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Racine Forced To Prioritize Positive COVID-19 Test Notifications

Al Bello
/
Getty Images
Due to an influx of COVID-19 cases, Racine has been forced to prioritize the groups of people who’ll be notified if they test positive.";

Coronavirus numbers have been exploding across Wisconsin. Racine is one area seeing a particularly large number of cases.

Public Health Administrator Dottie-Kay Bowersox says nearly 500 new COVID-19 cases have been reported over the past week, an average of 71 per day. She says as a result, her office has been swamped — and that’s forced the decision to prioritize the groups of people who will be notified of positive COVID-19 tests.

“Yes, we’ll be taking a look at those individuals, their circumstances and which are critical. So, those that are 65 and older, children who are 18 years old and younger, those who reside in congregate living environments,  and then we will be contacting all others after that,” she says.

Bowersox calls the move a “significant disappointment” and says the rising number of cases are an indication that people are not taking the spread of the coronavirus seriously. She urges residents to wear a mask, practice social distancing and stay home if ill. 

Marti was a reporter with WUWM from 1999 to 2021.
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