Are we through with this yet?
By almost every available statistic, this area has weathered the COVID-19 storm. While that is surely great news, let’s not be of such short-term memory that we completely abandon caution and naively think it can’t come back at us again.
As of Tuesday, Clark County has but 17 active cases of COVID among its more than 34,000 residents. Only three municipalities -- the city of Neillsville and towns of Loyal and Sherman -- are reporting any active cases. Those numbers are tiny when compared to the county’s active caseload in the peak of the pandemic late last year. The highest number was 548 active cases in the county as of Nov. 18, and it remained at more than 300 from Nov. 6 until Dec. 3.
COVID-19 deaths here have also finally seemed to cease, with the last reported fatality on March 7. Only seven of the county’s 58 COVID-related deaths have occured since the beginning of 2021, again another sign that the virus has subsided here and medical treatments have improved since the onset almost a year ago.
The start of a widespread vaccination effort should only help limit further cases of the virus, although it’s somewhat disheartening to watch the slow roll-out of shots. As of this week, Clark County has the second-lowest rate of vaccination of any of the state’s 72 counties, with 16.6 percent of the population so far receiving a first dose. Only Taylor County is lower, at 15.7 percent. Numerous counties in the state have rates well above 30 percent already.
We suspect Clark County’s low rate is attributable to several factors, and among them may be an inability to receive more doses through the state’s distribution program. We expect the county’s rate may always be on the relative low side, as we are home to a highly conservative population that may refuse a shot in the arm. Likewise, with a high population of Amish residents, the vaccination rate may always lag behind other areas.
Regardless, enough residents should eventually get a shot so that so called herd immunity takes effect. We’re not pushing for anyone who is uncomfortable getting a vaccination to do so, but hope that all those who don’t have a problem with it make an effort to do so.
Already in the last few weeks, we’ve heard that summer events such as dairy breakfasts, the Clark County Fair, Greenwood’s End of Summer Fest and others are in the planning stages for 2021. That’s encouarging, although planners should still take into account mitigation efforts, such as keeping people at a distance when possible, so we don’t look back in a few months and say, “Geez, we thought we had a handle on things.”
It’s awesome to be getting back to normal, but let’s do what we should to stay there.
