Health officer seeks to control spread of COVID-19
Waupaca County Health Officer Jed Wohlt ordered that all campgrounds in Waupaca County be closed.
They will remain closed as long as the governor’s emergency health order remains in effect.
“Now is the time to ensure that all reasonable and necessary actions are taken to reduce the spread of this virus in the county,” Wohlt said, noting the continued spread of COVID-19.
“I am authorized under state law to do what is reasonable and necessary for the prevention and suppression of disease, including forbidding public gatherings when deemed necessary to control outbreaks or continued spread of communicable disease,” Wohlt said in his order released Thursday.
Wohlt listed his reasons for ordering the closure of campgrounds.
He said the county has a large population of older people who are especially vulnerable to the disease.
“The county has approximately 6,300 campsites, which draw thousands of people from both inside and outside our county,” Wohlt said.
He said camping encourages non-essential travel and the unmonitored gathering of groups larger than 10 people.
“Camping visitors from outside the county will increase shopping at local stores in our county for supplies and groceries, which limits the available supplies for county residents,” Wohlt said.