Delta variant of COVID-19 driving spikes in cases in La Crosse, throughout Wisconsin Between July 5th and July 29th, cases rose 826% in the state August 2, 2021 6:41 PM Updated: On July 18th there was 14 active cases in those counties. As of last Wednesday, it was a little more than four times that number. Staff cite the Delta variant for the spike. “The unknown is what is going to be around every corner still until we emerge. When can we plan on that? I don’t think we know. The virus isn’t writing a textbook for us. We’re sort of watching and writing the textbook as we go,” said Gundersen Health System infection control team director Bridget Pfaff.