Wisconsin reports 104 COVID-19 deaths, 10% of nationwide total

(FOX 9) - The state of Wisconsin reported 104 new COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, setting a new state record and accounting for more than 10 percent of the total cases nationwide. 

According to data tracked by the New York Times, 1,032 total deaths were reported in the United States in the last 24 hours. Wisconsin's 104 deaths account for just more than 10 percent of them. 

The tragic milestone bested the previous record of 92 set on Nov. 17. The 7-day death increase average is now 53 and 3,115 total deaths have been reported in Wisconsin since the pandemic began. 

6,202 COVID-19 cases were reported in the state of Wisconsin in the last 24 hours, bringing the 7-day case increase average to 5,732. 

85 percent of COVID-19 beds are full, leaving 1,728 available. 22 percent of beds are ICU patients, or 438 total people. 

BY THE NUMBERS: Breaking down Wisconsin's exponential 2-month COVID-19 surge

The current COVID-19 spike in Wisconsin is larger than the spike New York City endured at the beginning of the pandemic, state health officials say. In a release, DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk compared the current spike to that of New York City in spring.

“To put these new data in perspective, Wisconsin is now seeing more average cases per day than New York City did at the peak of its surge last spring,” Van Dijk said.

The pandemic so far

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.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced an indoor mask mandate for people over the age of 5, which he extended until November 21.  Face coverings while indoors except at a private residence have been required since Aug. 1.

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.