COVID-19 Situation Update 12/16/21

Winnebago County Public Health Department

COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATE

December 16, 2021, 5:30 p.m.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT COVID-19 HOTLINE: 920-232-3026 (M-F 8:15am-4:15pm)

Winnebago County COVID-19 Vaccination Data (As of 8am, 12/16/21)

57.8%

of Winnebago County residents have completed the COVID-19 vaccine series

(98,479 of 170,411 people)

59.9%

of Winnebago County residents have received at least one dose

(102,131 of 170,411 people)

Total number of doses administered to Winnebago County residents: 232,789

For additional demographic information, please see our weekly data reports.

Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccination Data (As of 8am, 12/16/21)

57.6%

of Wisconsin residents have completed the COVID-19 vaccine series

(3,360,023 people)

61.3%

of Wisconsin residents have received

at least one dose

(3,573,257 people)

Total number of doses administered to Wisconsin residents: 8,274,678

For additional demographic information, please see the DHS website.

COVID-19 Case Data

Winnebago County* (As of 8am, 12/16/21)

New Confirmed Cases (7-day average): 93

New Probable Cases** (7-day average): 15

Case Activity Level: Critically High

Total deaths among confirmed cases‡: 221

(+4 from 12/9/21)

Total deaths among probable cases: 31

(+0 from 12/9/21)

Please see our weekly data reports and Data Dashboard for additional case data.

Wisconsin (As of 8am, 12/16/21)

New Confirmed Cases (7-day average): 3,804

New Probable Cases (7-day average): 754

Percent Positive by Test (7-day average): 11.7%

Total deaths among confirmed cases: 9,547

Total deaths among probable cases: 1,063

New Deaths Reported (7-day Average): 27

Additional State Data

National Cases (CDC)

Global Map of Cases (Johns Hopkins)

*Does not include the portions of the City of Menasha or City of Appleton that fall within Winnebago County but have their own health department.

** Reasons a person could be counted as a probable case include: a positive antigen test, positive antibody test, or diagnosis due to symptoms and known exposure to COVID-19.

‡ Deaths reported in our Situation Updates and on our dashboard do not reflect the date of death. All confirmed deaths are verified through a review process that may take several weeks to validate. Please see our weekly data summaries to view deaths by week of occurrence.

Vaccine Clinics:

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(Spanish)

For a complete list of vaccine locations in Winnebago County, visit:

www.wcvaccine.org

Winnebago County Weekly Data Summaries: Updated 12/16/21

Click on the buttons below to view the full data summaries.

Situational Awareness:
Winnebago County is at a critically high burden status and activity level which is the highest we have seen since November 2020.
There are currently 146 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Fox Valley Area hospitals. Local health systems are at a crisis point and are severely strained due to the current spike in cases. Wisconsin COVID-19 hospitalizations are at the highest levels since December 2020.
63.3% of Winnebago County residents aged 5 or older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.
December 14 marked the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine administered. In that time, the Winnebago County Health Department has administered over 30,000 doses of the vaccine.
Omicron is a new variant of the virus that causes COVID-19. The Omicron variant has been detected in a growing number of states, including Wisconsin. The Omicron variant is yet another reason to get vaccinated and get a booster if you are eligible. Find a vaccination location at www.wcvaccine.org.
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and the community, especially as we have moved into more indoor activities and holiday gatherings. If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. COVID-19 vaccines have been proven to reduce the risk of getting the virus and also protect the people around you, particularly those at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Unvaccinated people account for the vast majority of severe cases, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. The risk of having a serious adverse reaction to the vaccine is very low — far lower than the risk of contracting COVID-19. Vaccines are free and do not require an ID or insurance at many locations.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services recommends COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for everyone 16 and older. Pfizer and Moderna boosters are recommended 6 months after completion of the initial vaccine series, and Johnson & Johnson booster doses are recommended after two months. The FDA and CDC have also approved mixing and matching of vaccines, so individuals may choose a different vaccine type than they originally received if preferred. Additional doses continue to be recommended for moderately to severely immunocompromised people 12 and older at least 28 days after the last dose of their primary series.
To help keep schools open, have your child wear a mask, stay home when ill, and get tested if they have symptoms or were exposed to COVID-19. If your child is ill or has been exposed to COVID-19, keep all other children in your household home too. We currently have the highest rates of cases in children since the start of the pandemic. Act now, find a vaccine clinic at www.wcvaccine.org.
COVID-19 testing remains an important tool in reducing spread of the virus to others. Whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated, protect others by getting a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms, were exposed to the virus, or feel you need a test. Even if you have no symptoms or mild symptoms, you can infect others.
If you were exposed to COVID-19, it's best to wait 5-7 days from exposure to get tested. If you test too early, the viral load may not be enough to show up on a test. If exposure is ongoing, additional testing is recommended. Anyone with symptoms should get tested immediately.
Sunnyview Expo Center PCR test results currently take approximately 2-3 days. Visit our website for a list of testing locations in Winnebago County.
Only the highest risk close contacts are being contacted directly by public health – we are asking people that test positive for COVID-19 to reach out to all close contacts themselves.
Vaccines are available for anyone five and older any day of the week. Visit www.wcvaccine.org to find answers to your vaccine questions and find a vaccination site near you.

What's New

Winnebago County Health Department - Holiday Hours: The Winnebago County Health Department will be closed for the holidays on the following days. Contact tracing, data dashboard updates, and outreach to positive COVID-19 cases will not occur on these days:
Friday, December 24
Monday, December 27
Friday, December, 31
Monday, January 3

Sunnyview Expo Center - COVID-19 Testing Holiday Hours: Testing will be closed on Thursday, December 23, Friday, December 24, & Friday, December 31. If you are in need of a COVID-19 test, visit the Winnebago County Health Department COVID-19 Testing page or the DHS COVID-19 Testing page.

Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season: While we look forward to embracing the sprit of the season, be sure to take steps to protect your health and the health of those around you by celebrating safely. If you plan to gather for the holidays, follow these recommendations to help minimize your risk for getting or spreading COVID-19:
Everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated should get any of the COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible.
Everyone 16 years and older is recommended to receive a booster dose for the best protection against COVID-19.
Consider using self-test before gathering indoors with others, even if you don't have symptoms, have not been exposed to COVID-19, or are fully vaccinated. Using a self-test before gathering can give you information about your risk of spreading COVID-19 to others, including unvaccinated children, older adults, those who are immunocompromised, and people at risk of severe disease.
Wear a well-fitted mask over your nose and mouth if you are in a public indoor setting and you are not fully vaccinated. Even if you are fully vaccinated, you should wear a mask indoors if you are in an area of with substantial to high COVID-19 transmission.
Avoid crowding indoor spaces by providing extra space between chairs at the table and setting up different areas in your home for activities to allow for physical distancing.
Learn more about how to celebrate safely this holiday season.

A Ticket for COVID-19 Safety: No matter how you're spending the holidays, the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and get a booster if eligible. If you are planning to travel this holiday season, here are a few important ways to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
Do not travel if you are sick, waiting for a COVID-19 test result, or have been exposed to COVID-19, or have tested positive for COVID-19.
Track COVID-19 rates in your origin and destination locations, and take extra precautions - like avoiding crowds and wearing a mask in areas of high or substantial transmission.
Learn more about COVID-19 travel requirements and recommendations.

Celebrating One Year of COVID-19 Vaccinations: Tuesday, December 14, marked the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine administered in the state. Over the past year, nearly 3,000 providers registered as vaccinators and administered more than 8.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Over 67% of Wisconsin adults 18 years of age and older have been fully vaccinated, including 82% of Wisconsinites 65 years of age and older, and more than 86,000 children ages 5-11 years have received their first dose in just six weeks after becoming eligible. Read the full DHS News Release. The Winnebago County Health Department and DHS celebrate our dedicated vaccinators, health care workers, and millions who have rolled up their sleeves to stop the spread of COVID-19. Find where the vaccine is available near you at www.wcvaccine.org.

Talk To Your Loved Ones About COVID-19 Vaccines: You are one of the most influential sources of COVID-19 vaccine information for your friends and family. By communicating with patience and empathy, you can help people close to you feel confident about COVID-19 vaccines. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has tips and examples to help you have an effective conversation with loved ones. To learn more, visit the COVID-19: Vaccine Conversations page.

While vaccination remains the most effective tool we have to prevent COVID-19, everyone should continue to practice good public health behaviors. This means wearing a mask indoors, avoiding large gatherings, staying home when feeling sick, and getting tested if you have symptoms or after close contact. For more information on good public health behaviors, visit the DHS COVID-19 website.

CONTACT 211 FOR NON-MEDICAL QUESTIONS: TEXT COVID19 TO 211-211 / CALL 211

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How to Protect Yourself and Others From COVID-19

Get a COVID-19 vaccine, or booster, if you are eligible.
Wear a mask and stay at least 6 feet from others who don’t live with you.
Clean your hands often, either with soap and water for 20 seconds or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Learn the facts about the virus and the vaccine.