The rate of coronavirus tests returning positive results fell Tuesday to four percent — down from 5.6 — as a single-day record 18,000 tests returned 728 positive results, according to state and county public health data. The 728 new cases brings the total case count for Wisconsin to 56,056. Of those, just over 9,700 are considered active, about 200 fewer than Monday.
Twelve more fatalities were reported — five in Kenosha County, two in Waukesha County and one each in Brown, Marathon, Milwaukee, Racine and Sheboygan Counties — bringing the total death toll to 961. 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 148 new cases and 3.64 percent of tests coming back positive.
Other localities with higher case totals and positive tests rates include:
Brown County: 52 new cases, 6.14 percent positive tests
Dane County: 33 new cases, 1.01 percent positive tests
Dodge County: 23 new cases, 7.12 percent positive tests
Eau Claire County: 10 new cases, 4.95 percent positive tests
Kenosha County: 18 new cases, 8.96 percent positive tests
La Crosse County: 11 new cases, 2.23 percent positive tests
Marinette County: 11 new cases, 10.38 percent positive tests
Outagamie County: 19 new cases, 3.11 percent positive tests
Ozaukee County: 24 new cases, 10.53 percent positive tests
Racine County: 62 new cases, 6.16 percent positive tests
Sauk County: 13 new cases, 28.89 percent positive tests
Sheboygan County: 14 new cases, 5.62 percent positive tests
Washington County: 33 new cases, 13.1 percent positive tests
Waupaca County: 13 new cases, 14.44 percent positive tests
Waukesha County: 72 new cases, 5.01 percent positive tests
Winnebago County: 19 new cases, 2.54 percent positive tests
Wood County: 14 new cases, 9.4 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. Currently in Wisconsin, 327 people are hospitalized due to coronavirus infection, 18 fewer than yesterday, and 110 of those are in intensive care units.
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 13.2 percent of today’s new positive cases. Latinos make up just seven percent of the state’s overall population.
Similarly, 15 percent of all cases are Black people, as are 22 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 80.4 percent have recovered and 17.8 percent remain active.
