County COVID-19 case rate slows, two more die

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Trempealeau County last week was the lowest it has been in two months, but two more residents died from the virus, according to the Trempealeau County Health Department.

The county’s 134 new cases reported by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services was the lowest since the week of Oct. 19 to 25, but still amongst the 10 highest totals the county has had since the virus hit the area in April. The two deaths last week put the death total at 24 in the county.

The new case total could slow more in the near future as the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors is expected to consider an ordinance change that would allow health department officials to fine county residents and visitors for not wearing masks in public. The measure was approved by the county board of health on Nov. 17, but requires approval from the full board.

“The health department is drowning,” said county health director Barb Barczak at the Nov. 17 board of health meeting. “We need to do something.”

If approved, county health officials would be able to issue citations with financial penalties, limit the size of gatherings and forbid “interference” when inspecting public places. Public places are defined as any place the public is allowed.

Under the proposed ordinance, a first violation of a health order could net a $25 fine, a second a $50 fine and a third or more offense, a $100 fine. Each day an order is disobeyed counts as a separate offense.

The mask order covers residents inside buildings, standing in line to enter a building, in cars with non-family members and outdoors if it’s not possible to stand six feet apart.

Because the board of health meeting was held the day after the county board’s monthly November meeting, the ordinance change has sat waiting for approval from the county board for more than a month as the supervisors elected not to call a special meeting to approve or deny the measure. Since Nov. 17, 13 county residents have died from COVID-19.

The upcoming meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the Trempealeau County Community Television website. The meetings typically include a forum in which members of the public can comment.  

The county’s elderly population continues to be hit hard. Amongst the new cases within the past week, 38 were people 60 years old or older, seven were at least 80 years old, according to the health department. Over the past six weeks, there have been 103 cases amongst people 80 or older.

The health department reported 19 county residents were hospitalized and there were 411 active cases as of Monday afternoon.

The Arcadia area was hit the hardest last week with 33 new cases, 10 more than Galesville. There were 17 new cases reported in Independence, Eleva, 16; Whitehall, 15; Blair and Trempealeau, 14; Osseo, 11; Ettrick, eight and Strum, six.

Of the county residents tested last week, 36.6 received positive results.