By Joe Morey
News Editor
Covid case numbers are reportedly on the decline in Sawyer County and on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation. LCO’s Chief Medical Director stated in his report on February 2nd that LCO saw four positive test results that day, three on Tuesday and eight on Monday for a total of 15 cases this week.
“We have a seen a dramatic drop in testing. Hopefully the trend will continue,” Dr. Steve Miszkiwicz reported. “The new variant of Omicron at this point seems to not be gaining a foothold, but we will continue to monitor this as well.”
Sawyer County Public Health also issued their report on February 1st that case numbers trended down significantly last week. This week's seven day average of 104.4 cases per 100,000 is less than half of our highest-ever case rate of two weeks ago, which was 236.4 cases per 100,000, they said.
Wisconsin's seven day average has also receded, going from 395.8 cases per 100,000 two weeks ago to 113.4 cases per 100,000 this week.
Corresponding declines in hospitalization and death rates typically lag behind cases, and that is what we're seeing in Sawyer County as well, Public Health reported.