County officials launch COVID-19 hotline

 

A press release sent by Trempealeau County officials announced the release of a telephone hotline for those with questions about COVID-19. 

The telephone hotline number is 715-538-2311 ext. 330, it is currently in English and officials plan to include Spanish in the near future.  The hotline will contain the most recent information available.  We expect the telephone hotline to be up and running this week.  Urgent information will be transmitted through Nixle.  

As of early Thursday afternoon, there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Trempealeau County. As preventive measures, Trempealeau County officials are constantly assessing policies and procedures, as well as keeping up to date with the latest information from state and federal officials, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  To keep residents informed, the County is in the process of adding information to its website to keep Trempealeau County residents updated on the latest news related to the coronavirus, including information specific to Trempealeau County.  

As the Coronavirus (named COVID-19) epidemic continues to spread through Wisconsin, there is significant information available to the public from a variety of sources in the media.  In addition, accurate information for Trempealeau County can be found on the county website.  National updates can be found on the Center for Disease Control website and, for Wisconsin, on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) website.  

The Trempealeau COunty Sheriff’s Office, emergency management, human services, human resources, district attorney’s office, local law enforcement and the health department are communicating regularly to address the rapidly changing situation.  Departments are closely monitoring what is happening around the state in regards to changes in policy and procedures.  We will keep the public updated as quickly as possible with this ever changing situation.  Urgent information will be transmitted through Nixle.  Residents of Trempealeau County and neighboring communities can immediately begin receiving pertinent information via text message, email, and web by going to   https://nixle.com/register/ or texting your zipcode to 888777.

It is the intention of all offices in the Trempealeau County courthouse to continue to provide all services to our residents and businesses. It may be necessary to make some changes in how these services are provided to keep our residents and staff safe from the COVID virus.  

Effective immediately, Trempealeau County is taking the following precautions:

• Those who are able to accomplish county business by telephone or online, are asked to use those services.

• Those who need to visit the courthouse, are asked to call the department involved in advance of their visit, it may make the trip avoidable. 

• Observe the signs at the front entrance requesting you to use a face mask if you have cold or cough symptoms.

• Seniors who need home delivered meals please call the ADRC at 715-538-2001

• Senior bus routes to La Crosse, Eau Claire and other out of county locations for shopping trips have been suspended. County trips to seniors for groceries are being offered as needed.

• All county volunteer drivers are required to not have a fever or cough.

• No transportation will be provided to individuals with a fever or cough.

Also, residents are being urged to watch out for senior neighbors, friends and family members.  Since the elderly are particularly susceptible to this virus, consider calling them to check on them, help keep them calm, offer to get their groceries, putting gas in their cars, etc.  Ask them what you can do to help them stay healthy and safe.  

To help protect county employees and visitors to county facilities, extra cleaning and sanitizing is being done at county facilities.  The human resources department is evaluating county policies to make sure that those individuals who use county facilities are protected as much as possible.

The Trempealeau County courts will continue to monitor the COVID situation and remains committed to protecting the health and safety of anyone participating in the legal process while continuing to maintain an open, public and efficient court system. This order can be seen here.

The Trempealeau County Health Department has also been busy monitoring the situation.  The health department is monitoring any residents who were possibly exposed to the virus, checking on their health and taking appropriate actions.  Local health department staff continue to assess the health of residents and take any action deemed necessary, including, but not limited to, isolation and quarantine, to protect our community.  

The health department is unable to test for COVID 19.  Those with symptoms are asked to contact their health care provider, who can order a test.  They will evaluate symptoms and decide if testing is appropriate using Wisconsin Department of Health guidelines.  

The State of Wisconsin has recently issued orders limiting mass gatherings to no more than 10 people to slow/prevent the spread of the disease.  They have also closed many businesses such as bars and eat-in areas of restaurants.  Carry-outs are still available from restaurants.

The state has also issued orders that child care centers may not operate with more than 10 staff present at a time and may not operate with more than 50 children present at a time.  They also need to practice social distancing (six feet) and follow all other Department of Health Services guidance for parents dropping off and picking up children at the child care setting.  A copy of this order is posted on the Wisconsin DHS website.  

To protect county residents, Trempealeau County has developed the capabilities to live-stream county meetings on the Trempealeau County Cable Television (TCCTV) station as well as on the county's website. This will allow Trempealeau County residents access to actions by their county government while also practicing social distancing.  

General recommendations to stay healthy and keep our community healthy are: 

• If you are sick, stay home.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.  (If this is not available, please use hand sanitizer which is at least 60 percent alcohol.

• Cover coughs and sneezes.  Do not cough or sneeze into your hands as germs will spread every time you touch a surface.  Use a tissue and toss it in the garbage.  If a tissue is not available, please cough and sneeze into your forearm or inside of your elbow.  These areas don’t touch other surfaces frequently and are less likely to spread the virus.

• Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth. 

• Do extra cleaning of frequently touched surfaces that may harbor germs. An example would be doorknobs. 

• Practice social distancing.

• If you develop symptoms of the virus (fever, cough, shortness of breath are most common), please call your health care provider immediately for instructions.

County officials want to assure residents that all steps are being taken to help prevent the spread of this virus.  Together we are trying to protect Trempealeau County, its residents and businesses from the COVID-19 virus. 

Special Sections

Trempealeau County Times

36435 Main St.
P.O. Box 95
Whitehall, WI 54773

715-538-4765 (phone)

715-538-4540 (fax)

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