These treatments require a prescription from a clinician with prescribing authority. Lagevrio can be prescribed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or a physician’s assistant. Paxlovid can be prescribed by each of those clinicians as well as by pharmacists. You can seek treatment through your primary care provider, at Test to Treat sites, or by using the free DHS COVID-19 treatment telehealth service. No insurance is needed, and no cost will be incurred if you use this telehealth service. For more information on COVID-19 treatments, visit COVID-19: Treatments and Medications | Wisconsin Department of Health Services. 

COVID-19 Information Line Sunsetting 

Since early in the pandemic, the COVID Information Line (866-419-6988 and WICovidResult@wisconsin.gov) has been serving Wisconsin communities by providing COVID-19 education, guidance, test results, and support. Effective March 23, 2023, at 4:30pm, the COVID Information Line will no longer be available. After this date, Wisconsin residents seeking testing information or test results are encouraged to reach out to their testing or health care provider. 

CDC Releases COVID-19 Plan Document  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a Personal Plan worksheet for people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether you are at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. 

People can Build their own personal plan by downloading COVID-19 Plan – available in English and Spanish. Edit and save your plan, and share it with your family, friends, and healthcare provider. 

Protect Yourself and Others From COVID-19 

The CDC recommends the following when traveling internationally to and from the United States: 

• Protect yourself and others from COVID-19: 
  • Get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel. 
  • Consider getting tested before travel. 
  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for wearing masks in travel and public transportation settings. 
  • Get tested after arrival. 
• Countries may have their own entry and exit requirements. 
• Non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants: You must show proof of being fully vaccinated with the primary series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine before you board your flight to the United States. Only limited exceptions apply. 

For more information, visit the CDC webpage for international travel or the CDC webpage for domestic travel. 

ICYMI: Wisconsinites can Order Two Free COVID-19 Test Kits 

Wisconsin households can now get two free at-home COVID-19 self-test kits through the Say Yes! COVID Test website while supplies last. Each test kit includes five rapid antigen tests, for a total of 10 self-tests. Self-testing allows for quick results to help people make decisions about their health to prevent spreading the virus to others and protect the health of their community.  

Since the start of the program in September 2022, more than 2 million tests have been distributed, with orders being delivered to every Wisconsin county.   

ICYMI: FDA Has Extended the Expiration Dates of iHealth At-Home COVID-19 Tests 

DHS has been offering free at-home iHealth COVID-19 tests to all Wisconsin households through the Say Yes! COVID Test program since September 2022. On January 11, 2023, the FDA extended the expiration dates on iHealth brand COVID-19 at-home tests from 12 months to 15 months (a 3-month extension). If your tests appear to be past their expiration date, you can use the lot number on the test package to look up the current expiration date on the FDA list.  

If you have other brands of test kits at home, we urge you to check the FDA’s website as the expiration dates on many at-home antigen tests have also been extended. An expiration date extension means the test maker has provided evidence to the government that the tests give accurate results longer than was known when they were manufactured. 

Wisconsin’s seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases has continued to decrease to around 440 new cases a day. Taking steps to control the spread of COVID-19 is important for you and your family. Many people, particularly older adults, and people with underlying health conditions, remain at risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Help to ensure that hospitals have the capacity to provide the full range of health care to the communities we live in by following CDC and DHS guidance.     

As of March 17, 2023, CDC data indicate no Wisconsin counties are in the “high” COVID-19 Community Level category. Two Wisconsin counties are experiencing a medium COVID-19 Community Level, and 70 are experiencing a low COVID-19 Community Level. Residents in counties with a high COVID-19 Community Level are recommended to wear a well-fitting mask or respirator in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status.   

Click here for more county level data.   

In addition, DHS urges all Wisconsinites to take the following actions to help keep COVID-19 levels low in our communities:    

• Know the COVID-19 Community Level where you live or are traveling to and follow the associated guidelines.   
• Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines by getting all recommended vaccines and booster doses.  
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or were exposed to someone with COVID-19. Self-tests can be purchased at local pharmacy or retail stores. In addition to at-home self-tests, community testing sites remain accessible across Wisconsin. Find a site near you by dialing 211 or visiting the DHS Community Testing information page.   
• Stay home if you are sick or test positive for COVID-19 and talk to a health care provider or visit a community clinic to ask about available treatments. For free, confidential assistance finding a doctor or community clinic near you, dial 211.