By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Editor

LINCOLN COUNTY – In its Wednesday, Dec. 1 weekly COVID-19 situational report, the Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) said Lincoln County is seeing “very high disease activity level” and “higher viral load, resulting in more symptoms and faster spread throughout the home, schools, gatherings, and worksites.”

LCHD cited the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System, and the Wisconsin Immunization Registry in the report.

Photos courtesy of LCHD.

According to the report, 376 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Lincoln County between Nov. 3 and Dec. 1. Of those cases, 69 (18.4%) were vaccine breakthrough cases. 60 of the 376 cases had been reported between Nov. 24 and Dec. 1.

Eight individuals in their 30s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s were hospitalized between Nov. 3 and Dec. 1. Zero COVID-19-related deaths were reported in Lincoln County in that time frame.

206 hospitalizations and 86 COVID-19-related deaths had been reported in the county as of Dec. 1.

The report said 13,870 Lincoln County residents (50.3%) had completed a COVID-19 vaccine series as of Dec. 1, an increase of 46 individuals from Nov. 24. 14,438 county residents (52.3%) had received at least one vaccine dose.

Percentage of fully-vaccinated individuals, by age group.

As of Dec. 1, there were eight active facility-wide COVID-19 public health investigations in Lincoln County, including one at Riverview Health Services in Tomahawk, according to the report. Three investigations were underway at long-term care facilities, two at educational facilities, and three at non-healthcare workplaces.

LCHD provides updates on its Facebook page and website numerous times weekly. COVID-19 case counts are shared on Facebook each Monday, while weekly situational reports, including activity level, vaccination rates, breakthrough cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and more, are released on Thursdays.

Visit www.co.lincoln.wi.us/health/page/lincoln-county-covid-19-data-updates for more COVID-19 information.