The rate of coronavirus tests returning positive results fell again Wednesday to 5.9 percent, but an abundance of tests processed — nearly 14,000 — returned 875 positive results, according to state and county public health data. That brings the total case count for Wisconsin to 38,836. Of those, nearly 8,000 are considered active — 200 more than yesterday and the largest number of active cases reported to date.
There was one more fatalities reported today, in Milwaukee County, bringing the death toll to 827.
The largest local increase was in Milwaukee County – including their latest posted numbers at 1:30 pm today – with 329 new cases and 13.5 percent of tests coming back positive.
Several other counties saw double-digit increases and high positive test rates, including:
Brown County: 43 new cases, 7.68 percent positive tests
Dane County: 99 new cases, 5.57 percent positive tests
Jefferson County: 15 new cases, 4.73 percent positive tests
Kenosha County: 35 new cases, 20.83 percent positive tests
Outagamie County: 24 new cases, 7.27 percent positive tests
Ozaukee County: 10 new cases, 4.46 percent positive tests
Racine County: 27 new cases, 5.48 percent positive tests
Rock County: 10 new cases, 1.5 percent positive tests
Sheboygan County: 14 new cases, 5 percent positive tests
Walworth County: 15 new cases, 13.89 percent positive tests
Waukesha County: 74 new cases, 11.14 percent positive tests
Winnebago County: 16 new cases, 5.71 percent positive tests
Hospitalizations statewide rose slight to 295, just two more than yesterday and 21 more than a week ago. Of those currently hospitalized for COVID-19, 88 require intensive care. Additionally, 177 people are hospitalized and awaiting test results.
The rate of disparity in Latino populations continues to stand out. Twenty-seven percent of total cases are now Latino people, as well as 18percent of today’s new cases. Latinos make up just seven percent of the state’s overall population.
Similarly, 16 percent of all cases are Black people, as are 24 percent of total COVID-19 related deaths in the state. Black people make up just six percent of the state’s population.
DHS also reports that just under 77 percent of those confirmed to have been infected have recovered and 2.3 percent have died.
