contacting individuals in the next few days who have come in close contact with the patient.

Anyone who has had contact with the individual and is symptomatic will be isolated. People who have been in contact with the patient and don’t have symptoms will be self-quarantined at home and monitoring themselves for symptoms. Marathon County Health Department will be checking daily with individuals who are isolated or self-quarantined to their home.

County officials continue to urge state residents to take precautions to avoid illness.

This is an evolving situation and we encourage people to monitor the WI Department of Health Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites for the latest information and guidance on COVID-19. Information from Marathon County Health Department is at https://www.co.marathon.wi.us/covid19

If you develop a cough, fever, or shortness of breath or other respiratory symptoms, stay home and contact your healthcare provider for instructions before going to a clinic. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you think you may have COVID-19, you should call the clinic or hospital before going. Please do not call 9-1-1; this should be reserved for those needing critical emergency attention.

Our defense to control the spread of COVID 19 and flu is to:

Stay home when sick, contact your health care provider as needed

Follow the Governors Executive orders limiting gatherings of people to 10 or less.

Limit your travel

Avoid close contact with anyone with flu like symptoms

Use good hygiene and infection control precautions

Good hygiene practices are:

Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds

Use hand sanitizer- especially when washing is not an option

Do not touch your face (eyes, nose, mouth)

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it in the trash

So not share person items like water bottles or utensils

Clean and disinfect frequently touch items (door handles, table tops, keyboards)

“Marathon County Health Department has the experience in caring for individuals in isolation and doing necessary follow-up with individuals,” said Joan Theurer, Health Officer Marathon County Health Department. “We will continue working with the State Department of Health Services and our local health care providers and other partners, to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community. We will release information through the media when it becomes available.”

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