COVID case rate slows again, county to end vaccine clinics

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Trempealeau County last week was about half of what was reported two weeks ago as the Trempealeau County Health Department announced it would be ending the walk-in COVID-19 vaccine sites in March.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 153 new COVID-19 cases last week, the fewest since the second week of December. Last week continued a steady decline in cases, going from 611 in the second week of January to 510, 302 and 153 last week. 

Of the new cases 41 were reported to be residents of the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau school district. The next highest area was within the Whitehall School District where 30 cases were reported while residents of Osseo-Fairchild made up 24; Eleva-Strum, 21; Arcadia, 18; Independence, 17 and Blair-Taylor, 16. 

The free vaccination clinics were offered as a partnership between the county health department, schools and AMI. A release sent by the health department noted 68.6 percent of county residents were already fully vaccinated, the eighth-highest rate in the state. 

The clinics have been offered since last September with more than 2,300 doses administered. The final clinics are scheduled for:

• Eleva-Strum School District, March 1, 1 to 7 p.m.

• Independence School District, Feb. 9 and March 2, 1 to 7 p.m.

• Blair-Taylor School District, Feb. 15 and March 8, 2 to 7 p.m.

• G-E-T Middle School, Feb. 16 and March 9, 2 to 6 p.m.

• Wanek Center, Arcadia, Feb. 22 and March 15, 1 to 7 p.m.

• Whitehall School District, Feb. 23 and March 16, 3 to 7 p.m.

Each clinic site has a first dose and second dose clinic scheduled before these clinics come to an end. COVID-19 booster doses will also be available at all of these clinics. Those wishing to can still start their vaccine series at the designated second dose clinics, but will have to find an alternate location for their second dose. 

The release sent by the health department said that those who are not fully vaccinated have died from COVID-19 at a rate 14-times higher than those who are and were hospitalized at a rate 10 times higher.