The rate of coronavirus tests returning positive results rose Friday to seven percent — up from 4.7 — as about 14,100 tests returned 989 positive results, according to state and county public health data. The 989 new cases brings the total case count for Wisconsin to 58,768. Of those, about than 9,500 are considered active, about 50 fewer than Wednesday.
Twelve more fatalities were reported — two in Pierce County and one each in Dane, Fond du Lac, Grant, Kenosha, Marathon, Milwaukee, St Croix, Walworth, Waukesha and Waushara — bringing the total death toll to 990. It was Waushara County’s first covid fatality. Additionally, 18 people who tested positive for coronavirus infection have died of other causes, and are not counted as covid fatalities.
The highest local new case count came in Milwaukee County, with 248 new cases and 6.58 percent of tests coming back positive.
Other localities with higher case totals and positive tests rates include:
Brown County: 42 new cases, 6.18 percent positive tests
Dane County: 50 new cases, 3.58 percent positive tests
Dodge County: 25 new cases, 7.46 percent positive tests
Douglas County: 10 new cases, 9.01 percent positive tests
Eau Claire County: 22 new cases, 43.14 percent positive tests
Fond du Lac County: 14 new cases, 8.09 percent positive tests
Green County: 12 new cases, 20.34 percent positive tests
Jefferson County: 15 new cases, 8.29 percent positive tests
Kenosha County: 36 new cases, 2.13 percent positive tests
Marathon County: 11 new cases, 3.57 percent positive tests
Marinette County: 20 new cases, 18.18 percent positive tests
Oconto County: 12 new cases, 15 percent positive tests
Oneida County: 10 new cases, 19.23 percent positive tests
Outagamie County: 28 new cases, 9.96 percent positive tests
Ozaukee County: 23 new cases, 27.38 percent positive tests
Portage County: 12 new cases, 11.01 percent positive tests
Racine County: 95 new cases, 9.63 percent positive tests
Rock County: 15 new cases, 7.73 percent positive tests
Sheboygan County: 13 new cases, 7.93 percent positive tests
Walworth County: 24 new cases, 8.92 percent positive tests
Washington County: 24 new cases, 11.71 percent positive tests
Waukesha County: 100 new cases, 12.52 percent positive tests
Waupaca County: 13 new cases, 16.46 percent positive tests
Winnebago County: 13 new cases, 4.73 percent positive tests
Limited hospitalization data is available again after the state DHS and Wisconsin Hospital Association spent nearly two weeks re-configuring their reporting protocols due to new federal guidelines. As of Thursday in Wisconsin, 330 people were hospitalized due to coronavirus infection, the same number as Wednesday, and 121 of those were in intensive care units, nine more than Wednesday. Hospitalization data were not updated Friday.
The rate of disparity in Latino populations has improved but continues to stand out. More than 24 percent of total cases are now Latino people, as well as about 15.6 percent of today’s new positive cases. Latinos make up just seven percent of the state’s overall population.
Similarly, 14 percent of all cases are Black people, as are 21 percent of total COVID-19 related deaths in the state. Black people make up just six percent of the state’s population.
The state now reports that 1.7 percent of all covid cases in Wisconsin have died, while 82 percent have recovered and 16 percent remain active.
