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Weekly COVID-19 case count
covid-19 graphic coronavirus

DRIFTLESS - The past week saw Grant County suffer its 12th coronavirus-related death, and a case tied to UW–Platteville.

Over the past week COVID-19 diagnoses statewide increased from 12,687 May 18 to 15,584 Monday, and the number of deaths increased from 459 to 514, according to the state Department of Health Services. 

The number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases in Grant County over the past week increased from 75 to 87, and the number of deaths increased from 10 to 12, according to the Grant County Health Department.

Iowa County increased from 11 to 12 cases, and Lafayette County increased from 16 to 22 cases, according to DHS. 

According to DHS 59 percent of those diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered — 9,207 Wisconsinites as of Monday. The number of deaths statewide increased to 514, but decreased to 3.3 percent of positive diagnoses. Almost 5,900 cases, 38 percent of COVID-19 diagnoses, have taken place in the past 30 days.

UW–Platteville chancellor Dennis Shields announced Monday that “a member of the UW–Platteville community” tested positive, and is “quarantined under Grant County Health Department guidelines until their officials have cleared the individual.”

Shields said the Health Department is notifying “students, faculty and staff who may have had direct contact or exposure with the individual,” and those notified should “contact their primary care provider for guidance.”

The person is not being named due to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

The DHS census-level map that shows approximate counts of positive tests and deaths by range for 5 or more cases now lists four Grant County areas, including, for the first time, part of Platteville.

The census tract of the approximate boundaries of the towns of Clifton, Ellenboro, Liberty, Lima and South Lancaster has 28 of Grant County’s 87 positive tests and 10 of the county’s 12 deaths. Platteville has 13 cases. Lancaster has 11 cases. The Hazel Green and Jamestown area has eight cases, and the census tract that includes Cassville, Beetown, Glen Haven, Waterloo and North Lancaster has six cases.

In Green County, Monroe’s three census tracts combine for 34 cases, northeastern Green County has seven cases, and northwestern Green County has six positive tests. Darlington and northern Lafayette County has nine cases. Southern Richland County has six cases. In Crawford County, there are a total of 26 cases, with nine in Prairie du Chien and seven in central Crawford County. As of Friday, May 22, Vernon County had 17 cases. Monroe County saw up an increase of one case in the last week, now 16, and LaCrosse County saw an increase of four cases in the last week, now 51.