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COVID-19 pandemic in Door County, Wisconsin
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The COVID-19 pandemic was reported to have reached Door County, Wisconsin <section begin=Door County, Wisconsin main article/>on March 30, 2020. As of October 20, 2020, the Door County Public Health Office reported , , and of county residents, with . The Public Health Office commented: Out of Wisconsin's 72 counties, 44 already had confirmed cases as of that date, and on March 31, Door County was added to the Coronavirus disease 2019 map on the state Department of Public Services website, along with three other Wisconsin counties which also reported confirmed cases of the disease for the first time. Prior to this, a local politician had been infected during a vacation elsewhere and returned infected on March 13, although it was unknown at the time. Prior to the first confirmed case, hundreds of vehicles with out-of-state license plates were seen across multiple communities, even though the shops were still boarded up for the winter. The president of the county visitor bureau complained, "It seems like everybody thinks this is the hiding place and they all want to come here." As the county under ordinary circumstances only has capacity to support twenty-five hospital patients (including four within the county for the first time. Previously, all confirmed cases in the county involved people who had recently been out of the county and were geographically scattered rather than clustered in one location. From May 8 and 13, three employees at Bay Shipbuilding were diagnosed with the virus. It had never closed due to the quarantine and was permitted by authorities to remain open as an essential business. Destination marketing zone responses A responsible business brand promise program was announced on May 15. It is not a certification and intentionally lacks enforceability with either the visitor bureau or hospital in order to direct any liability to the individual businesses should someone get infected. Also on May 15, the county extended quarantine restrictions locally. This extension was ended one day early on May 19 when the county reopened all businesses, but asked people to limit travel and follow other voluntary safety precautions on the basis of "scientific data, local information, and the benefits associated with continuation/resumption of local personal activities and business" and the expectation "that individuals and businesses will voluntarily" obey the precautions. Out of 10,430 potential visitors returning surveys from May 14-18, 9,083 (87.1%) said they were willing to wear a mask, and 1,347 (12.9%) said they were not willing to wear a mask. The Communications and Public Relations Director of the county visitor bureau was concerned about what locals were posting on social media and warned people to "mind your Ps and Qs" because it would impact traveler sentiment. Business responses In Egg Harbor, a manufacturer made components needed to make ventilators, and a distillery made hand sanitizer. In Sturgeon Bay, one manufacturer switched to producing reusable face masks and intubation boxes, while another designed a device intended to kill viruses and other pathogens on face masks and other personal protective equipment.
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