In a potentially positive sign that the state may soon inch toward easing restrictions on businesses and individuals, the rate of positive infections dropped to just over nine percent — meaning fewer than one in 10 tests conducted in the past 24 hours came back positive — the third consecutive daily decline.
Governor Tony Evers’ “Badger Bounce Back” plan requires a 14-day decline in that measure, along with other indicators, before more businesses are allowed to open and groups can begin to gather.
Wisconsin now has had a total of 8,660 cases, according to Department of Health Services and county public health data — an increase of 386. More than 3,800 cases were processed in the past 24 hours — an increase of more than 1,000.
Overall since the crisis began, 9.26 percent of all tests have come back positive. That’s slightly lower than it was yesterday, when it was 9.28 percent.
The largest increase in new cases today come from Milwaukee County, which increased by 116. Brown County, which increased by 97, continued its rapid upward trajectory. An outbreak at a meat packing plant in Green Bay has significantly increased the number of positive cases, which have now reached 1,545 in the county.
The statewide death toll is now 353, with 13 more fatalities since Monday afternoon. That’s a noticeable increase over the past several days, which have seen fewer than five deaths on average.
Fewer people are hospitalized today — 328, compared with 347 yesterday. Additionally, 187 are hospitalized awaiting test results.
The rate of disparity in Latino populations continues to rise — 27 percent of total cases are now Latino people, and 52 percent of the new cases identified today. Latinos make up just 7 percent of the state’s overall population. Of the 13 deaths in the past 24 hours, eight were Latino people.
DHS also reports that 48 percent of those confirmed to have been infected have recovered and just over four percent have died.
