As COVID-19 cases fall slightly, health officials are keeping an eye out for the impact of Labor Day

Posted: Mon, Sep 14, 2020 3:04 PM

Two weeks ago, there were over 100 people in isolation in Winneshiek County who had tested positive for COVID-19. Winneshiek County Public Health Director Krista Vanden Brink told county supervisors Monday the number has now declined to 17 people.

Vanden Brink told county supervisors on Monday that local health officials will be closely watching coronavirus statistics this week to see what impact, if any, large Labor Day gatherings have had. For now, she said, "we're holding our own on the numbers."

Winneshiek County has had 260 people who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, with five deaths, 156 people recovered and 99 people still in isolation, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health statistics. The IDPH figures differ from those used by local health officials because of the differences in timing--county health figures are usually a day or so more current that state COVID-19 figures.

Elsewhere in Northeast Iowa, Chickasaw County is reporting a surge in COVID cases, with a total of 190, only 90 of whom have recovered. Howard County has a total of 174 cases, with four deaths and 89 people still in isolation; Allamakee County has had 224 cases, with five deaths and 60 people still recovering; Clayton County has had 214 cases, with three deaths and 25 people still recovering; and Fayette County has had 170 cases, with one death and 63 people still recovering.

Overall in NE Iowa, there have been 1,232 cases of COVID-19 in the six counties, 18 deaths and 436 people still recovering.