COVID-19 Reaches ‘Critical’ Levels in Wisconsin Counties – Again, New Cases Surpass 3,400

MADISON, Wisconsin (WMTV) – As COVID-19 cases continue to skyrocket here in Wisconsin, two counties have reached levels of COVID-19 so high the state’s main health agency has had to bring back a category not used for eight months.

Both Forest and Buffalo counties have reached extremely high levels of COVID-19 disease activity in Wisconsin, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health Services. An extremely high level of COVID-19 in Wisconsin means the case burden exceeds 1,000 cases per 100,000 people.

Wisconsin has not seen extremely high levels of the virus since January, when it was slammed from the agency’s dashboard. Buffalo County was also the latest to appear in the highest level of case activity.

Counties in south-central Wisconsin are still far from critical. Dane, Rock and Iowa are among six counties in the state that still have high levels of the virus, which is the third in five levels for viral activity.

The state itself is at very high levels of the coronavirus, with a burden of more than 489 cases per 100,000 people.

New cases reported Wednesday have also increased. For the first time since early January, Wisconsin has surpassed 3,400 COVID-19 cases.

Health officials have confirmed 3,426 cases, which has skyrocketed the seven-day moving average to 1,864. That brings the state’s new unseen total of cases to 687,101.

Coronavirus deaths also continue to rise, with health officials noting that 20 people died on Wednesday. Nearly 7,800 Wisconsin residents have died from the coronavirus to date.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association notes that COVID-19-related hospitalizations fell on Wednesday, with one patient fewer than the day before. There are also thirteen fewer people in intensive care.

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