Area COVID death toll climbs by 8 over past month

Over the past month eight more people in Steele and Dodge counties have died from COVID-19.
On Monday, Public Health Director Amy Caron reported that four people have died in Steele County in addition to another four in Dodge County since Oct. 1. Included in that total is the area’s youngest victim to date—a 30-year-old woman from Steele County.
“There were no underlining conditions,” Caron said of the COVID death involving the 30-year-old. She was not certain if the woman had been vaccinated.
The other victims in Steele County were in their 60s and 90s, according to Caron. The oldest victim had been in a long-term care facility, she said.
In Dodge County, two of the victims were in their 60s, one in their 70s and the other in their 80s, Caron said, adding one of the victims had been in long-term care.
Along with the recent deaths, there has also been a surge in COVID cases in both counties. Currently, Steele County has 6,086 cases, up from 5,472 in early October and Dodge County reports 2,864 cases, up from 2,589. Steele is averaging 20 new cases per day while Dodge sees 8-10 new cases every day, Caron said.
The bulk of the new cases, Caron said, are involving 20 to 50 year olds.  
With COVID still hanging on, Caron isn’t backing down on her plea for people to get vaccinated. “It’s still best to go get that vaccine,” she said.
The vaccine rates for both counties have actually dipped from what had been previously reported because the most recent numbers reflect all ages for the first time. In Steele County, the vaccine rate is 56.9% while Dodge is 57.4%, Caron said.
Caron said even if someone who is vaccinated has a breakthrough COVID case, the chances are “less likely to die or end up in the hospital.” She said Public Health continues to urge people to get vaccinated.
“There is not a good argument to not get vaccinated,” Caron said. “To me the science doesn’t lie. I’m not going to back down on this… the science is there (to be vaccinated).”
Caron is hopeful that they will get the go ahead from the federal government this week to begin vaccinating 5-11 year olds by as early as next week. She is keeping in close contact with area school leaders, who she said are “very excited to have this come out and hope families will consider getting their kids vaccinated.”
Beginning this week, Steele County is moving its vaccination clinics back out to the Public Works Building until further notice. In recent months, it had been done at the parking lot of Public Health, but Caron said their capacity has been filled over the past week. Public Health is currently offering flu and COVID shots as well as boosters every Wednesday.  
COVID-19 VACCINE WATCH
                        Percent
                        of All Residents           
Steele:           56.9%                     
Dodge:           57.4%
Source: Steele County Public Health