For first time in weeks, COVID-19 metrics move from red in La Crosse County; Monroe, Winona suffer virus deaths

Another 75 cases of COVID-19 in La Crosse County, along with two more residents hospitalized, while Monroe and Winona counties suffered deaths.

The total cases now in La Crosse, according to the state, is 8,908. The county has averaged 99.9 cases a day the past week, with a 32.5% positivity rate.

Two more county residents were hospitalized, bringing that total to 277 — 29 so far in December.

The Coulee COVID-19 Collaborative released its weekly metrics update to gauge virus activity, and for the first time in weeks, there is a metric in green and some — aside from hospital care capacity — are in the yellow.

The case rate and hospitalization rate are still in red, and care capacity remains in yellow. Hospitalizations per day the past week did drop. It’s now at 13.2 per 100,000. Last week, it was at 18.4 and a month ago it was at 27.6.

The dashboard indicates the county is now able to get 85% of those tested, results within two days — a metric that moved from red to green in the past week. Case interviews and contacts reached within 1-2 days have also moved from red to yellow.

Meanwhile, in other counties, Monroe suffered two deaths — its seventh and eighth in the past 10 days — bringing the total there to 22, while Winona had its 33rd death — its seventh in the past 13 days.

Here’s case and hospitalization data from surrounding counties:
VERNON: 19 new cases (18.9 cases/day past week – 1,307 total – 207 active – 12 hospitalized)
TREMPEALEAU: 25 new cases (28.1 cases/day past week – 2,652 total – 434 active – 17 hospitalized)
MONROE: 28 new cases (35.4 cases/day past week – 2,984 total – 262 active – 9 hospitalized)
JACKSON: 14 new cases (34.7 cases/day past week – 2,008 total – 279 active – 10 hospitalized)
WINONA: 43 new cases (37.9 cases/day past week – 3,172 total)

STATE TOTALS
Wisconsin: 422,065 cases, 18,715 hospitalizations, 3,887 deaths
Minnesota: 363,719 cases, 18,809 hospitalizations, 4,109 deaths
Iowa: 250,282 cases, 3,021 deaths
CASES/DAY PAST WEEK
Wisconsin: 4,244, Minnesota: 5,197, Iowa: 2,018
HOSPITALIZATIONS/DAY PAST WEEK
Wisconsin: 164, Minnesota: 204
DEATHS/DAY PAST WEEK
Wisconsin: 55, Minnesota: 60, Iowa: 72

Statewide, Wisconsin added 3,619 cases, 215 hospitalizations — a day after admitting 214 to hospitals — and 81 deaths, which is the most since there were 82 on Dec. 2.

Minnesota added 4,539 cases, 215 hospitalizations — there were 236 hospitalized Tuesday — and 85 deaths — just the second time the state has been over 80 deaths in a day. There were 92 deaths Dec. 3 and 101 on Nov. 27.

Iowa added 2,328 cases, 124 hospitalizations and 102 deaths. The state says a reporting change is leading to the death toll increase. It’s one of many changes the state has done during the pandemic that has changed the data significantly.

The state is now accepting clinical diagnoses from doctors and other medical professionals and not just positive virus tests when attributing a death to the coronavirus.