‘Pandemic fatigue,’ mask resistance blamed for record COVID-19 spread

Numerous factors caused a record number of new COVID-19 cases in Trempealeau County last week, according to the Trempealeau County Health Department.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 62 new cases in Trempealeau County last week, breaking the previous record of 54 set in mid-July. While some have used the statewide outbreak as evidence that face-coverings are not effective in preventing the spread of the virus, health department officials say otherwise. 

"The increase in cases is more likely due to people not wearing masks,” Kaila Baer, TCHD information officer, said. “As an example, the schools have required masks for all staff and students. In the weekly update last Thursday, only three cases were aged 18 or under. Clearly, the masks are helping prevent spread during the school day.”

Unlike the outbreak in July, when nearly half of the new cases were in Arcadia, last week saw the new cases spread throughout the county.

While Arcadia still had the most new cases with 12,  the Osseo area had 10, while Eleva/Strum had nine, Whitehall had eight,  Independence had six and Blair/Ettrick  had seven, Trempealeau had five and Galesville had four. 

Over the last two weeks, Arcadia has had 17 new cases, while Trempealeau has had 14, Osseo, 12, Independence, 11; Eleva/Strum and Whitehall 10; Galesville, nine and Blair/Ettrick, eight. 

The reason the cases are more spread out this time around is believed to be due to what Baer called “pandemic fatigue.”

“Everyone is experiencing pandemic fatigue and letting their guard down,” Baer said.

Baer said issues with nearby colleges are also having an impact. 

“Many college students are returning home to complete their isolation and quarantine — when this happens they are counted wherever they are living during their isolation and quarantine,” Baer said.

That theory was backed by data released by the county last week, which showed that while there were a record number of new cases reported, the percentage that were deemed to be from community spread — undetermined origin — dropped from 80 percent to 60 percent. Baer said the health department was able to determine the origin of more of the cases last week because they were from household contacts. 

Last week also showed an increase in the number of people tested, with 359 tests being issued, the most since July. The positivity rate of 15.5 percent was the highest since the week of July 6 to July 12, which had a rate of 17 percent. 

There was one new hospitalization last week, bringing the total number of county residents hospitalized with the virus to 13. Two county residents have died from the virus.