As the calendar turns to February, we, the members of the Dunn County Community Recovery Team, are writing to the public concerning the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in our community.
First of all, we are happy to report that eligible community members are starting to receive vaccinations that will prevent them from becoming gravely ill from this virus. The vaccinations are being administered according to state Department of Health Services guidelines by our health care providers and the Dunn County Health Department. We encourage everyone who is contacted by their provider to schedule a vaccination appointment to do so. Only if enough people get vaccinated will we finally defeat this virus.
However, health experts tell us that it will be months at least before this virus is defeated and life can return to “normal.” That is why it is critically important for everyone to continue to follow the practices that we all know will keep us safe and healthy: Wear a mask in any public setting, wash your hands often, maintain social distancing and avoid large gatherings.
Avoiding large gatherings takes on increased importance because we are on the cusp of Super Bowl weekend, a traditional time for parties, etc. We strongly encourage you to follow federal Centers for Disease Control guidelines and limit participation in these parties to only those who currently reside in your immediate family. Hosting other people will enable the spread of the virus.
Mask wearing will remain important for the foreseeable future as well. Even those who are vaccinated will have to wear a mask because they can still transmit the virus to those who aren’t.
Additionally, we are happy that so-called surge testing is being offered for free in the Sports and Fitness Complex at UW-Stout. Details are available here.
Finally, we are acutely aware of the hardships that this pandemic continues to cause for many members of our community. Therefore, we are encouraging everyone to support our local businesses and to contribute to those organizations devoted to helping the less fortunate in our community. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.
Even though we have been living with this pandemic for a year now, it remains a constant and deadly threat to our community. That is why it is incredibly important for everyone to get vaccinated when they have the opportunity and to follow the health and safety practices to avoid spreading the virus to our loved ones.
Signed:
- Katherine Frank, UW-Stout chancellor
- Randy Knaack, Menomonie mayor
- Lowell Prange, Menomonie city administrator
- Joe Zydowsky, School District of the Menomonie Area superintendent
- Paul Miller, Dunn County manager
- KT Gallagher, Dunn County public health director
- Dan Lytle, Chippewa Valley Technical College Menomonie Campus manager
- Dustyn Dubuque, Downtown Menomonie executive director
- Eric Atkinson, Menomonie police chief
- Laurie B. Reardon, Family Health Center of Marshfield Dental Center manager
- Ashley DeMuth, Menomonie Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center chief executive officer
- Dr. Ashok Rai, Prevea Health president and CEO
- Padraig Gallagher, Stepping Stones executive director
- Mary Bygd, MCHS Red Cedar operations administrator
- Doug Mell, special assistant to the UW-Stout chancellor
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