DRIFTLESS - Over the past week COVID-19, diagnoses statewide increased from 508,346 on Monday, Jan. 4 to 522,877 on Monday, Jan. 11. That is a statewide increase of 14,531 cases. The number of deaths increased from 5,162 to 5,470, an additional 308 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

As of Monday, Jan. 18, at least 1,730 new coronavirus deaths and 169,641 new cases were reported in the United States. Over the past week, there has been an average of 218,971 cases per day, an increase of three percent. More than 23,983,600 people in the United States have been infected with the coronavirus according to a New York Times database. About 3,300 people are dying from the coronavirus every day, and the country is fast approaching 400,000 total deaths.

Crawford Countysaw 53 new cases and antigen-probable cases, increasing to 1,642. The number of deaths remained at 13.

With vaccination distribution starting, this is the time to continue to follow public health measures to keep our virus spread low until we are able to offer vaccinations to all.  Please continue to keep six-foot distance from others, wash hands often, wear a face covering, avoid non-essential travel, stay home when you are sick and get tested if you have symptoms.

At the Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution, there have been no changes in case numbers in the past week.

The Crawford County Public Health Department will be holding COVID-19 testing events twice a week on Mondays, 11 a.m. – 12 noon and Fridays, 9-10 a.m. at the Crawford County Administration Building parking lot, 225 N. Beaumont Rd. Prairie du Chien, WI 53821. All tests must be scheduled in advance.  Call the Crawford County Public Health Department at 608-326-0229 to schedule an appointment.  There is no cost to participate.

Drive through testing will also be offered in January, February and March in both Prairie du Chien and Gays Mills. In Prairie du Chien, testing will take place at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 201 S. Michigan Street, on Feb. 2, and March 2, from 12-4 p.m. In Gays Mills, testing will take place at Vosseteig Funeral Home, 325 Sunset Ridge Avenue, on Feb 16, from 12-4 p.m.

Vernon Countysaw an increase of 33 cases in the last week, increasing to 1,670. The number deaths remained at 37.

Vernon County Health Department staff are currently working on identifying those that would like to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We will be working with health care workers and long term care staff/residents during the phase 1A administration.  Once the state gives us approval to move to phase 1B, which may include essential workers, we will start contacting those interested in receiving vaccine. Please let us know by completing this form if you believe you would be a person qualified for phase 1B. More information to come on where and when you will be able to receive the vaccine. This is just the first step in identifying those that qualify. To register, go to: https://hipaa.jotform.com/210076025290142

Free COVID-19 community testing will be available every other Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Old Highway Shop in Viroqua, at the intersection of Highways 56 and 14 (across from the Viroqua Food Co-op). Testing events will take place on Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23, and Mar. 9.

Richland Countysaw an increase of 16 cases, increasing to 1,187. The number of deaths in the county remained at 13.

Upcoming COVID-19 testing events in the county will be held as follows:

Richland County Fairgrounds, 23630 County AA, Richland Center, Mondays 9 a.m.–1 p.m. and Thursdays 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Monroe Countysaw an increase of 138 cases in the last week, going from 3,676 to 3,814. The number of deaths in the county remained at 27.

Juneau Countysaw an increase in cases of 114, growing to 2,687. Of the 2,687 cases, 544 of them are at the New Lisbon Correctional Facility, with an increase of one case there. In addition, a new outbreak started on Dec. 3 at the Sand Ridge Treatment Center in Mauston, where the number of cases remained at 50. The number of deaths in the county remained at 11.

LaCrosse Countyhas seen fewer cases than in previous weeks in the number of new cases in the last week of 303, going from 10,775 to 11,078. The number of deaths increased by three to 67.

The LaCrosse County Health Department is working with federal, state, and local partners to coordinate a process to offer COVID-19 vaccines to our community. We are now putting a call out to organizations with healthcare workers who do not work for Mayo Clinic Health System or Gundersen Health System.

The health department’s goal is to create a list of these employers and provide direct outreach when the COVID-19 vaccine is available for their employees.

Grant Countyhas seen an increase of 78 cases in the last week, going from 4,293 to 4,371. The number of deaths in the county increased by one to 78.

Lafayette Countyhas seen an increase of 54 cases in the last week, increasing to 1,332. The number of deaths in the county increased by one to six.