Five COVID-19 deaths in area, including 56th of La Crosse resident

Five COVID-19 deaths in the area, including another in La Crosse County.

That makes 56 La Crosse residents who have died from the virus — 18 this month, tying October for most virus deaths in a month in the county. November had 15.

La Crosse also added 85 new cases — the most since there were 87 on Nov. 17. The county is now averaging 44.4 cases a day the past week with a positivity rate of 25.3% over that time.

Two weeks ago, the average over a week was 55 a day. A month ago, it was 98 a day.

Two more county residents were hospitalized Wednesday, bringing that total to 311 — 63 in December alone.

In surrounding counties, Winona, Vernon, Jackson and Fillmore also reported one death each Wednesday.

It was the first reported death of a Fillmore resident.

For Vernon, it’s the 35th death — the fifth in the past eight days and the 20th in the past month.

Winona is now up to 43 deaths. The last one came on Dec. 18. There have been 13 this month.

Jackson now has 17 deaths — five coming in the past nine days and 12 this month.

Here’s a look at cases and current hospitalizations in those surrounding counties:
VERNON: 24 new cases (7.7/day past week – 1,538 total – 137 active – 6 hospitalized)
TREMPEALEAU: 16 new cases (10.7/day past week – 2,950 total – 305 active – 6 hospitalized)
MONROE: 22 new cases (14.9/day past week – 3,439 total – 122 active – 3 hospitalized)
JACKSON: 6 new cases (8.4/day past week – 2,368 total – 134 active – 0 hospitalized)
WINONA: 15 new cases (11/1/day past week – 3,544 total)
HOUSTON: 7 new cases (7.6/day past week – 1,171 total)
FILLMORE: 17 new cases (10.0/day past week – 1,098 total)

STATE TOTALS
Wisconsin: 477,292 cases, 21,207 hospitalizations, 4,818 deaths
Minnesota: 413,107 cases, 21,748 hospitalizations, 5,262 deaths
Iowa: 280,065 cases, 3,822 deaths
CASES/DAY PAST WEEK
Wisconsin: 1,957, Minnesota: 1,531, Iowa: 1,136
HOSPITALIZATIONS/DAY PAST WEEK
Wisconsin: 98, Minnesota: 112, Iowa: 84
DEATHS/DAY PAST WEEK
Wisconsin: 33, Minnesota: 42, Iowa: 21

Statewide, Wisconsin reported 2,755 cases, 126 hospitalizations and 35 deaths. The state has had 296 hospitalized in the past two days.

Minnesota added 2,019 cases, 143 hospitalizations and 66 deaths. That’s the most deaths in a day since there were back-to-back days with 75 and 79 on Dec. 23-24, respectively.

Iowa added 1,755 cases, 76 hospitalizations and 10 deaths. State data has shown 87 deaths the past two days, after going four consecutive days with just one recorded death.