BREAKING: Vernon County Health Department issues advisory regarding significant increase in local COVID-19 cases

The Vernon County Health Department on Monday issued an advisory on its Facebook page warning of a significant increase of positive COVID-19 cases in the county. This comes on the heels of the local health department's Saturday announcement of the first coronavirus-related death in Vernon County.

"We have had a significant increase in positive cases over the past week," the health department's statement read. "We ask that you please remember to social distance, wear a mask when distancing isn't possible, and wash your hands frequently. If you are sick please stay home and contact your medical provider. It is everyone's responsibility to do their part to help slow the spread."

Info posted on the department's FB page shows the county's positive confirmed cases ballooned to 110, with an additional two (probable) positive cases. It noted 24 of those are active, with one individual currently hospitalized. Additionally, 20 of the 110 cases are classified as travel-related, another 60 as close-contact, and 32 as unknown in origin

The positive confirmed case tally is up by 30 from the department's previous FB posting on Aug. 31. And the active case count has more than doubled, from 11 to 24 during that time-frame. The close-contact classification has also shot up from 38 to 60 within that seven-day period.

The major increase in cases coincides with the re-opening of schools county-wide. As of Sept. 5, Bronaugh R-7, a small Class 1 district located in the southwest part of the county, reported nine confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus amongst students and staff. The large number of confirmed positive cases forced the district to shut down all in-person class instruction for the entirety of the week last week.

The district previously noted that it intends to resume traditional class instruction Tuesday (Sept. 8).