54 more dead as positive coronavirus test rate remains over 27%

The state of Wisconsin confirmed 4,869 new coronavirus cases and 54 deaths on Tuesday.

With just over 13,000 tests processed, the daily positive test rate was a stunningly high 36 percent.

The seven-day positive test rate remained steady, though, at 27.1 percent, down slightly from 27.2 percent Wednesday.

The total number of cases ever confirmed in Wisconsin is now 214,995, of which nearly 45,000 — 21% — are considered active.

Hospitalizations also hit a record high today with 1,453 people currently hospitalized, 14 more than yesterday and 229 more than a week ago. However, the number of people in the ICU dropped from 339 to 330 since Wednesday.

Statewide, intensive care units are at 88 percent capacity. Some regions are worse off than that — in the Fox Valley, for example, ICUs are filled to 92 percent capacity, with only eight beds available across nine counties.

Seven patients are currently being cared for in the alternate care facility in Milwaukee.

The seven-day average of new cases rose to 4,086. The seven-day average of deaths rose to a new high at 35.

Deaths were reported in 25 counties. Locations of all deaths are below:

Additionally, deaths previously reported in Oneida, Washington and Adams Counties were removed from the data, so Wisconsin’s total death toll increased by 51 to 1,948.

All counties’ new case counts are below. Every county reported at least three new cases today. Milwaukee had the most with 683 cases, and has confirmed more than 2,100 cases in the past three days.