Local COVID-19 positive test numbers climbing once again; First week of December marks highest positivity total in nearly a year’s time

Veterans Memorial Hospital begins limiting visitors again

The positive tests for COVID-19 reported by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) in its weekly update hit levels not seen for nearly a year in Allamakee County for the first week in this month of December. Albeit a week ago now, the most recent update provided by the IDPH Tuesday, December 7 reported a total of 70 new positive tests for Allamakee County for the timeframe of December 1-7.

That number represents the highest weekly total for positive COVID-19 tests in Allamakee County since 79 positive tests were recorded during the one-week timeframe of December 14 through December 21, 2020. Those 79 positive tests from nearly a year ago wrapped up a seven-week stretch of the highest positive test numbers Allamakee County has seen since the pandemic began, including the highest-ever week of 111 positive tests that were reported for the first week of December one year ago, the same timeframe as the current 70 positive tests most recently reported by IDPH.

Those recent 70 positive tests have followed a steady increase in such test results over the past month’s timeframe for Allamakee County. From a positive test number of just 15 reported November 10, the IDPH reported an average of 23 additional positive tests over the next two weeks before 56 positive tests were recorded for November 24-30, the week just before the latest reported total of 70 positive tests.

In addition to the recent rise in positive cases, the IDPH has also reported four Allamakee County deaths attributed to COVID-19 since the middle of October, the deadliest six-week stretch reported by IDPH for Allamakee County since a timeframe from late February into early April of this year when seven deaths were recorded over a six-week span.

Of the 70 positive tests reported for the first week of December, nearly one-fourth of those (23%) were reported in young adults in the ages 18-29 group, with the 60-69 year old age group next in line with 18%. Both the 40-49 and 50-59 age group reported 16% of those new positive cases, with the youngest age group, 0-17, reporting 13% of the new positive tests. The 80 and older age group had the lowest percentage of the new cases with just two percent.

HOSPITAL IMPOSES VISITOR RESTRICTIONS
In light of the rising local positive case count, Veterans Memorial Hospital officials announced Wednesday, December 8 that visitors are again being restricted at the hospital in Waukon in an effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus within the community. In the event of a special circumstance, such as a terminal patient, family members may call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 and speak with the charge nurse about the situation. Veterans Memorial Hospital will continue to provide updates through the local newspaper and radio stations as well as the hospital’s Facebook page and website at www.veteransmemorialhospital.com.

LOCAL TREND
“We are starting to see the fall-out from everyone getting together during Thanksgiving, and we have the Christmas and New Year’s holidays right around the corner,” noted Sheryl Darling-Mooney of Allamakee County Public Health of the local increase in positive tests. “And yes, we are seeing a small amount of people who are vaccinated testing positive, but most all of those have not had their booster or have maybe not had it for the full two weeks for it to be most effective. Those positive tests among vaccinated individuals tend to be in those who have found out they have been exposed to the virus from someone else and they come in and get tested on their own, and may not even be showing any symptoms. Of the small number of vaccinated individuals we’re seeing test positive, their symptoms are much less severe than those who have not been vaccinated.” Additional COVID-19 and vaccination information can be found within the December 15, 2021 edition of The Standard or at this link on The Standard's website.