4th Bayfield Co. COVID-19 case connected to Ashland hockey event
“Public health efforts are focused on identifying the patient’s close contacts and mitigating the impact of this virus,” the health department says. “Anyone identified as potentially at risk will be contacted by the health department. When impossible to determine all persons exposed, additional information will be added to the Bayfield County COVID-19 webpage with locations of possible exposure.”
Despite the positive test, Bayfield County Health Officer/Director Sara Wartman says it is entirely possible the person may have been infected elsewhere.
“The person could’ve been exposed through other exposures in the community. I can’t say 100 percent that they got this from the hockey event,” Wartman told WDIO News.
If the person was indeed exposed at the hockey event, Wartman says it isn’t because of anything the facility did wrong.
“The event did everything to try and plan and minimize risk of exposure of COVID-19. The public was not readily welcome at this event. It was families, athletes, and coaches only at the event, so they took many steps to provide warnings to those who are immunocompromised, and to provide disclaimers to the athletes so they were aware of the risks,” Wartman told WDIO News.
Bayfield County Health officials are now encouraging anyone who attended the event, regardless if they have symptoms or not, to get tested for COVID-19.
“For others who were at the event, if you have any symptoms at all, fever, fever off and on or a cough, I recommend that you get tested right away. If you don’t have symptoms, I’m still encouraging people to call their provider, or attend one of our free COVID-19 testing events because we know that many people can have very mild symptoms and unknowingly be shedding it to others,” Wartman told WDIO News.
Wartman adds there appears to be more COVID-19 cases in Minnesota and Michigan connected to the hockey event in Ashland, but that is still being investigated.
There will be a free COVID-19 testing event on July 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Iron River Community Center in Iron River. Those who wish to be tested do not have to show symptoms.
“Practicing COVID-19 prevention practices, limiting close face-to-face contact with others, and self-isolating when ill are the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Wartman said in the release.
