MADISON (WKOW) — The percentage of new COVID-19 tests in Wisconsin to come back positive dropped slightly Sunday as the number of tests done decreased.
The Department of Health Services reported 4,996 new test results, of which 522–or 10.4 percent–came back positive, according to the numbers released today.
Measuring the percentage of new cases returned in tests each day helps differentiate if increases in cases are due to greater spread or more testing, according to DHS.
The seven-day average, another measure reported by DHS, has risen over the last several weeks.
As infections increase in the state, health officials have urged Wisconsinites not to travel over the Fourth of July weekend.
DHS also reported no new deaths and 12 new hospitalizations.
More than 584,000 tests have come back negative since testing began.
Of the positive cases, 24,899, or 79 percent have recovered.
DHS now has a county-level dashboard to assess the COVID-19 activity level in counties and Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition regions that measure what DHS calls the burden in each county. View the dashboard HERE.
Percentage of positive cases
| Date | Percentage |
|---|---|
| July 5 | 10.4 |
| July 4 | 10.8 |
| July 3 | 5.7 |
| July 2 | 4.2 |
| July 1 | 4.3 |
| June 30 | 4.7 |
| June 29 | 5.3 |
| June 28 | 7.1 |
| June 27 | 5.9 |
Deaths, hospitalizations due to COVID-19
| Date | New deaths |
New hospitalizations |
Total deaths |
Total hosp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 5 | 0 | 12 | 796 | 3586 |
| July 4 | 0 | 19 | 796 | 3574 |
| July 3 | 3 | 36 | 796 | 3555 |
| July 2 | 7 | 37 | 793 | 3519 |
| July 1 | 2 | 36 | 786 | 3482 |
| June 30 | 7 | 39 | 784 | 3446 |
| June 29 | 0 | 14 | 777 | 3,407 |
| June 28 | 0 | 11 | 777 | 3393 |
| June 27 | 11 | 31 | 777 | 3382 |
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services updates the statistics each day on its website around 2 p.m.
(Our entire coronavirus coverage is available here.)
The new strain of the coronavirus causes the disease COVID-19. Symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath. A full list of symptoms is available on the Centers for Disease Control website.
In severe cases, pneumonia can develop. Those most at risk include the elderly, people with heart or lung disease as well as anyone at greater risk of infection.
For most, the virus is mild, presenting similarly to a common cold or the flu.
Anyone who thinks they may have the disease should call ahead to a hospital or clinic before going in for a diagnosis. Doing so gives the staff time to take the proper precautions so the virus does not spread.
Those needing emergency medical services should continue to use 911.
