COVID-19 has reached ‘community spread’ in Portage Co.

By Patrick Lynn

Enough pockets of COVID-19 have been found in Portage Co. for the health department to declare the virus has officially spread throughout the community.

Known as “community spread,” it means those infected with the coronavirus do not know how or where they came into contact with the virus.

“Recent increases in positive cases of COVID-19 in Portage County clearly demonstrate the presence of community spread,” reads a press release from the Portage Co. Health Department.

Community members can assume that anywhere they go in public—especially at anywhere social distancing of six feet isn’t maintained, and people aren’t wearing facemasks—they have a chance of becoming infected.

The greatest risk is for individuals not from the same household standing within six feet of each other for 15 minutes or longer.

Portage Co. has 66 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 16 of those patients listed as recovered.

County health officials are urging members of the public to practice frequent handwashing, cover their coughs and sneezes, avoid touching their faces, and staying home when sick.