Tuesday, August 18,
2020
IRON COUNTY HITS 100 CASES
Loon Day and Covid-19
IRON COUNTY CASES ON THE RISE
The number of Iron County Covid -19 virus cases continues to
rise in the aftermath of the decision to put money ahead of the health and
safety of local residents and proceed with the Mercer’s annual Loon Day
festivities. The Iron County Health Department reported Tuesday that to date it
has recorded 85 Covid-19 cases. Just before Loon Day there
were 68 cases.
It remains to be seen what the Mercer School Board will do
considering the increasing number of Covid-19 virus cases in Iron
County. At its July 27 meeting, the school board approved a plan for
reopening the school with an option for students to return to normal five-day
school week or attend classes by virtual study on-line at home. (See
MSF 7/20/20 Mercer School Board Meetings) Some schools in other
areas that open early have had to close back down because of major Covid-19
virus outbreaks in their schools.
The school board deferred making a decision regarding the fall
sports programs --- football, volleyball and cross-country – until its August
24 meeting at which time a plan is to be presented. Athletic
Director Adam Miller was to develop the plan, but Miller is reportedly ill with
Covid -19. Some major college football leagues, including the Big 10 and
Pack 12, have suspended their fall schedules until next spring.
Two more Mercer restaurants -- Tom’s CafĂ© and Liberty Way --
have closed as result of employees testing positive for
Covid-19. Earlier four other restaurant/bars closed because of
Covid-19 infected employees.
There is no way of knowing how many Iron County residents were
infected with Covid-19 by attending the August 5 Loon Day
festivities. Also, non-county residents attending the event could
have been infected and carried the disease back to their own counties where
they would be counted.
In any event, Covid-19 cases continue to increase in the state
with 70,796 confirmed cases and 1,050 deaths. On a per capita basis,
Iron County ranks number one in the state with the most cases, and number one
of all counties east of the Mississippi River.
Mercer Loon Day was the only known crowd-attracting event held
in Wisconsin. Mercer Town Chairman John Sendra pushed for holding
the event despite the threat it imposed. He said that local
businesses had been losing income due to the disease and that Loon Day was
needed to help those businesses. Sendra operates the Cranberry Inn
and Motel.
At a July 24 Mercer Town board meeting, board member Vic
Ouimette made a strong case for not holding this year’s Loon
Day because of the danger the disease imposed. Board member
Opal Roberts stood with Ouimette. However, Sendra and board members
Mike Lambert and Eric Snow voted to proceed with Loon Day. (See
MSF 7/24/20 The Loon Day Controversy)
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