• Please be aware:r

    COVID-19 guidance was recently changed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to update our current procedures.
  • Case Intake Form

    This intake form should only be completed by residents of Buffalo County who have tested positive for COVID-19. We try to reach all cases by phone, but due to high case volume, may not be able to reach you as quickly as we would like. We are asking ALL recent cases to complete this form in order to help us speed up our collection of information and sharing important guidance. Sharing this information will help us to ensure quick protection of you, your family, friends, and our community. Your information will be kept confidential and nobody but the health department will have access to your responses. Thank you for your help.
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  • Symptom Onset/Preexisting Conditions

  • You marked a potentially concerning symptom - Do you need medical care?

    Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, mental confusion, inability to wake, or a grey/blue coloring to the skin, lips or nails can be indicative of more severe illness. If you are experiencing these symptoms currently, we strongly encourage you to reach out to a medical provider.

    If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911.

    If you doctor at Mayo, you can call the Mayo nurse line at: 608-785-0940

    If you doctor at Gundersen, you can call the Gundersen nurse line 24/7 at: 608-775-4454.

    If you doctor at AdvendHealth, you can call the AdventHealth main line at: 715-672-4211.

    If you do not currently have a healthcare system but need medical care, you can go to the ER/urgent care at any healthcare system. Wear a mask and let them know by phone or when you arrive that you have COVID-19 and need medical attention.

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  • Source of Infection

  • Occupation and School

  • Public Outings

  • Close Contacts

  • Isolation Guidance for You (The Case)

    How Does COVID-19 Spread: COVID-19 is spread from one person to another through body fluids like saliva that come out of your mouth and nose when breathing, talking, singing, coughing or sneezing. It is very easy to spread, which makes it very important that you stay away from other people while you get better.

    This is why you must stay in isolation. Isolation means that you do not leave you house, unless you need medical care. If you live with other people, you should stay away from them as much as possible. Have food dropped of at your door if possible. If you need to go into parts of your home that are shared spaces, wear a mask at all times. If you use a common space such as a bathroom or kitchen, you should wipe down all surfaces with a cleaning product after you use it. You must stay in isolation even if you feel better.

    Do not end your isolation until you are told it is safe to do so.

    When to End Isolation: Consistent with CDC and WI DHS guidance (updated 12/27/2021), when you can end isolation depends on if you are able and willing to wear a mask.

    If you are able and willing to wear a mask in public, you may end isolation when:

    • It has been at least 5 days since your symptoms began (or your test was conducted if you have not had symptoms), AND
    • You have had no fever for 24 hours without using medication that would reduce the fever, such as tylenol or advil, AND
    • Any other symptoms have been improved for 24 hours  without using medication that would improve them.
    • If you opt for this option, you must wear a well-fitting mask that covers both your nose and mouth whenever you around others from day 6 to day 10.

    If you are not able or willing to wear a mask in public, you may end isolation when:

    • It has been at least 10 days since your symptoms began (or your test was conducted if you have not had symptoms), AND
    • You have had no fever for 24 hours without using medication that would reduce the fever, such as tylenol or advil, AND
    • Any other symptoms have been improved for 24 hours without using medication that would improve them.

    Please use the following link to help calculate your last day of isolation: https://doh.sd.gov/covid/calculator/

    When to Get Medical Help: If you experience a worsening of symptoms and/or find it difficult to breathe, you should seek medical care. It is important that you call ahead to indicate that you are positive for COVID-19; they will have you go to a special entrance. If you need to call 911, be sure to indicate that you need medical care but that you are positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation at your home. They will send a special ambulance that will safely transport you to the hospital.

    The Buffalo County Health Department wishes you a speedy recovery. Thank you for doing your part to keep our community safe.

     

    Quarantine Guidance for Close Contacts & Household Members

    What Your Household Members/Close Contacts Should Do: Someone is considered "contagious" starting 2 days before their symptoms started or 2 days before their test was done if they hadn't yet developed symptoms. Anyone who has had direct contact with you for any length of time (a hug, kiss, high five, etc.), or who was within 6 feet of you for 15 minutes or more, while you were contagious is considered "exposed."

    Whether or not someone must quarantine, and the the length of a person's quarantine, depends on their vaccination status and whether or not they have symptoms.

    A fully vaccinated person who has had a booster shot, or who does not yet need a booster shot (was vaccinated < 6 months ago with Moderna, < 5 months ago with Pfizer, or < 2 months ago with J&J):

    • Does not have to quarantine
    • Should monitor themself for symptoms for 10 days following their most recent exposure
    • Should get tested on day 5
    • Should isolate and get tested if they develop symptoms

    A person who is NOT fully vaccinated, or is eligible for a booster shot but has NOT had one (was fully vaccinated > 6 months ago with Moderna, > 5 months ago with Pfizer, or > 2 months ago with J&J, and hasn't had a booster):

    • Should quarantine for 5 days following the last exposure
    • Should wear a well-fitting mask over the nose and mouth for days 6 - 10 following exposure
    • Should get tested on day 5, even if they don't have symptoms
    • Should also get tested at any time if symptoms develop, and should isolate at home away from others

    Please use the following link to help your close contacts calculate their last day of quarantine: https://doh.sd.gov/covid/calculator/

     

    Thank you for notifying your close contacts of their exposure. If they have any questions or concerns, please direct them to call the Buffalo County Health and Human Service's main line at 608-685-4412 or email covid19@co.buffalo.wi.us.

  • The Buffalo County Health Department tries to reach all high-risk close contacts. "High risk" includes household members, significant others, and individuals with prolonged exposures who are at high risk of severe disease. We are not able to call all close contacts during times with high case numbers. For this reason, please notify your own close contacts. Information about how to do so - including a resource that will allow you to notify them anonymously - can be found here: 

    Next Steps: I tested positive for COVID-19. What can I do to help notify my close contacts of their exposure?

    Next Steps: Close Contacts of Someone with COVID-19

  • Isolation Reminder

  • This form is only for people who test positive for COVID-19 and are living in Buffalo County. If you have questions about an exposure, being tested, or have a question about something else, please call the health department's main line at (608) 685-4412 or email covid19@co.buffalo.wi.us.

  • You have reached the end of the form. Thank you for taking the time to complete it. Please select "submit".

    If you have any questions or concerns, please call the health department's main line at (608) 685-4412 or email covid19@co.buffalo.wi.us. To learn more about current quarantine and isolation guidance, please visit this webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html

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