Cases spike in areas even as testing slows

A week before students head back to school, the Covid-19 infection rate is spiking in northern Ozaukee County even as health officials say testing has decreased and cases may be under-reported.

The Belgium and Fredonia areas are seeing a spike in the number of new cases over the past two weeks, according to figures released by the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department, while communities such as Port Washington and Grafton are seeing their numbers plateau.

But, officials said, those numbers — which schools use for guidance in determining whether to hold in-person classes — may be misleading as fewer people are being tested.

“Testing across the county has dropped off a bit, and across the state,” Bailey Murph, Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department senior public health strategist, said Tuesday. “It’s something we’ve been discussing for a while — people aren’t getting tested as much.”

That is likely because residents are either having trouble accessing tests or are avoiding testing, even if they are symptomatic, she said.

Statewide, she said, it wasn’t uncommon to see 14,000 people tested a day earlier in the pandemic, but over the past weekend only about 5,000 people were tested.

But, Murph said, the percentage of positive tests in the county continues to be high.

While the county has linked many of those new cases to large gatherings, such as family get-togethers and weddings, Murph said the department hasn’t been able to definitively connect them to such events as prom and graduations.

On Tuesday, the county reported 887 positive cases with 14,866 negative cases and 19 deaths.

The number of positive cases increased by 60 from the previous Tuesday, according to the county.

The burden, defined as the number of cases per 100,000 residents during the past two weeks, was 168.1 in Ozaukee County. 

In Fredonia, the burden was 327.7 on Tuesday and in Belgium the number was 301.3, while Port Washington’s burden was 117.9 and Grafton’s 175.5.

Murph noted that one reason for this is that the number of cases in the northern communities is relatively small compared to those in the center of the county. For example, Fredonia had 36 postive tests as of Tuesday and Belgium had 31, while Port had 125 and Grafton 169.

The burden in Fredonia, however, is close to the 350 cases per 100,000 that the Health Department defines as a critical risk level in its school reopening framework, while the numbers in Port and Grafton fall in the high risk rating, or 100 new cases.

In the critical category, the health department recommends all schooling be done online.

The Public Health Department is working to set up testing clinics for students in Ozaukee County schools.

The clinics are likley to start during the second week in September, Murph said, noting they are tentatively scheduled to be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

The free tests are for students who can’t get tests from their pediatricians, Murph said. Results would likely be known in 24 to 48 hours.

If a student tests positive, she said, the department would notify them and their family as well as the school district.

The county is still working out the details of the program, she said, noting it is working with a health provider on the testing.

Teachers and staff members aren’t included in the clinics, Murph said, but are encouraged to get a test through their physician. If they can’t get a test and are exhibiting symptoms, the department will help them access testing.

“We want to make sure we’re able to support the schools as best we can,” Murph said, noting that the department has been working with superintendents throughout the area as school districts create their reopening plans.