The daily rate of positive coronavirus tests rose Tuesday to five percent — up from the lowest-ever rate of 2.9 percent Monday — as about 1,000 fewer tests were reported.
Eight fatalities were reported Tuesday, bringing the state’s total death toll to 467.
Wisconsin now has had a total of 12,994 cases, according to Department of Health Services and county public health data.
The bulk of the increase in new cases today come from Milwaukee County, which reported only 145 new cases. The outbreak in Brown County seems to remain under control, as just 16 more cases were identified An outbreak at a meat packing plant in Green Bay has significantly increased the number of positive cases in Brown County, which have now reached 2,118 in the county. That’s a rate of 815 cases per 100,000 residents — far higher than the second-highest rate, 543 in Racine County.
Increases in hotspots in Racine and Kenosha Counties seem to have cooled off, at least for the day. Racine County reported just 27 new cases, but just 8.7 percent of tests came back positive. Similarly, Kenosha County reports just 18 new cases and four percent of tests came back positive.
Days after an outbreak at a long-term care facility led to an increase of 27 cases in three days, Dane County only reported just three new cases Tuesday.
Hospitalizations are on the rise. On Tuesday, 398 people are currently hospitalized with coronavirus infection, up from 363 yesterday, and up from 326 one week ago — that’s a 22 percent increase. Of those currently hospitalized, 130 require intensive care. Additionally, 207 people are hospitalized awaiting test results.
The rate of disparity in Latino populations continues to stand out — 31 percent of total cases are now Latino people. Latinos make up just seven percent of the state’s overall population.
Similarly, 21 percent of all cases are Black people, who also make up just under 30 percent of deaths. Black people make up just six percent of the state’s population.
DHS also reports that 53 percent of those confirmed to have been infected have recovered and 3.7 percent have died.
