The risk of COVID 19-coronavirus spreading in Manitowoc County, according to health experts, is currently “very low”. According to Emergency Services Division Director Travis Waack it’s, “imperative to prepare, just in case.”
“We’ve been meeting and talking about it and keeping our situational awareness high. We’ll be having conversations with some of our County Departments that are critical to the community like the 911 center that I run. Just basic common sense conversations about what if a good chunk of our staff would get sick at the same time? How would we continue to provide that critical service to the community?”
Waack says there is a checklist that families should seriously consider.
“If school was closed for a period of time, what would you do for childcare? If you had to stay home for a while because you were sick, you might have to stay home for a couple of weeks and not be able to get out to the grocery store. Do you have enough supplies on hand to get through some of that? I always say, have a few extra of the things you use every day, that’s the name of the game with preparedness.”
There are 6 confirmed cases of the virus in Wisconsin. The Department of Health Services says citizens should continue to follow basic hygiene practices. Wash your hands with soap and water, cover your coughs, and if you are sick – stay home.
