New COVID cases increase again

After a decrease two weeks ago, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Trempealeau County climbed back over 100 last week.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 110 new COVID-19 cases, an increase of 43 from two weeks ago, which was the first time the county had fewer than 100 cases in a week since October. Nearly half of the county residents who were tested received positive results, as there were 222 total tests conducted last week.

With the increase in new cases also came an increase in the county’s rate of cases, growing to 10,251 per 100,000 people, now the fourth highest rate in the state behind Menominee, Dodge and Jackson counties.

The Trempealeau County Health Department reported one more person died because of the virus, putting the county’s death total at 30. While the health department reported 24 deaths last week,  officials were made aware of COVID-19 deaths that had previously gone unreported. The county’s fatality percentage of one percent is inline with the state rate.

The new cases last week included another increase in the county’s elderly population as 37 of the new cases were amongst people 60 years old or older, including nine people who are 80 or older, according to data released by the health department.

The Arcadia area was hit the hardest with 29 new cases while Osseo had 17, Galesville, 16; Eleva, 13; Independence and Trempealeau, 12; Whitehall, nine; Strum and Ettrick, six and Blair, three.

The DHS also reported that, as of Monday, 67 percent of the hospital beds in the state’s western region were unavailable. The health department reported five county residents were hospitalized.