Photo by Clay Schuldt Taking the standard precautions in public places is still an effective way to reduce the chance of infection or reinfection of COVID-19, according to public health officials.

BROWN COUNTY — The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has placed Brown County at medium COVID-19 community spread as of Thursday.

Each week the CDC releases a countywide rating based on the COVID case rate and hospitalization rate. This information is updated on the CDC COVID-19 data tracker every Thursday. Last Thursday, Sept. 8 Brown County saw a low spread, but on Sept. 15 the tracker increased to medium.

Brown County Public Health Director Karen Moritz said Brown County’s community spread has been in constant flux. It was high some weeks earlier before dropping to low and now back to medium.

When a county has a medium spread is recommended that individuals with underlying health issues wear masks in public. In the high spread, a mask is recommended for everyone.

Public Health is also monitoring the schools for COVID spread with classes back in session. At this time, there does not seem to be a specific spread in the schools, even though the latest infection figures have risen along with the start of the new school year.

Photo by Clay Schuldt Brown County Public Health officials are seeing the local COVID-19 rate change every week, with the latest rating on Thursday rising to medium after the opening of the new school year.

But Moritz said since the tracker used data from the previous week, the community spread could already have changed by the time it is published.

In addition, the rate is only calculated based on known positive COVID tests. Infections detected by home tests are not included, so the weekly snapshot is the minimum rate of spread. Only tests conducted at hospitals or pharmacies are used in the formula.

COVID-19 vaccines are still available to the public, including the bivalent booster. The bivalent vaccine is half of the original vaccine and half Omicron, as these are the common forms of the virus. It is recommended people wait at least two months from their last COVID-19 vaccine dose to get a bivalent booster. Pfizer’s bivalent booster is authorized for those 12 or older and Moderna’s is authorized for patients 18 and up.

The COVID Data Tracker can be viewed on the CDC website at covid.cdc.gov.