I HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, STAY HOME AND ISOLATE to avoid spreading illness to others. Follow CDC Isolation Guidelines here: Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19| CDC
Click here to use the CDC Quarantine and Isolation Calculator
Notify your close contacts. Anyone with a COVID-19 exposure should follow exposure guidance found here: CDC- What to do if you were exposed to COVID-19
I AM A HEALTH CARE WORKER AND IN ISOLATION/QUARANTINE FOR COVID-19. IS GUIDANCE DIFFERENT FOR ME?
If you are a health care worker, follow Healthcare Workers Information on COVID-19/CDC.
Monroe County Health Department will updating weekly COVID-19 as of the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. If you would like additional COVID-19 data, visit:
*Please Note: The reported positive case numbers do not include home tests, as those test results are not automatically reported to the local health department.*
COVID-19 cases and testing among Afghan guests who spent time at Fort McCoy are not included in our weekly or aggregate data as these cases/tests are considered under a separate jurisdiction for reporting purposes.
All cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are reported to the State, but aren’t always reported to the local Health Department.
We ask for your continued support in helping to stop the spread of this virus. Get vaccinated, if you are able. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at reducing your risk for severe illness, hospitalization, and death caused by COVID-19. Visit https://www.vaccines.gov or call 608-269-8666 to schedule your appointment today.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recommends the following prevention strategies for staying safe:
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses.
- Get tested if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- Stay home if you have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19.
- Seek treatment if you have COVID-19 and are at risk of getting very sick.
- Improve ventilation when possible.
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration has ended as of May 11, 2023. The CDC has replaced COVID-19 Community Levels with COVID-19 Hospital Admission Levels to guide prevention decisions. To learn more about the guidance for Hospital Admission Levels, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html
The Respiratory Virus and Hospital Data Report below includes data from the Wisconsin Western Region. This data reports is compiled by the Western Region Public Health Readiness Consortium (WWPHRC), of which Monroe County Health Department is a member. Additional COVID data can be found at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data.htm and https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home .
Aggregate data is no longer being updated on a regular basis.
For more information on county-level COVID-19 data, visit:
Wisconsin DHS COVID-19: County Data
For more information about COVID-19 testing, visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/testing.htm
Contact your healthcare provider or local pharmacy to learn more about available testing opportunities.
Self-test kits are available at the Monroe County Health Department for free pick-up while supplies last (315 W. Oak St., Sparta).
Self-test kits are also available for purchase over-the counter at pharmacies and online.
Are your current test kits expired?
Click here to find the latest on extended expiration dates.
Who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and boosters?
Click here for the latest information.
Visit vaccines.gov or call 211 to find COVID-19 vaccines near you.
For more information, about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit:
Educational Materials
Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Call 211 or visit vaccines.gov to find a site near you.
Monroe County Health Department (315 W. Oak St., Sparta)
Please call 608-269-8666 for more information current vaccine availability and to schedule an appointment.
All COVID-19 vaccines are provided for free. No insurance required.
Am I up to date on my COVID-19 vaccines?
Click here to learn more about the latest recommendations on staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations.
Which brand of vaccine is best?
All approved COVID-19 vaccine options are highly effective in preventing death, hospitalizations, and severe COVID-19 illness. As soon as you are eligible to receive the vaccine and the vaccine is available, take any opportunity to get it.
How many vaccines have been given in Monroe County?
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services tracks this data here: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-data.htm. You can see how many vaccines have been given in Wisconsin, the Western Region, and Monroe County.
Why do we need a vaccine?
Getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your community. A COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness or death caused by COVID-19 and potentially prevent you from spreading the virus to others. It is important to note that a vaccine will not replace the need to continue other actions that stop the spread of COVID-19.
Is the vaccine safe and effective?
Yes. The FDA, CDC, and independent advisors all review vaccine safety and effectiveness data before any vaccine is approved or allowed for distribution. COVID-19 vaccines have gone through all of the usual steps and phases that all vaccines go through to get full approval. The FDA and CDC will continue to closely monitor the vaccine as it is rolled out. You can visit the CDC’s website for more information about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety.html.
I had COVID-19, should I get vaccinated? When is it safe to get vaccinated after infection?
You may need to wait to receive your vaccine. If you received treatment for COVID-19 or if you have a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-A or MIS-C), you should talk to your healthcare provider to determine if you need to wait.
For those who had COVID-19 and are out of isolation, yes you should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19. Getting sick with COVID-19 offers some protection from future illness with COVID-19, sometimes called “natural immunity.” The level of protection people have from COVID-19 may vary.
I have a medical condition and have questions about how my body will react to the vaccine.
Please connect with your healthcare provider or utilize the following nurse line resources before registering or scheduling your appointment:
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- Gundersen: 608-775-4454 or click here
- Mayo: 608-785-0940 and ask for the Nurse Line
- Tomah Health: 608-372-2181
- Scenic Bluffs: Cashton – 608-654-5100; Norwalk- 608-823-7853
Is transportation available to vaccine appointments?
Same-day transportation is available to eligible BadgerCare Plus and Wisconsin Medicaid Members. To schedule a ride, members may call MTM, Inc. at 866-907-1493 (TTY 711). When scheduling their ride, members will be asked to provide their ForwardHealth ID (from their ForwardHealth card) and the address of the vaccination site. For more information regarding scheduling rides, visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/nemt/index.htm
For best practices related to keeping workplaces and other community facilities safe, please see the following resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Guidance for Specific Industries and Occupations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Guidelines for Community, Work, and School