Local healthcare providers urge residents to help slow COVID-19 spread

            In a letter sent to local media outlets, the heads of Gundersen Health System and Mayo Clinic Health System joined forces to ask local residents to help fight coronavirus.

            Both La Crosse and Trempealeau counties have seen drastic increases in COVID-19 cases over the last two months. La Crosse County went from 1,339 cases at the beginning of September to 4,910 as of yesterday afternoon and has had 18 deaths since the start of October. Trempealeau County has seen an increase from 467 to 1,236 since Sept. 1, including 78 new cases this week. The county has set new records for most cases with 111 two weeks ago and 168 last week, which also included four new deaths. Trempealeau County has had 78 new cases this week.

            The letter, signed by Gundersen CEO Seth Rathgaber and Mayo regional vice president Paul Mueller, noted the difficulty they have had dealing with the virus.

            “Our staff are strained. Our testing sites have longer lines and higher positivity rates,” the letter said.

            The letter noted how area residents were able to limit the spread in the spring, but said “for a variety of reasons, we lost ground. To keep our friends and families healthy and ease the strain on our hospitals, we must rededicate ourselves to following established, proven safety measures. We have done it before. We can do it again.”

            The letter ended with a plea to local residents:

“Now is not the time to let our guard down and suffer the fate of so many other communities across the state and nation. We have shown that we care enough about each other to work together to defeat this pandemic.”

The complete letter is below:

Local healthcare providers need your help

Our region is in its greatest fight against coronavirus. We are seeing increased infections, hospitalizations and deaths in our communities. Our staff are strained. Our testing sites have longer lines and higher positivity rates.

We were able to flatten the curve and avoid tragedy last spring and summer with your help. By masking, distancing, and hand washing, we protected each other, limited the spread of the virus, and saved lives.

For a variety of reasons, we lost ground. To keep our friends and families healthy and ease the strain on our hospitals, we must rededicate ourselves to following established, proven safety measures. We have done it before. We can do it again.

While it is encouraging to see many of our neighbors and businesses adhering to the safety guidelines, it is greatly disappointing to see those who are not.

Local health systems remain open and safe for care of all types, but the rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations threaten our ability to care for you.

If everyone DOES NOT avoid large gatherings in the community, wear a mask, keep distance from others, wash hands, and stay home when ill, we risk:

• Postponing or cancelling surgeries, procedures and appointments
• Running out of beds to care for people who need immediate Hospital care
• Not having enough staff to provide care to patients, COVID and non-COVID
• Preventable deaths in our communities

This has been a long and hard several months. We know the end is not yet in sight. We know you are tired and want to resume a normal life. We are tired, too.

Now is not the time to let our guard down and suffer the fate of so many other communities across the state and nation. We have shown that we care enough about each other to work together to defeat this pandemic.

Your actions make a difference. Together, we will succeed.

Scott Rathgaber, MD
Chief Executive Officer
Gundersen Health System

Paul Mueller, MD
Regional Vice President
Mayo Clinic Health System