Weekly Update: February 1, 2022
ICYMI: Recent COVID-19 News Releases
Celebrate Black History Month
 Tuesday marks the beginning of Black History Month—a time to recognize the legacy of Black individuals and communities in our history and society – from activists and civil rights pioneers such as Martin Luther King Jr, Frederick Douglass, and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture, and more. Find ways to celebrate, learn, and honor: https://blackhistorymonth.gov/
And while we spend this time to celebrate, we also acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black communities across Wisconsin.
To see the data, visit the COVID-19: Racial and Ethnic Disparities page. And to learn more about how DHS is working to center equity in our work to reduce health disparities, visit the DHS Office of Health Equity home page.
Testing Integrity: Tips for Finding Trusted COVID-19 Testing Sites
The current surge in COVID-19 cases has led to an increased demand for testing services across Wisconsin. The Department of Health Services (DHS) and Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) are informing Wisconsinites how to find trusted COVID-19 testing sites, and how to share concerns related to testing sites.
Wisconsinites can direct complaints about a COVID-19 testing experience to the DHS Office of Inspector General by calling 877-865-3432 or reporting online. Examples of complaints include incorrect results, missing results, fake results, testing quality, testing site cleanliness, insurance billing, inappropriate fees for tests, testing fraud such as fake test kits, and other related topics.
To ensure Wisconsinites are receiving COVID-19 testing from a trusted testing provider, DHS encourages people to use trusted testing options, including sites listed on the DHS COVID-19: Community Testing Sites webpage, health care providers, and local and tribal health departments.
If you need to get tested for COVID-19, DHS recommends the following:
- Find a free community testing site to see if an appointment or registration is needed.
- Check to see if your local pharmacy is offering free community testing.
- Check to see if your workplace offers testing.
- Contact your doctor and ask if your health care clinic provides testing.
- See if your child attends a school that participates in the DHS K-12 School Testing Program. Students, faculty, staff, and in some cases family members at participating schools may be tested at the school for free.
- See if your child attends a child care program that has access to DHS testing.
- Request a free at-home collection kit from DHS.
- Request a free test from the federal government at COVIDTests.gov.
Update on New Tools to Prevent and Fight COVID-19
 Wisconsin continues to receive allocations of oral antivirals as well as sotrovimab monoclonal antibody to treat patients diagnosed with mild to moderate COVID-19. Wisconsin also receives allocations of Evusheld, a monoclonal antibody treatment used for prevention of COVID-19 in people unlikely to produce an immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. These treatments can help patients at heightened danger of developing severe illness from COVID-19.
The use of two other monoclonal antibody treatments, REGEN-COV and bamlamivimab plus etesevimab have been halted by the FDA due to their limited effectiveness on the Omicron variant.
Supplies of these treatments and oral antivirals are currently very limited.
To learn more, talk to your health care provider or visit the DHS COVID-19: Treatments and Medications page.
COVID-19 treatments and medications should not be used as replacements for prevention measures such as wearing a mask and vaccination. For the best protection against COVID-19 and circulating variants, get vaccinated and get your booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Mask Wearing: Dos and Don'ts
 Correct and consistent mask use is a critical step everyone can take to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19. All masks provide some level of protection against the virus that causes COVID-19, but some masks offer higher levels of protection than others. When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits, how well it filters air, and how many layers it has. It is recommended that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you can wear comfortably for long periods of time.
To learn more about wearing masks to help stop the spread of COVID-19, visit the COVID-19: Wear a Mask page.
COVID-19 Vaccination
To find a COVID-19 vaccine location in Wisconsin, visit Vaccines.gov or call 211 or 877-947-2211. As we continue to see high case activity throughout the state, it’s also important that we all add layers of protection, like getting vaccinated, getting your booster dose, wearing masks, and staying home when feeling sick.
Everyone ages 12 and older is recommended to get a booster dose for the best protection against COVID-19 and circulating variants. Booster doses are strongly recommended for people who are at the greatest risk for severe disease, such as people who live in long-term care settings and everyone 50 years and older.
If you are eligible, you can get your COVID-19 booster dose:
- At least 5 months after you got your last dose of your Pfizer or Moderna primary vaccine series.
- At least 2 months after you got your Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
We appreciate all you are doing to protect yourselves and your community.
|
