Delta variant of COVID-19 driving spikes in cases in La Crosse, throughout Wisconsin

Between July 5th and July 29th, cases rose 826% in the state

WISCONSIN (WKBT) – Staff at Gundersen Health System say they are seeing a “concerning” jump in the number of cases in the 21 counties they serve.

On July 18th there was 14 active cases in those counties.

As of last Wednesday, it was a little more than four times that number.

Staff cite the Delta variant for the spike.

“The unknown is what is going to be around every corner still until we emerge. When can we plan on that? I don’t think we know. The virus isn’t writing a textbook for us. We’re sort of watching and writing the textbook as we go,” said Gundersen Health System infection control team director Bridget Pfaff.

Gundersen Health System is still offering the vaccine for walk-in visitors Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at its Onalaska clinic.

The Delta Variant is creating concerns state-wide.

Between July 5th and July 29th, cases rose 826%.

Hospitalizations during that time went from 23  to 223, a jump of 870%.

Staff at UW Health say a fourth surge in the pandemic could be on the way.

“It the case of delta, what seems to happen is that the virus is able transmit more easily from person to person. So from the perspective of the virus, it gives it an advantage. From our perspective, it means that the number of cases than can really snowball when delta is around, which it now is,” said UW Health medical director of infection control Dr. Nasia Safdar.

According to the CDC, the delta variant is responsible for more than 80 percent of the new cases in the U.S.

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