The rate of coronavirus tests returning positive results fell for a fourth straight day to 4.8 percent — down from 5.3 on Tuesday — as just over 9,900 tests returned 478 positive results, according to Wisconsin state and county public health data. The 478 new cases bring the total case count for Wisconsin to 62,263. Of those, fewer than 8,900 are considered active, about 400 fewer than yesterday.
Seven more fatalities were reported: four in Milwaukee County and one each in Fond du Lac, Oconto and Ozaukee Counties. It is Oconto County’s first fatality. Previously reported in Kenosha and Racine Counties were removed from the data, so the total death toll rose by five to 1,011. 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 65 new cases and 5.36 percent of tests coming back positive.
Other localities with higher case totals and positive tests rates include:
Barron County: 12 new cases, 20 percent percent positive tests
Brown County: 12 new cases, 1.3 percent positive tests
Columbia County: 18 new cases, 9.89 percent positive tests
Dane County: 52 new cases, 3.4 percent positive tests
Dodge County: 12 new cases, 9.6 percent positive tests
Eau Claire County: 16 new cases, 9.7 percent positive tests
Fond du Lac County: 24 new cases, 13.3 percent positive tests
Green County: 10 new cases, 16.39 percent positive tests
Jefferson County: 10 new cases, 8.26 percent positive tests
La Crosse County: 11 new cases, 7.14 percent positive tests
Outagamie County: 11 new cases, 4.21 percent positive tests
Sauk County: 20 new cases, 7.43 percent positive tests
Sheboygan County: 10 new cases, 4.63 percent positive tests
Walworth County: 10 new cases, 4.46 percent positive tests
Waukesha County: 48 new cases, 4.26 percent positive tests
Also Tuesday, hospitalizations due to coronavirus infection fell to 364, 50 fewer than Tuesday but 37 more than a week ago. Of those, 111 were in intensive care units, eight fewer than Monday.
The rate of disparity in Latino populations has improved but continues to stand out. More than 23 percent of total cases are now Latino people, as well as 6.5 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 84 percent have recovered and 14 percent remain active.
