The percentage of tests coming back positive rose to four percent Thursday as fewer tests were reported — still over 12,000 — and 469 new positive cases were reported.
Additionally, 10 people succumbed to COVID19 since this time Monday — three each in Kenosha and Racine Counties — bringing the total death toll to 626.
The largest local increase in new cases today comes from Milwaukee County, with 257 new cases and eight percent of tests coming back positive.
Several other counties saw small numbers of new cases but large percentages of positive tests, including:
Dane County: 16 new cases, 8% positive tests
Forest County: 1 new case, 20% positive tests
Kenosha County: 29 new cases, 7% positive tests
Racine County: 41 new cases, 6.8% positive tests
Rock County: 13 new cases, 17% positive test
Waukesha County: 21 new cases, 8% positive tests
Winnebago County: 25 new cases, 13% positive tests
Hospitalizations fell to 355, two fewer than Wednesday. Of those currently hospitalized, 117 require intensive care. Additionally, 196 people are hospitalized and awaiting test results.
The rate of disparity in Latino populations continues to stand out — 33.5 percent of total cases are now Latino people, and 36 percent of today’s new cases. Latinos make up just seven percent of the state’s overall population.
Similarly, 19 percent of all cases are Black people, who also make up 25 percent of deaths. Black people make up just six percent of the state’s population.
DHS also reports that 65 percent of those confirmed to have been infected have recovered and 3.3 percent have died, leaving nearly 6,300 active, confirmed infections in the state.
