New county COVID cases surge back up
The Wisconsin Army National Guard reported 70 tests were issued at the drive-through community testing site held in Independence on Friday. There will be two more tests held at the same location — the Trempealeau County Healthcare Center Annex building — within the next month, one on Oct. 30 and the other on Nov. 13. (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy)
After a decrease two weeks ago, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Trempealeau County has surged back up with 92 cases last week, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
The number of new cases last week is the third-highest total on record in Trempealeau County and breaks what had been a downward trend. The county had seen a decrease of new cases in the last few weeks, but there were 27 more new cases last week than there were two weeks ago. The percentage of positive tests was not available as local health departments are adjusting to a new computer system.
The DHS reported the Blair area had the most new cases with 21, while Arcadia had 19; Trempealeau, 12; Osseo, 10; Galesville and Eleva/Strum nine; Independence, eight and Whitehall, four. Location information for the other nine new cases was not available as of press time.
Of the 122 active cases the Trempealeau County Health Department reported late last week, 35 were in Arcadia, 15 were in Whitehall and Osseo, 13 in Trempealeau, 11 in Ettrick, 10 in Blair and the rest were spread throughout the county.
The health department also reported 13 new cases amongst school-aged residents (ages five to 19). Of the 879 total positive tests, people between 20 and 29 years old have had the most positive tests, 197, followed by people between the ages of 30 and 39, 166.
Of the first 511 cases, the health department reported that 57 percent had moderate symptoms, 29.9 percent showed mild, 5.7 percent were severe and 7.5 percent of the people who tested positive did not show any symptoms. The health department reported one person is currently hospitalized and there have been two deaths.
Last Friday was the first of three community testing events held at the Trempealeau County Health Care Center Annex in Independence, hosted by the health department and the Wisconsin Army National Guard. The National Guard reported that 70 tests were issued that day.
The next community test at that location will be held next week Friday with another scheduled for Nov. 13.
