COVID-19 spread steady throughout October

The good news is that the spread of COVID-19 in Trempealeau County doesn’t appear to be getting any worse. The number of new cases dropped significantly in October, but seem to have steadied. 

The Wisconsin Department of Health services reported 86 new COVID-19 cases in the county last week, one more than the previous week. It marked four straight weeks with fewer than 100 cases, which came after a five-week span in which there was an average of 142 new cases per week. The 85 cases reported two weeks ago were the fewest since mid-August, but the county saw a slight increase again last week. 

The Trempealeau County Health Department announced last week that the DHS supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 booster doses. 

The following individuals are eligible to receive a booster dose:

•  Those who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least two months ago

•  Those who received the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months ago and are: 

- 65 years and older

- 18 years and older and live in long-term care setting

- 18 years and older with certain underlying medical conditions

- 18 years and older who live or work in high-risk settings such as: First responders (ex. health care workers, firefighters, police, staff at congregate care facilities), education staff (ex. teachers, support staff, childcare workers), food and agriculture workers, corrections workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, public transit workers and grocery store workers 

Arcadia had the most new cases last week with 14, according to the DHS. Independence and Trempealeau both had 12, Eleva, 10; Whitehall, seven; Osseo and Strum, five and both Blair and Ettrick had three new cases.