The percentage of tests coming back positive fell to 2.95 percent Wednesday as many more tests were reported — over 16,000, the most in any single day yet — and 583 new positive cases were reported.
Additionally, nine people succumbed to COVID19 since this time Monday — six in Milwaukee County — bringing the total death toll to 616.
The largest local increase in new cases today comes from Milwaukee County, with 202 new cases and six percent of tests coming back positive.
Dodge County also saw its largest single-day increase by far, with 157 new cases reported, and over 28 percent of tests returning positive results.
Several other counties saw small numbers of new cases but large percentages of positive tests, including:
Dane County: 16 new cases, 8% positive tests
Kenosha County: 16 new cases, 7% positive tests
Waukesha County: 22 new cases, 19% positive tests
Winnebago County: 14 new cases, 14% positive tests
Hospitalizations fell to 357, 31 fewer than Tuesday. Of those currently hospitalized, 130 require intensive care. Additionally, 199 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 37 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 about 6,100 active, confirmed infections in the state.
