DRIFTLESS - Over the past week COVID-19 diagnoses statewide increased from 21,038 June 8 to 22,932 Monday, June 15. That is a statewide increase of 1,894 cases. The number of deaths increased from 646 to 694, according to the state Department of Health Services.
Crawford Countysaw one new case, increasing to 27. The number of negative tests increased by 120, and there have been no deaths in the county.
National Guard testing
A community COVID-19 testing event was held on Friday, June 12 in Prairie du Chien.
It was deemed a success with the help of the National Guard, the Crawford County Public Health department, Crawford County Emergency Management, Prairie du Chein Police Department, city and county government, and volunteers from the Prairie du Chien Fire Department.
The mass testing event tested 276 individuals. A combination of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals (approved by the health department for surveillance) were tested.
One positive case resulted from the community test, the Crawford County Public Health Department reported. The individual who tested positive did not have contact with a confirmed case and had not traveled outside of the area, therefore the positive test is considered to be the result of community spread.
“The one positive case does show that the virus continues to circulate in our community,” according to a media release from the Crawford County Health Department. “We do not want the public to believe we are safe from this potentially deadly disease. The testing sample is a small percentage of our total population of 16,291 and is only a snapshot in time.
“Numbers continue to rise in our surrounding counties and the COVID-19 virus does not stay within borders,” according to the public health department. “We would like the public to stay vigilant in the practices that help limit the spread of the virus. Keep six feet of social distance, wear face covering in public, wash your hands, limit travel and stay home when you are sick.
“We hope to continue community testing events throughout the county over the next several months to assure that everyone who wants a test can get a test,” according to the public health media release. “Community testing helps to give Public Health a better understanding of how the COVID-19 virus is affecting our area. Identifying positive cases helps us to slow the spread of the disease.”Vernon Countysaw an increase of two cases in the last week, increasing to 24. The number of negative tests increased by 306, and there have been no deaths.
Richland Countysaw no increase in cases, remaining at 14 for the fifth week in a row. The number of negative tests increased by 120, and the number of deaths in the county remained at four. Southern Richland County has six cases.
Monroe Countysaw an increase of 17 cases, going from 19 to 36. Negative tests increased by 329, and the number of deaths in the county remains at one.
Juneau Countysaw an increase of two cases in the last week, growing to 25. The number of deaths in the county remains at one.LaCrosse Countyhas seen an exponential increase in new cases in the last week of 56, going from 76 to 132. There have been no deaths in the county. The vast majority of the confirmed cases has been among individuals in their 20s and 30s, prompting the health department to issue the following advisory regarding seven bars:
If you visited any of the following between June 5 and 7, you have may have been exposed to COVID-19. Please complete this form so our department can contact you and direct you on next steps to take: https://forms.gle/fqfBPUzW2jo3crfi9
Blue Moon, Onalaska
The Library (Bar), La Crosse
Legends and the Twisted Moose, La Crosse
Pettibone Beach, La Crosse
The Crow, La Crosse
Brothers, La Crosse
Broncos, La Crosse
This public notification is ONLY for the establishments listed above at this time.
A public notification is necessary when there is a current, actionable risk to the public and we do not know who all the close contacts may have been through disease investigation and contact tracing, and we see many unconnected positive COVID-19 cases associated with a business.
Grant Countyhas seen an increase of eight cases in the last week, going from 99 to 107. There have been no additional deaths in the county, with the number of deaths remaining at 12.
Lafayette Countyhas seen an increase of nine cases in the last week, going from 34 to 43. There have been no deaths in the county.
Iowa Countyhas seen an increase of one case in the last week, increasing to 17. There have been no deaths in the county.