The Latest: COVID-19 Growth in Kenosha County Slows

June 17, 2020 8:40p

(WGTD)---The rate of COVID-19 growth in Kenosha County is slowing, but the virus is still spreading, according to Kenosha County Health Dept. Dir. Jen Freiheit. 

In her weekly community briefing Wednesday evening, Freiheit said the number of new cases in the county is averaging between 13 and 15 a day. Just 10 coronavirus patients are hospitalized in Kenosha County, including three that are on ventilators. 

While not everyone is taking the pandemic as seriously as they should, Freiheit had praise for the county's business community. 

As the crisis continues, the health department is tweaking its strategies. "It's too late to box in the virus at this point, so we must change with the climate and the culture of the pandemic and focus our efforts on protection, and the most vulnerable among us--those at the highest risk," Freiheit said. "Public health is well aware of what will exist if we don't do a good job in these next few months." 

Changes include developing closer contacts with employers, strengthening social service agencies, improving data tracking, increasing preparedness planning and continuing the department's testing and containment strategy, according to Freiheit. 

Freiheit urged residents to continue to wear masks in public, saying they do help prevent the spread of the virus. "It's not a farce--it's not fake," she said. Physical distancing, frequent hand-washing and staying home when sick and calling a doctor remain valid personal strategies. 

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