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COVID-19 Community Updates
Governor Evers Issues Statewide Mandatory Mask Ordinance
Reference Materials for Restaurant & Tavern Owners
The following information may be helpful for restaurant and tavern owners to navigate the mask ordinance and expand outside eating areas:
WI Restaurant Association Reopening Resources
Resolution Delegating Food-Alcohol Regulatory Authority to City Staff
Original Alcohol Beverage Retail License Application - Contact the City Clerk for more information
Application for Outdoor Private Property Cafe Permit - Contact Neighborhood Services for more information
Application for Sidewalk Cafe Permit - Contact Neighborhood Services for more information
Message from the City Manager
To the Local Business Community- July 10, 2020
Whitewater Ordinance for Face Masks
Whitewater Face Mask Ordinance July 24, 2020
Whitewater COVID-19 Information Line
262-473-1398
Important Links
- CDC Coronavirus - COVID-19
- Wisconsin Department of Health COVID-19
- State of Wisconsin COVID-19 Information
- COVID-19 Rental Assistance Government Grants
- Walworth County COVID-19 Information
- SBA - COVID-19 Relief Options & Additional Information
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Emergency Loans: Small Business Guide
- U.S. Small Business Administration Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
- Food Assistance
- Rental Assistance
- Additional Resources from the Small Business Administration Updated June 10, 2020
- THRIVE Economic Development COVID- 19 Business Resources
- WCEDA - COVID-19 Business Resources
- League of Wisconsin Municipalities COVID-19 - Coronavirus Resources
- Potential suppliers for PPE, signage, and other items from the WEDC
- "Routes to Recovery: Local Government Aid Grants" program Department of Administration Website
- "Routes to Recovery: Local Government Aid Grants" program PDF Information Guide
- Jefferson County Health Department
Links from June 4, 2020 Town Hall Meeting
COVID-19 Data & Statistics
COVID-19 statistics for Walworth, Jefferson, and Rock Counties are updated daily. Visit the following web pages to view the data for yourself:
| Walworth County | Jefferson County | Rock County | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positive Tests (Confirmed) Cases | 2,618 | 1,486 | 2,601 |
| Negative Tests | 23,860 | 19,447 | 36,248 |
| Cases Recovered | 2,516 | 928 | 1,947 |
| Deaths | 35 | 8 | 32 |
Currently Hospitalized and Isolating at Home data have been removed from the table above. This is due to changes in how the data is collected on the county Public Health department's websites.
Sources:
Wisconsin DHS County-Level Data – Number of positive cases and deaths by county (https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/county.htm)
Wisconsin Summary Data (https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data.htm)
County-Level Data (https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/county.htm)
Mapped Cases by County (https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/cases-map.htm)
Walworth County Division of Public Health – COVID-19 page (https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/856/COVID-19)
Walworth County COVID Response Hub (https://coronavirus-response-walworth-county-1-walco.hub.arcgis.com/)
Jefferson County – COVID-19 Dashboard (https://sites.google.com/view/jeffersoncountywicovid-19/home)
Rock County COVID-19 Data (https://infogram.com/1pv009gnlnrrprixvvk7j1x9wnfr7v1nkn1?live)
September 28, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
Key Walworth County Updates
- Community Testing:
- Walworth County is hosting a community COVID-19 testing site on Sept. 29th & 30th 10am-6pm at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. Testing information
FAQs:
Should employers notify other employees if they learn about a COVID-19 case in the workplace?
If an employer learns that a worker is confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, the employer should inform fellow workers who were in close contact with the individual that they were possibly exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace. Employers must maintain the confidentiality of the infected individual, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, employers must report the case to their local or tribal health department (LTHD) and follow guidance from the LTHD.
“Close contact” is defined as:
- Anyone who was within six feet of a person who tested positive for at least 15 minutes in a 24-hour period, starting from
- Two days before the individual developed symptoms.
- Two days before their positive test, if the individual did not have symptoms.
- Or someone who
- Had direct physical contact with the person who tested positive, including but not limited to a hug or a handshake.
- Came into contact with the person’s respiratory secretions, including but not limited to exposure to cough or sneeze droplets; contact with a used tissue; or sharing a drinking glass, towel, or other personal item.
September 24, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
Key Walworth County Updates
Walworth County COVID-19 Snap Shot
FAQs:
How can you avoid exposure when living with someone diagnosed with COVID-19?
If someone in your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19, there are precautions you can take to avoid exposure so you and others can stay healthy.
- Limit Contact - avoid physical contact with the diagnosed person or their respiratory droplets and avoid sharing personal items
- Wear Mask and Gloves - if physical distancing is not possible, it is important to wear a mask when around the diagnosed person. Gloves are recommended when cleaning and disinfecting areas and objects used by an infected person.
- Clean and Disinfect - clean hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer, clean and disinfect "high touch" areas, and clean and disinfect any areas the diagnosed person came into contact with
- Track Your Own Health - household members should stay home and quarantine and check for symptoms including cough, fever, and shortness of breath
These precautions are detailed in the DHS How to Avoid Exposure When Living with Someone Diagnosed with COVID-19 factsheet, which is available in English, Hmong, and Spanish
September 17, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
Key Walworth County Updates
- This week’s Walworth County Data Snapshot.
- New Call Center Expands Support for People in Emotional Distress
FAQs:
How do I address false claims that may be circulating in my community about COVID-19 prevalence, face coverings and other aspects of this pandemic and still keep the focus on the message that I want people to hear?
Occasionally, public health may not be able to avoid addressing false claims. In these situations, consider the approach of George Lakoff and journalists who are using a technique called the “truth sandwich.”
Lakoff’s truth sandwich recipe is:
- Start with the truth. The first frame gets the advantage.
- Indicate the lie. Avoid amplifying the specific language if possible.
- Return to the truth. Always repeat truths more than lies.
For an example of the "truth sandwich," and other communication reframing techniques applied specifically to the issue of face coverings, check out Tips for Communicating about Masks in the Midst of Misinformation from Berkeley Media Studies Group.
September 14, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
Key Walworth County Updates
- UW-Whitewater has created a COVID-19 Dashboard that provides data on numbers of student cases, available isolation dorms, etc. https://www.uww.edu/warhawks-return/dashboard
- What you need to know when analyzing daily COVID-19 data. Dr. Ashok Rai urges people to look for trends in the numbers instead of reading into them on a daily basis
- New and Updated from CDC:
- Cleaning and Disinfection for Community Facilities
- Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Caring for Newborns
- What to Do if Your Pet Tests Positive for the Virus that Causes COVID-19
September 3, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
Key Walworth County Updates
- This link contains this week’s Walworth County COVID-19 Data Snapshot.
- The recording of Monday’s Virtual Town Hall: Employer Best Practices During COVID-19 is up on the Walworth County Public Health website: https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/885/Virtual-Town-Halls
- New and Updated from CDC:
- Limiting Workplace Violence Associated with COVID-19 Prevention Policies in Retail and Services Businesses
- How to Make 0.1% Chlorine Solution to Disinfect Surfaces in Healthcare Settings
- Operational Considerations for Schools
- A new report from DHS provides guidance to Address increased suicide deaths in Wisconsin https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/releases/090220a.htm
August 31, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
Key Walworth County Updates:
- The CDC has released a number of updates New and Updated from CDC:
- Updated Testing Guidance - Overview of Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
- Kentucky has used using multiple data points develop a novel way of assigning a daily COVID score to the state. MMWR: Primary Indicators to Systematically Monitor COVID-19 Mitigation and Response--Kentucky, May 19-July 15, 2020
- CDC has published a toolkit for People 15 to 21
- Operational Considerations for Schools
- Walworth County Public Health has developed and published a guide for parents with students returning to school this fall:
- English: https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/DocumentCenter/View/4061/Walworth-County-Fall-2020-Guide-For-Parents?bidId=
- Spanish: https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/DocumentCenter/View/4060/Condado-de-Walworth---Gu%c3%ada-Para-Padres-Oto%c3%b1o-2020?bidId=
- Walworth County Immunization clinics have reopened and are by appointment only.
Monday - Friday
8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Call to schedule an appointment - 262-741-3200
August 27, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
Key Walworth County Updates:
- Walworth County Public Health, Advocate Aurora Health, & Mercyhealth are hosting Employer Best Practices During COVID-19: Virtual Town Hall with Walworth County Public Health & Healthcare on Monday, August 31st at 9:00 am.
- CDC has released a number of updates for schools returning to face-to-face instruction Strategies for Protecting K-12 School Staff from COVID-19
August 24, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
Key Walworth County Updates:
- Public Health is partnering with Mercyhealth and Advocate Aurora for the "Employer Best Practices during COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall". This event is a partnership between Walworth County Public Health and our community healthcare partners. The event is scheduled for MONDAY, AUGUST 31ST AT 9:00AM. Registration is required for this event. Please visit https://bit.ly/2Qk37DJ to learn more and register.
- New and Updated Resources from the Wisconsin Farmworkers Coalition and Family Health La Clinica
o Wisconsin Farmers Coalition Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers (MSAW) COVID-19 Resource Page
o Dairy Workers COVID-19 Resource Page
FAQs
Do people who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 need to quarantine or get tested if they come into close contact with someone who is infected with COVID-19?
People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again if they are a close contact of another person that tests positive for up to 3 months after initially testing positive, as long as they do not develop symptoms again. If they develop symptoms, they should isolate and contact a health care provider to discuss whether they should be retested.
August 20, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
Key Walworth County Updates:
*The Department of Health Services has released the COVID-19 Individual Decision tool to help people make safe decisions about how and where to gather. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/releases/081920a.htm
*The Department of Health Services also released its long-awaited Guidelines for the Prevention, Investigation, and Control of COVID-19 Outbreaks in K-12 Schools in Wisconsin. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p02757.pdf This document is helpful, although offers much of the same information local health offices have been providing to school districts throughout the summer. It does not provide specific guidelines about when schools should offer face-to-face, hybrid, or distance learning. These decisions remain in the hands of individual school districts and local health offices.
August 17, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
Key Walworth County Updates:
- 715 people took advantage of COVID testing during the two-day public testing event in Delavan
- The CDC released a number of updates included below:
- Updated Isolation Guidance Does Not Imply Immunity to COVID-19 details new guidelines indicating that it is not necessary to re-test confirmed cases within 3 months of infection
- Information for Pediatric Healthcare Providers reflects new evidence about COVID-19 in children
- Contact Tracing Resources Added
- Disparities in Incidence of COVID-19 Among Underrepresented Racial/Ethnic Groups highlights the increased risk for infection, severe illness, and death from COVID-19 among communities of color.
FAQs:
Are there supports or tools I can offer to community members, school personnel, and families to help with children's emotional health during these stressful times?
The Feelings Thermometer, provided through the Office of Children's Mental Health (OCMH), is available for download or order a free magnetized version for easy posting. It is a visual tool to post on the refrigerator that helps everyone — from kids to adults— measure how they are doing emotionally with tips on how to shift your mood from angry to calm. Research tells us that just identifying a calming activity can reduce anxiety.
OCMH has also recently released the Supporting Child Well-Being Through Improving School Outcomes fact sheet which focuses on what parents, early childhood education providers, teachers and districts, and policymakers can do to support students at risk for expulsion.
The Resilient Wisconsin website also offers practical tools and sources of support that can help strengthen personal resilience during times of stress, so parents and caregivers can take care of themselves and those people around them during COVID-19 and beyond.
August 13, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
August 6,
2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
August 3,
2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
July 30,
2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
July 27, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
July 23, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
July 20, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater
July 16, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater
July 13, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
July 9, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
July 6, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
July 2, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
June 29, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
June 25, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
June 17, 2020
Focus Forward Podcast Ep 3: President Ray Cross and the UW System - Ray Cross, president of the University of Wisconsin system, discusses students’ desire to thrive despite COVID-19 university closures. WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes speaks with Cross about Wisconsin’s future and the investments we can make as we return from the pandemic. |
June 16, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
June 15, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
June 11, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
June 10, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
June 9, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
June 5, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
June 4, 2020- Virtual Town Hall Meeting Notice
June 3, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
May 29, 2020- City of Whitewater Reopening Local Government Plan
May 26, 2020 Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
May 22, 2020 Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
May 15, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
Municipal Facility Closures
Though the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the Governor’s Safer At Home order (Order #28), many of the practices outlined in the Governor’s order were of significant value in protecting the health and safety of employees. Because the dangers associated with the spread of COVID-19 remain, the City of Whitewater will continue with modified operations until further notice. As a result, municipal facilities will remain closed to the public until further notice. This standard will be reevaluated on or before June 1, 2020. Any updates or changes will be provided publicly via this page as well as the City’s other media outlets.
May 14, 2020- Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
View the May 14, 2020 press release from City Manager, Cameron Clapper in reference to the changes made to the Safer at Home Emergency Order #28.
May 13, 2020 Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
May 8, 2020 Key COVID-19 Updates for the Whitewater Community
May 8, 2020- Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) – Reopen Guidelines for Businesses
Visit the WEDC website for relief and recovery resources for Wisconsin businesses.
May 6, 2020 Key COVID-19 Updates
May 5, 2020 Key COVID-19 Updates
May 1, 2020 Key COVID-19 Updates
April 24, 2020- City Services & Facilities Update
March 31, 2020- SBA Paycheck Protection Program
To All Whitewater Businesses:
Please see the below information regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) which was signed into law by President Trump on Friday (March 27th). Special thanks to Knight Public Affairs for assembling this information.
Individuals with questions should contact their preferred lender for more details.
The CARES Act will put the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses and nonprofits into action.
The SBA is finalizing the regulations and requirements for the PPP and banks are waiting for guidance on how to move forward, however it is important for you to get with your lender now to be prepared in every way you can.
The documents below will help you begin the process:
Small Business Owners Guide to the CARES Act
Here are more COVID-19 procedures and announcements that may be helpful to you:
DOR Tax Filing Deadline Extension
OCI Guidance on Insurance Flexibility
DATCP Guidance for Food Supply and Delivery
DOT Emissions Testing Timeline