STAYING LOW: Eau Claire, La Crosse Are Largest Wisconsin Counties Without a Single COVID-19 Death
public health officials say multiple factors explain relatively low number of diagnoses
As mid-sized, relatively urban counties is western Wisconsin, Eau Claire and La Crosse already have a fair amount in common. Add one more similarity to the list: According to data compiled by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Eau Claire and La Crosse counties are the largest counties in Wisconsin without deaths attributed to COVID-19.
Every other county in Wisconsin with more than 100,000 residents – and even many of those much smaller – has endured coronavirus fatalities as of Thursday, April 30, according to DHS data. Worst hit by far is the state’s most populous county, Milwaukee, which had 181 COVID-related deaths and 2,940 positive cases as of Thursday. Dane County, home to Madison, was next on the list, with 22 deaths out of 428 diagnosed cases.
On a per capita basis, La Crosse and Eau Claire have among the lowest infection rates among Wisconsin’s urban counties.
By contrast, Eau Claire and La Crosse counties have been relatively unscathed by the pandemic – at least for now. As of Thursday, both counties had just 28 COVID-19 diagnoses each. On a per capita basis, in fact, La Crosse and Eau Claire have among the lowest infection rates among Wisconsin’s urban counties. (Of the state’s 16 largest counties, only Marathon County – home to Wausau – has a lower infection rate per 100,000 residents.)
To date, there have been 6,854 diagnosed COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin and 316 deaths attributed to the virus. More than two-thirds of those deaths have been in the four counties that make up the Milwaukee metro area.
Officials at the Eau Claire City-County Health Department say Eau Claire County’s relatively low COVID-19 caseload can be attributed to several factors. First, the number of diagnosed cases depends on the level of testing. Early in the pandemic, “Testing was prioritized for health care workers, higher risk individuals, and those hospitalized,” the department’s public health staff said in a written response to questions submitted by Volume One. “Therefore, it’s likely that in our community, as well as others, there were more people with the disease than the number of confirmed cases indicates. In mid April, it was recommended that anyone with mild symptoms be tested, and we anticipate that with more testing, we will continue to see an increase in cases.”
In addition, public health officials said, Eau Claire County benefited from the timing of the statewide “Safer at Home” order, which went into effect March 25, about two weeks after the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the county. While the virus had been spreading long before that in some parts of the state and nation, the onset of “Safer at Home” restrictions significantly reduced the number of interactions among people in Eau Claire County, and thus slowed the virus’s spread, particularly when compared with more populated parts of the state.
Finally, some of the credit rests on Eau Claire County residents themselves: “We do believe that the relatively low number of confirmed cases can be attributed in part to our community taking the ‘Safer at Home Order’ seriously,” county public health officials wrote. “Again, the number of confirmed cases is not a true representation of disease until there is more widespread testing. For this kind of disease, reducing interactions between people as well as good hand hygiene and cleaning of public surfaces are proven measures to prevent spread. This was the goal of ‘Safer at Home,’ and we’re thankful for our friends, neighbors, and community members who took this seriously.”
Overall, public health officials say, “Safer at Home” measures such as physical distancing have reduced the number of COVID-19 cases and possibly the number of deaths. Before the “Safer at Home” order, the state health department had estimated that the number of cases statewide would double every three to four days; instead, the case count has doubled every 12 days. “This is a big indicator of slower disease transmission, and certainly statewide success in preventing illness,” county public health officials wrote.
Testing Capacity Critical
As of Monday, April 27, there had been 25 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Eau Claire County, a figure that had risen to 28 by Thursday. Twenty of those individuals have already completed their isolation period – the requirement that they stay home to avoid spreading the disease while they are considered infectious, Lieske Giese, director of the Eau Claire City-County Health Department, said during a press conference.
As part of the “Badger Bounce Back” plan announced by Gov. Tony Evers last week, one of the milestones necessary to easing the “Safer at Home” order was boosting the number of COVID-19 tests statewide to 12,000 a day. However, Giese noted Monday, testing capabilities in the Eau Claire area and the state as a whole are lower than they should be.
“Pushing hard on actually getting testing happening is critically important,” Giese said. She noted that the health department has been working with local health care providers to increase the amount of testing, and has made a request as part of a regional partnership for potential National Guard assistance in conducting a larger number of tests. About 40-60 tests are being performed each day in Eau Claire, Giese said. While she didn’t offer a specific target, the figure should be “significantly higher,” she said.
“The motivation to all of us is to not get impatient and want that switch flipped. We need to do it slowly and strategically in those places where the risk is lowest.”
–Lieske Giese, director, Eau Claire City-County Health Department
As the number of tests increases and quarantine guidelines are lifted, the number of COVID-19 cases likely will increase in the community, Giese said. “I think we will start seeing incrementally likely some more disease happening with opening,” she said. “If we do it slowly like we’re doing now, I am confident we can stay on top of that. The motivation to all of us is to not get impatient and want that switch flipped. We need to do it slowly and strategically in those places where the risk is lowest.”
Public health officials say Eau Claire area’s health care system is strong and well-prepared for a surge in cases if one occurs. Likewise, the community’s preparations include plans for “alternative care sites” if they are needed. However, they added, “We feel that with the slow and deliberate ‘turn of the dial’ the state has outlined to this point … will prevent a ‘spike’ in cases and not challenge the capacity of our health system regionally.”
For a full look at Wisconsin COVID-19 statistics, including statewide and county-by-county figures, visit the state Department of Health Service’s website.
