Winneshiek County Public Health Director says COVID-19 numbers are rising sharply

Winneshiek County Public Health Director Krista Vanden Brink shared COVID-19 numbers with Winneshiek County Supervisors on Monday, explaining why she believes the numbers are "a dire concern."

Vanden Brink says there were 51 new COVID cases in Winneshiek County in July; 137 new cases in August; 114 new cases in September; 196 new cases in October and already 78 new cases in November.  She says the actual number of people who have gotten COVID-19 might be even higher, since some people might not be contacting Public Health, but just isolating until their symptoms disappear.

Vanden Brink said the news announced Monday by Pfizer that its COVID vaccine has tested 90 percent effective is good news, but that we're still playing a waiting game for having a vaccine be ready for the general public.