Current Guidelines

The federal COVID-19 public health emergency declaration ended on May 11, 2023.

Most tools, like vaccines, treatments, and testing, will remain available.
If you are insured, you should contact your healthcare provider, local pharmacy, or clinic with questions on testing, vaccination, and treatment.
If you are not insured or underinsured please contact Buffalo County Public Health at 608-685-4412

Buffalo County's Current Practice

All COVID-19 tests conducted at a testing facility (hospital, clinic, testing site, etc.) are reported to the Wisconsin Electronic Surveillance System (WEDSS).

If you are 65 years and older or at high risk for severe illness:

You will receive a call or a letter from Buffalo County Public Health

** If you test positive with an at-home test, it will not be reported to WEDSS and you will not receive any follow-up from Buffalo County Public Health. If you have questions or concerns regarding your positive test, feel free to call the health department for assistance.

Main line: 608-685-4412

Isolation Guidelines

If you test positive for COVID-19, whether tested by a provider or by an at-home test, you should isolate yourself from others. You should stay home for at least 5 days and isolate yourself from others in your household as best as possible.

If you have no symptoms:

Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)
If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset.

If you have symptoms:

Day 0 is the day your symptoms began, regardless of when you tested
Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

You are likely most infectious during the first 5 days.

Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.
Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.
Do not travel.
Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.

Ending isolation is based on how serious your symptoms are.

If you have no symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5.

If you had symptoms:

If your symptoms are improving, you may end isolation after day 5 if you have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.
If your symptoms are not improving, continue to isolate until they improve and you are fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.

Regardless of when you end your isolation, through day 10, you should:

Avoid those who are at high risk of illness from COVID-19
Wear a mask indoors when around others
Avoid places where you cannot wear a mask

Current Guidelines

The federal COVID-19 public health emergency declaration ended on May 11, 2023.

Most tools, like vaccines, treatments, and testing, will remain available.

If you are insured, you should contact your healthcare provider, local pharmacy, or clinic with questions on testing, vaccination, and treatment.

If you are not insured or underinsured please contact Buffalo County Public Health at 608-685-4412

Buffalo County's Current Practice

All COVID-19 tests conducted at a testing facility (hospital, clinic, testing site, etc.) are reported to the Wisconsin Electronic Surveillance System (WEDSS).

If you are 65 years and older or at high risk for severe illness:

You will receive a call or a letter from Buffalo County Public Health

** If you test positive with an at-home test, it will not be reported to WEDSS and you will not receive any follow-up from Buffalo County Public Health. If you have questions or concerns regarding your positive test, feel free to call the health department for assistance.

Main line: 608-685-4412

Isolation Guidelines

If you test positive for COVID-19, whether tested by a provider or by an at-home test, you should isolate yourself from others. You should stay home for at least 5 days and isolate yourself from others in your household as best as possible.

If you have no symptoms:

Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)

If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset.

If you have symptoms:

Day 0 is the day your symptoms began, regardless of when you tested

Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

You are likely most infectious during the first 5 days.

Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.

Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.

Do not travel.

Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.

Use a separate bathroom, if possible.

Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.

Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.

Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.

Ending isolation is based on how serious your symptoms are.

If you have no symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5.

If you had symptoms:

If your symptoms are improving, you may end isolation after day 5 if you have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.

If your symptoms are not improving, continue to isolate until they improve and you are fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.

Regardless of when you end your isolation, through day 10, you should:

Avoid those who are at high risk of illness from COVID-19

Wear a mask indoors when around others

Avoid places where you cannot wear a mask