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Grant County has first confirmed COVID-19 death
Officials find COVID-19 a contributing factor
covid-19 graphic coronavirus

UPDATED APRIL 10 - 2:30 p.m. - State officials have now updated their COVID-19 page to say that the fourth confirmed case in Grant County was the county's first fatality.

On April 9, the number of cases in Grant County was listed as four, but officials had yet to determine whether or not the case of a person in their 80s who had died was caused by COVID-19. On April 10, the website changed, counting the death as the county's first fatality. 

The individual had been suspected of having COVID-19, and was tested post-mortem to confirm.

UPDATED APRIL 9 - 1:09 p.m. - Officials still have not finalized what role COVID-19 played in the death of a Grant County resident who passed away.

According to the Grant County Health Department, the individual, who was over the age of 80, was found to have been infected with COVID-19 due to tests conducted after their passing. According to Health Director Jeff Kindrai, the healthcare provider, Grant County Coroner, State of Wisconsin, and CDC will make the final determination of what role, if any, COVID-19 may have played.  

That determination, if COVID-19 is considered a contributing factor, will be added to the county tallies at  https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/county.htm

“We are very saddened by the death of this individual and our hearts go out to the family, and the community”, said Kindrai of the passing of the individual. Kindrai noted they are still trying to determine if the virus played a role. "This is currently under investigation and we are unsure at this time," Kindrai stated.

Testing is available and will be done post-mortem on individuals if COVID-19 is suspected. 

The day before, the state website reporting county-by-county numbers had Grant County, at the time with three confirmed cases, with 184 negative test results.

This was the fourth announced confirmed case in the county. The first three involved a person in their 70s, as well as two persons in their 20s.

ORIGINAL POST - APRIL 9, 2020-9:15 a.m. - Early Thursday morning, April 9, Grant County officially announced its first COVID-19 fatality.

The Grant County Health Department reported the first death of a resident that tested positive for COVID-19.  The individual was over 80 years of age.

“We are very saddened by the death of this individual and our hearts go out to the family, and the community”, said Jeff Kindrai, Director/Health Officer of the Department.


This was the fourth announced confirmed case in the county. The first three involved a person in their 70s, as well as two persons in their 20s.


Grant County, as of April 8, had 184 test of residents come back negative for COVID-19.


The Grant County Health Department is working with state and local partners as well as health care providers to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to help protect the health and safety of Grant County residents.


The public should follow steps to avoid getting sick including:


  • Avoid social gatherings with people of all ages (including playdates and sleepovers, parties, large family dinners, group camping, visitors in your home, and non-essential workers in your house);


  • Frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water;


  • Covering coughs and sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands);


  • Regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces;


  • Not shaking hands;


  • Avoiding touching your face; and


  • Staying home.



“Staying at home and social distancing are our best tools” says Kindrai, “Everything matters.  The better we do our part in protecting ourselves and others the better our outcomes will be and the quicker we will get through this.”     


This is a developing story - more will be posted as it comes in and in next week's newspapers.