COVID-19 in Wisconsin: State reports fewest new cases since August
(Wisconsin Department of Health Services)
(FOX 9) - The state of Wisconsin reported its lowest new COVID-19 case total since August Monday, along with just one new COVID-19 death.
With just 543 newly reported cases, the state of Wisconsin reported its lowest total since Aug. 31. The 7-day case increase average dipped to 1,029, continuing a downward trend since Jan. 10.
The 7-day death increase average was 23 Monday, also continuing a downward trend since Jan. 22.
The state of Wisconsin's Department of Health Services said it would no longer report its 7-day test positivity average by person as of Monday, instead reporting the 7-day test positivity average by test. FOX 9 previously reported the average by person, so that statistic in our previous reporting is generally slightly higher. However, those metrics have had very similar trends throughout the pandemic.
Monday's 7-day test positivity average by test was 4.2 percent and has been trending down since Jan. 6.
In hospitals, 77 percent of COVID-19 beds are full as of Monday, leaving 2,500 beds open. 25 percent of hospitalizations are ICU patients, or 144 total.
The pandemic so far
The state of Wisconsin said it has discovered a COVID-19 variant in a patient. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the strain, referred to as B.1.1.7, was identified in a Wisconsin patient Jan. 12.
COVID-19 infections can often go undetected and be asymptomatic; laboratory-confirmed tests only represent a fraction of actual COVID-19 cases. A study from the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that actual cases in some instances were six to 24 times greater than reported cases.
Why doctors say it’s still important to wear a mask after you get vaccinated
As more people are vaccinated for COVID-19, doctors are stressing the continued importance of masks and social distancing. Dr. Abe Jacob from M Health Fairview joined the Buzz with more on why you'll still want to mask up after you get your vaccination.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced an indoor mask mandate for people over the age of 5, which he extended. Face coverings while indoors except at a private residence have been required since Aug. 1. However, on February 4, the state's legislature voted to repeal Evers' order. That same day, Governor Evers issued a new mask mandate order, keeping the mandate in effect.
Evers extended the state's stay-at-home order until May 26, but on May 13, the state Supreme Court blocked the extension, effectively opening all establishments in the state. Hours later, images emerged of packed bars across the state, leading the Governor to call his state "The Wild West." Evers' original "Safer at Home" order went into effect on March 25. In October, a judge did however allow Evers' mask mandate to remain in effect.
On April 4, President Donald Trump approved a disaster declaration for Wisconsin due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This declaration allows for federal funding to be allocated to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations that were impacted by the virus.
For more information, go to the state health department's website.
If you have questions or immediate needs related to COVID-19, you can Text COVID19 to 211-211, visit 211Wisconsin.org or call 211. Call volumes are high, so officials are asking people to be patient and try to use the text or online options first.
If you are experiencing signs and symptoms of COVID-19, health officials advise you to call your health care provider.