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Leibfried interim Public Health Director, new COVID cases
laf health department

DARLINGTON – After Lafayette County ended former Public Health Director Elizabeth Townsends contract on Sept. 3, Julie Leibfried took over the position as interim director.

Leibfried was hired in 2019 as a public health nurse. In order to maintain their three nurses and one director personnel with whom they have been working at the Lafayette County Health Department, the Board of Health Committee approved a motion to post a potentially available public nurse position.

The committee also approved adding to the Health Director’s job description the preference of a nursing degree of the applicant.

COVID-19 Update

Leibfried updated the board on the amount of COVID-19 cases in the county. As of the meeting, the county is up eight cases to 197. Of those cases, 187 have recovered. The health department is working with some individuals who stated they were in contact with individuals in Grant County who have tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website and their mapping based on census data, the Darlington/Willow Springs/Fayette area continues to have the most cases with 70. The Belmont area currently has 31, Shullsburg/Benton has 22, South Wayne/Wiota/Gratiot has 26 and Blanchardville/Argyle has 39. The county has had 3,073 people test negative so far.

A countywide testing took place Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Multi-purpose building on Ames Road outside of Darlington. They had the ability to test 500 people. In July, the National Guard tested over 200 people during a countywide testing.