Public health alert triggered due to increase over norm
By Heather Ruenz
Staff Writer
Walworth County was issued a public health alert late last week by the state Department of Health Services due to an increase in suspected opioid drug overdoses. The alerts are triggered when weekly overdose activity exceeds typical totals, officials report.
Between April 12 and 18, the county recorded four suspected opioid drug overdoses seen at hospital emergency departments, according to a release from public health officials.
In addition to rising opioid overdoses, jail bookings for domestic violence have increased, and contacts with the county’s Crisis Intervention Program are up 15 percent, the release states.
“The Safer at Home Order and physical distancing have helped slow the spread of COVID-19, but we’re just beginning see the behavioral health consequences of prolonged isolation and unemployment,” Amy Hart, Behavioral Health Division Manager said.
“People who may have never needed support for depression or anxiety may now be strained by a lack of connection,” she added.
Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services is working to increase available emergency mental health services, the release states. These efforts include staff reallocation and applying for a University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health COVID-19 response grant.
“There is a tremendous need for mental health and substance abuse services now, and we predict that this need will grow as restrictions are lifted,” Hart said.
The Walworth County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Health and Human Services are urging people to stay socially connected and to seek professional help if needed.
Walworth County’s Crisis Intervention program offers crisis counseling 24 hours a day, seven days a week, support and service coordination. To access those services, call 262-741-3200.
New Beginnings APFV provides services for people affected by domestic abuse. These services are available by calling 262-723-4653.
Many new tests
The county continues to see an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases, which are directly linked to increased testing, according to Carlo Nevicosi, deputy director at Health & Human Services.
Three outbreaks recently reported – at Birds Eye Foods in Darien, Geneva Lake Manor and Holton Manor – are major factors in the increased cases, he said.
“The cases at Birds Eye and our long-term care facilities triggered many new tests with, unsurprisingly, new confirmed diagnoses,” Nevicosi said.
The latest numbers, as of Sunday, reveal 140 confirmed cases in Walworth County, eight deaths, 41 recoveries, 87 currently isolated at their primary residence and four people hospitalized.
Nevicosi said the number of confirmed cases is “not an accurate reflection of how we’re doing as a community.”
He encourages people to look at data available on the DHS website about the availability of medical resources, locally and statewide.
“(The) DHS has some interesting data on ventilator and hospital bed availability that shows we have sufficient capacity to manage this crisis at its current level,” he said.
Public Health officials continue to advise people who feel sick to stay at home and remain there until they are fever-free for three days without fever-reducing medication, have significant improvement in symptoms, and seven days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.
For the latest information, visit the Centers for Disease Control website at cdc.gov, the State Department of Health Services at dhs.wisconsin.gov or the Walworth County website at co.walworth.wi.us.
