Winnebago County suspends most in-person court hearings through Oct. 17 as COVID-19 cases surge
Chris MuellerOSHKOSH – With one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks anywhere in the country, Winnebago County has decided to suspend in-person court appearances for two weeks starting Monday.
Fourth Judicial District Chief Judge Barbara Key signed an order Friday suspending most in-person court proceedings through at least Oct. 17. Key also serves as a circuit judge in Winnebago County.
Brown, Calumet and Outagamie counties have all already suspended in-person court appearances in light of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the region.
Winnebago County health officials warned residents Friday morning in a detailed statement that COVID-19 hospitalizations in the region had reached the highest level to date, while contact tracers have been overwhelmed by the recent surge of cases.
RELATED:In-person court appearances suspended in Calumet County due to COVID-19 spread
"We have uncontrolled spread that is threatening all aspects of community life," health officials said. "Reliance on voluntary compliance to slow the spread of disease has, to date, failed."
Health officials urged residents to wear masks and keep their distance from others at all times in public, and limit time indoors anywhere outside their own homes.
On Friday morning, the Oshkosh-Neenah area sat atop The New York Times list of metro areas with the greatest number of new cases, relative to their population, in the last two weeks.
Contact Chris Mueller at 920-996-7267 or cmueller@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AtChrisMueller.