DRIFTLESS - Over the past week COVID-19, diagnoses statewide increased from 472,153 on Monday, Dec. 28 to 487,938 on Monday, Jan. 4. That is a statewide increase of 15,785 cases. The number of deaths increased from 4,711 to 4,884, an additional 173 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Crawford Countysaw 25 new cases, increasing to 1,532. The number of deaths remained at 12.

Crawford County Public Health reports fifty-seven COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days, this is half the amount of cases reported in the prior two-week period.  The positivity rate is also decreased from 11.3% two weeks ago to 6.4% currently. “At the beginning of November, we were at a 22% positivity rate, we are seeing a steady decrease of cases over the last six weeks, which is great.” says Cindy Riniker, Health Officer.   

With over half of our eight metrics being green, we feel comfortable easing restrictions due to less evidence of high rates of community spread. While we are all happy to be less restrictive it is still being advised with caution.  Virus activity comes ad goes in waves, while we are on the downward trend now, this does not mean the trend will not increase again in the future.   

Crawford County’s Phase Two includes the following recommendations: 

• Limit the amount of people in close contact at public gatherings to 50% of the total occupancy.

• Limit indoor gatherings to 50 people or less.  

• Limit outdoor gatherings to 100 people or less.

• Be cautious when attending non-essential gatherings

We continue to work with businesses and schools to continually monitor their populations and limit spread within facilities.

All residents, organizations and facilities of Crawford County must continue to be diligent to help our schools and businesses keep their doors open. Continue to wear face coverings when in public, keep six-foot distant from others, wash your hands, stay home when you are sick, get tested if showing COVID-19 symptoms and limit non-essential gatherings of large groups of people.  Our hope is by continuing these practices we can keep our numbers low.

For more details about the Crawford County-Moving Forward Plan and the metrics used to determine reopening go to crawfordcountywi.org/health .

At the Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution, there have been a total of 413 positive tests and 1,048 negative tests. Of the 413 positive cases, four are released positive cases, and there are no active positive cases and 409 inactive positive cases. 

In addition, 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 Jan. 19 and Feb 16, from 12-4 p.m.

Vernon Countysaw an increase of 64 cases in the last week, increasing to 1,573. The number deaths increased by one, from 34 to 35.

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. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23, and Mar. 9.

Richland Countysaw an increase of 44 cases, increasing to 1,117. 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 111 cases in the last week, going from 3,401 to 3,513. The number of deaths in the county remained at 27.

Juneau Countysaw an increase in cases of 115, growing to 2,454. Of the 2,545 cases, 543 of them are at the New Lisbon Correctional Facility, an increase of three cases there. In addition, a new outbreak started on Dec. 3 at the Sand Ridge Treatment Center in Mauston, where there are 50 cases, an increase of one. The number of deaths in the county increased by one to 11.

LaCrosse Countyhas seen an uptick in the number of new cases in the last week of 440, going from 9,867 to 10,307. The number of deaths increased by three to 58.

Grant Countyhas seen an increase of 113 cases in the last week, going from 4,077 to 4,190. The number of deaths in the county remained at 77.

Lafayette Countyhas seen an increase of 25 cases in the last week, increasing to 1,253. The number of deaths in the county remained at five.