MADISON, Wis. (WBAY) – For the second time in three days, Wisconsin received more than 1,000 tests that were positive for the coronavirus.
The state received 14,212 tests during the 24-hour period ending Thursday morning, and 1,052 were positive. That’s 7.4%.
That’s comparable to Tuesday, when the state had a record 1,117 positive results from 14,488 tests, or 7.71%. But it’s a reversal from Wednesday, when 712 results were positive out of even more tests — 14,780 tests, or 4.82%. That was the first time since July 7 that positive results were below 5%.
The percentage of positive tests is a key indicator of how successfully the state is containing the spread of the virus.
Positive coronavirus tests were reported in 62 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties and eight of the 15 counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the past 24-hour period.
In a state health briefing Thursday afternoon, Gov. Evers said his office has received numerous requests for a statewide face mask requirement. He said it’s under consideration but emphasized the need for personal responsibility. Replying to a reporter’s question, the governor said he’d have no hesitation enacting one if he didn’t expect political opposition to the order.
The state has a total 45,899 people diagnosed with the coronavirus since February.
Thirteen more of these people died, for a total 878 deaths. That’s 1.9% of known cases. Milwaukee County reported 5 deaths. Brown and Kenosha counties both reported 2 deaths. Outagamie, Winnebago, Eau Claire and Walworth counties each reported 1.
Another 9,285 patients, or more than 1 in 5, are still active cases. The remaining 34,682 people are considered recovered.
Forty-eight more people were hospitalized in the past 24 hours. With patient releases and deaths, there are currently 187 patients in hospitals with 51 in intensive care. That’s a significant decline from 354 patients hospitalized and 101 in intensive care just two days ago.
To date, 4,273 people required hospitalization for treatment, or 9.3%. That percentage has shown a slow but steady decline.
In terms of hospital readiness, the state reports 18% of hospital beds are available, the lowest percentage we’ve seen in some time. These are mostly occupied by patients with other medical needs than COVID-19 treatment.
Wisconsin currently has 83 public and private labs with a capacity of completing 24,162 tests per day.
The state offers an online a tool that displays COVID-19 activity over the past 2 weeks for every county, including the number of cases per 100,000 residents and whether cases are on an upward, even, or downward trend. You can view it by clicking here.
County by county cases (counties listed in bold were reported to have new cases):
Wisconsin
- Adams – 54 cases (2 deaths)
- Ashland – 13 cases (+2)
- Barron – 87 cases (+5) (2 deaths)
- Bayfield – 15 cases (+1) (1 death)
- Brown – 3,629 cases (+38) (49 deaths) (+2)
- Buffalo – 33 cases (+4) (2 deaths)
- Burnett – 7 cases (+1) (1 death)
- Calumet – 201 cases (+9) (2 deaths)
- Chippewa – 177 cases (+5)
- Clark – 152 cases (+5) (7 deaths)
- Columbia – 173 cases (+2) (1 death)
- Crawford – 49 cases
- Dane – 3,669 cases (+36) (33 deaths)
- Dodge – 592 cases (+8) (5 deaths)
- Door – 78 cases (+3) (3 deaths)
- Douglas – 82 cases (+5)
- Dunn – 79 cases (+5)
- Eau Claire – 421 cases (+12) (3 deaths) (+1)
- Florence – 5 cases
- Fond du Lac – 463 cases (+5) (6 deaths)
- Forest – 53 cases (+2) (4 deaths)
- Grant – 261 cases (+5) (14 deaths)
- Green – 119 cases (+1) (1 death)
- Green Lake – 49 cases
- Iowa – 54 cases
- Iron – 40 cases (+2) (1 death)
- Jackson – 38 cases (+1) (1 death)
- Jefferson – 461 cases (+12) (4 deaths)
- Juneau – 84 cases (+4) (1 death)
- Kenosha – 2,144 cases (+42) (49 deaths) (+2)
- Kewaunee – 96 cases (+3) (1 death)
- La Crosse – 697 cases (+14) (1 death)
- Lafayette – 94 cases (+7)
- Langlade – 14 cases (+1) (1 death)
- Lincoln – 49 cases (+3)
- Manitowoc – 219 cases (+7) (1 death)
- Marathon – 432 cases (+22) (3 deaths)
- Marinette – 202 cases (+6) (3 deaths)
- Marquette – 61 cases (+1) (1 death)
- Menominee – 14 cases (+4)
- Milwaukee – 17,197 cases (422 deaths) (+5)
- Monroe – 162 cases (1 death)
- Oconto – 135 cases (+6)
- Oneida – 59 cases (+6)
- Outagamie – 883 cases (+25) (12 deaths) (+1)
- Ozaukee – 440 cases (+18) (16 deaths)
- Pepin – 32 cases (+3)
- Pierce – 140 cases (+4)
- Polk – 91 cases (+3) (2 deaths)
- Portage – 310 cases (+7)
- Price – 18 cases (+2)
- Racine – 2,794 cases (+55) (69 deaths)
- Richland – 19 cases (4 deaths)
- Rock – 1,244 cases (+12) (25 deaths)
- Rusk – 13 cases (1 death)
- Sauk – 253 cases (+6) (3 deaths)
- Sawyer – 19 cases
- Shawano – 119 cases (+1)
- Sheboygan – 433 cases (+14) (5 deaths)
- St. Croix – 356 cases (+10) (2 deaths)
- Taylor – 37 cases (+3)
- Trempealeau – 245 cases (+3) (1 death)
- Vernon – 46 cases
- Vilas – 21 cases (+1)
- Walworth – 993 cases (+10) (20 deaths) (+1)
- Washburn – 9 cases (+1)
- Washington – 631 cases (+23) (19 deaths)
- Waukesha – 2,632 cases (+82) (42 deaths)
- Waupaca – 259 cases (+11) (14 deaths)
- Waushara – 58 cases (+1)
- Winnebago – 901 cases (+15) (16 deaths) (+1)
- Wood – 152 cases (+12) (1 death)
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Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- Alger – 3 cases
- Baraga – 5 cases
- Chippewa – 21 cases
- Delta – 43 cases (+2) (3 deaths)
- Dickinson – 36 cases (+2) (2 deaths)
- Gogebic – 42 cases (+1) (1 deaths)
- Houghton – 34 cases (+1)
- Iron – 10 cases (1 death)
- Keweenaw – 2 cases
- Luce – 3 cases
- Mackinac – 12 cases (+2)
- Marquette – 103 cases (+4) (11 deaths)
- Menominee – 58 cases (+1)
- Ontonagon – 2 cases (+1)
- Schoolcraft – 8 cases
Symptoms:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified these as possible symptoms of COVID-19:
- Fever of 100.4 or higher
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
Symptoms that require immediate medical attention include:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to rouse
- Bluish lips or face
- The CDC says this is not an all-inclusive list. Consult a medical provider about any symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Prevention
- The coronavirus is a new, or “novel,” virus. Nobody has a natural immunity to it. Children and teens seem to recover best from the virus. Older people and those with underlying health conditions (heart disease, diabetes, lung disease) are considered at high risk, according to the CDC. Precautions are also needed around people with developing or weakened immune systems.
- To help prevent the spread of the virus:
- Stay at least six feet away from other people
- Avoid close contact with people who are or appear sick
- Stay at home as much as possible
- Cancel events and avoid groups, gatherings, play dates and nonessential appointments
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care
- Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
- Cover your mouth and nose with a mask. At a minimum, use a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
- Clean frequently-touched surfaces and objects daily (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles)
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