MANITOWOC COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Manitowoc County Health Department is reporting one in every three deaths the last three weeks are COVID related.
In just the first 20 days of December, Manitowoc County recorded 39 deaths. 13 of those were COVID-related.
“We are processing an enormous amount of deaths for the month of December,” said Manitowoc County’s public health officer, Stephanie Lambert. “We had 13 deaths due to COVID-19 just in the first 3 weeks. We had 14 throughout the entirety of November.”
She tells FOX 11 while the number of deaths has increased in a matter of weeks, the average age of those dying has decreased.
“Last year December 2020 the average age of death for COVID-19 patients were 80 years of age. December 2021 it’s 67. Our patients are younger, sicker and unfortunately it’s preventable.”
Ten of the 13 deaths were not vaccinated individuals. One of those deaths was a fully vaccinated person with their booster shot. Lambert says the deaths are just the reality of increased cases in the county from six to eight weeks ago.
“I can’t tell you how tired we are at the health department. We’re on the phone everyday with people who are very sick and there was a preventable treatment for them.”
Manitowoc County is not the only one seeing cases quickly rise. It’s a statewide issue again, with Department of Health Services reporting all counties having a high transmission rate. The 7-day average of new cases for Wisconsin Dec. 1 was 489. Dec. 21, the 7-day average is 724.
“High rates of COVID-19 transmission are occurring in all Wisconsin counties and that trajectory is growing,” said Karen Timberlake, secretary-designee for Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Lambert says all people need to do is get vaccinated and deaths and transmissions will decrease. 56% of Manitowoc County’s population is vaccinated.
“I don’t want you to take it just because I told you to. Call and ask questions, make an informed choice. The data is clear vaccines save lives, vaccines protect health.”
According to DHS data from November, people not fully vaccinated are 12 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than people who are fully vaccinated.
Lambert also mentioned Manitowoc County hospitals are overwhelmed. According to the Wisconsin Hospital Association, 178 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Northeast region.
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