By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
LINCOLN COUNTY – In its Wednesday, Sept. 1 weekly COVID-19 update, the Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) said the county had seen a “steady increase of positive cases” and “high to very high” case activity between Aug. 4 and Sept. 1, citing the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System.
In that time frame, there were 188 new cases of COVID 19 reported in the county. 27% of COVID-19 tests came back positive.
“Viral load is higher, resulting in more symptoms and faster spread throughout the home, gatherings, and worksites,” LCHD stated.
Of the 188 new cases, 32 (17%) were vaccine breakthrough cases.
Nine people had been hospitalized due to COVID-19 between Aug. 4 and Sept. 1, according to LCHD. The individuals were in their 30s, 50s, 70s, and 90s. One individual was vaccinated, while the other eight were not.
Four COVID-19-related deaths were reported in the county in that period. The individuals were in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, and all were unvaccinated, LCHD said.
Lincoln County was still below a 50% vaccination rate as of Sept. 1. 13,298 residents (48.2%) had received at least one dose, while 45.9% (12,678) had completed a vaccine series.
According to LCHD, there were seven “active facility-wide investigations for COVID-19 in Lincoln County” as of Sept. 1, including one at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill. There were two investigations underway at long-term care facilities, one at an educational facility, and four at non-healthcare workplaces as of Sept. 1.
3,286 people had tested positive for COVID-19 in Lincoln County as of Sept. 1, an increase of 58 from Wednesday, Aug. 25. 72 COVID-19-related deaths and 158 hospitalizations had been reported in the county as of that date.
For more information regarding COVID-19 in Lincoln County, visit www.co.lincoln.wi.us/health/page/novel-coronavirus-covid-19.
