Fond du Lac County Heath Department reports 5 new cases of COVID-19

FOND DU LAC -- The Fond du Lac County Health Department reported five new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, March 15. Four of those individuals with positive test results were on an Egyptian Nile River cruise, according to health officials. Another individual who tested positive had reportedly traveled domestically to Wisconsin. An additional positive test was reported on Tuesday, March 17 -- bringing the countywide total to 12. Officials noted 58 tests came back negative.

Kim Mueller

Of the cases in the county, nine returned from the Egyptian cruise, while two others traveled domestically to Wisconsin. Three of the 11 were hospitalized, officials said on Sunday.

Fond du Lac County Health Officer Kim Mueller said officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would be arriving Monday to help track any contacts the patients may have had.

"We're combing through exactly where they were, and identifying events," said Mueller.

Mueller said on Saturday night, they received 30 test results, and 25 of those were negative. Mueller said the other five "were anticipated to be positive." The patients who were negative believed they had contact with a known COVID-19 patient, Mueller said.

"Our community transmission did not occur in these individuals," Mueller said in a Facebook post. "It isn`t that we aren't going to see community spread. We would expect to see some, so that's why it's so important at this point to practice social distancing. Don't hold large social events. If you don't need to be traveling to someplace that has higher cases, don't do those types of activities."

Mueller reminded residents to practice social distancing and to be aware of how you and others are feeling. Take universal precautions like washing your hands often, not touching your face, and traveling as little as possible.

"These are recommendations that we are really hoping people take thoughtfully as they're making plans, going out into the community, thinking about where they're going, what they're doing," said Katherine Vergos, president of St. Agnes Hosptial. "These are strong suggestions, at this point, so we can really minimize the spread of the virus."