Taylor County COVID-19 cases top 300

Number of COVID-19 related deaths raises to 7

The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Taylor County has more than doubled in the past month and the number of deaths has climbed to seven.

According to Patty Krug of the Taylor County Health Department, as of Tuesday the county is at 301 cases, a number she expected to increase based on the rate of new cases being reported.

“We had eight new cases reported by 8 a.m. this morning,” Krug said. Among the cases Krug reported that two Taylor County residents are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 and that the total number of county deaths is at seven.

Krug explained that the deaths are reported by Taylor County medical examiner Scott Perrin with COVID-19 as a cause of death. Krug noted the health department is not involved in the decision about what is listed as the causes of death.

In part due to the spike in cases, the county received word that Medford was picked as a location for a recurring testing site by the Wisconsin National Guard.

According to Krug, Gov. Tony Evers directed a “strike team” be set up for testing in Clark and Taylor counties on alternating weeks. Krug said that up to 300 people could receive free testing at the sites during each of the sessions.

Testing is open to all residents ages five and older. The first testing will take place at the Medford Area Fire Department on Friday, Oct. 16.

“We are asking people to be conscientious,” Krug said, noting their goal is not to instill fear, but to make people aware of their surroundings and encourage them to make decisions that will help slow the spread of the virus.