The percentage of coronavirus tests that came back positive today remained a steady 5.3 percent, the same as yesterday, which was up from 4.8 percent Thursday. In all, 465 new cases were reported out of just over 9,800 tests, bringing the total count of coronavirus infection to 18,249.
Additionally, 19 people succumbed to COVID19 since this time Wednesday, bringing the total death toll to 588. Five of those were in Milwaukee County and three in Kenosha County, both of which remain in the grips of rapidly spreading outbreaks.
The largest local increase in new cases today comes from Milwaukee County, with 174 new cases and 7.5 percent of tests coming back positive.
Racine County saw more positive cases today, 62, with 15.5 percent of tests coming back positive. Kenosha County also saw an uptick in new cases after a few days of lower numbers; 11.4 percent of tests today came back positive, adding 34 new cases.
Similarly, a smaller outbreak continues in Dane County, which shows 15 new cases today, and more than 100 over the past week. The county’s positive test rate remains low at about four percent, but the county has consistently seen single-digit daily case increases and positive tests rates of one percent or lower.
Dane County began its first phase of “reopening” Tuesday.
Hospitalizations have risen recently but are down today to 409, 14 less than the 423 yesterday. Of those currently hospitalized, 144 require intensive care. Additionally, 208 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 62 percent of those confirmed to have been infected have recovered and 3.3 percent have died, leaving about 6,300 active, confirmed infections in the state.
