New record set for COVID-19 deaths

As Trempealeau County continues to see a high number of new COVID-19 cases, a record for the number of deaths was set last week with six.

The 239 new cases reported in the county by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services were the third highest total recorded in a given week as roughly 48 percent of the county residents who were tested received positive results. More significant, however, is that six county residents died from the virus last week, breaking the previous record number of five deaths, set two weeks ago, and bringing the county’s total to 22, according to the Trempealeau County Health Department.

Despite the increasing number of cases and deaths, the county board of supervisors has not yet scheduled a meeting to discuss a possible ordinance change that would allow health officials to fine county residents and visitors for not wearing masks when in public spaces. The county’s board of health recommended such a measure on Nov. 18 after the county’s health director Barb Barczak issued an order requiring face coverings in public spaces. Since that day, there have been 11 deaths and 695 more new cases in the county.

The death total could continue to climb. The county has seen a significant increase in the number of cases amongst its elderly population in recent weeks. Since Nov. 18, there have been 130 new cases amongst county residents 60 years old or older, including 38 amongst residents who are 80 or older. The county health department announced 18 county residents were hospitalized as of Monday.

With the case increase the last few weeks, the county has jumped into the to 10 in terms of cases per 100,000, according to the DHS. As of Monday, the county has the sixth-highest rate in the state, behind Menominee, Dodge, Jackson, Shawano and Brown counties. The county’s fatality percentage was the same as the state percentage, 0.9.

Last week, the DHS officials announced a change to its recommendations for quarantining. Officials previously recommended quarantining for a full 14 days after having contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, but now recommends quarantining for 10 days should the person not be tested or seven days after receiving a negative test result.

The DHS also announced changes to its website, allowing for more specific data. State residents can now search COVID-19 data based on municipality, school district or zip code.

As of Monday, the area with the highest number of positive cases was people with an Arcadia (54612) zip code with 659 cases, followed by Osseo, 399; Trempealeau, 297; Galesville, 290; Eleva, 252; Whitehall, 233; Independence, 193; Blair, 176; Strum, 143 and Ettrick, 133.

Those residing within the Arcadia School District have seen the most cases with 706 followed by, G-E-T, 680; Osseo-Fairchild, 422; Whitehall, 329; Blair-Taylor, 297; Eleva-Strum, 255 and Independence, 202.

Because this was the first week that such information was made available by the DHS, a week-by-week comparison is not yet available.