There is a new COVID-19 mutation in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wisconsin (WBAY) – The delta variant of the COVID-19 virus continues to have a hold over Wisconsin coronavirus cases, but there is a new weed in the garden. Of the 180 random samples for the week of August 23 tested by the Wisconsin State Hygiene Laboratory, there was one case of the mu variant, or 0.56% of the samples tested that week.

The mu variant was first identified in Colombia in January, where it was ultimately responsible for nearly 40% of new coronavirus cases, and outbreaks of this variant have been detected in South America and Europe. It has also been seen in other states. The World Health Organization has added mu to its list of Variants of interest two weeks ago, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just has it on its radar.

There are fears that the mu variant may be resistant to vaccines and immunity derived from a previous COVID-19 infection, but health experts say more real-world data is needed. It has been around for 9 months but has not spread like the wildfire that is the delta variant.

The delta mutation has been the dominant strain of coronavirus in Wisconsin for 11 weeks. It is highly contagious and creates a high viral load in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people – the difference is in how effectively their bodies fight COVID-19 disease. As we reported this week, people who were not fully immunized were 9 times more likely to occupy a hospital bed and 11 times more likely to die of COVID-19 in August. People who have been vaccinated are much more likely to have mild or no symptoms.

Cases, deaths and hospitalizations

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says there have been 21 additional deaths from COVID-19 reported in the past day, all within the past 30 days. These include deaths in Dodge, Fond du Lac and Waupaca counties. The state still averages 13 deaths a day over the past week, according to DHS calculations. A total of 7,827 people have died from COVID-19 in Wisconsin since the start of the pandemic.

Tests confirmed more than 3,000 new cases for a third consecutive day. DHS says there were 3,172 new cases, bringing the 7-day average to 2,227 cases per day. This is the highest daily average since mid-January, but we have to go back to mid-December to find three consecutive days with more than 3,000 new cases. Four counties in the WBAY observation area – Brown, Fond du Lac, Outagamie and Winnebago – reported more than 100 new cases on Friday. The state says an average of 7.4% of all coronavirus tests over the past week have come back positive. Wisconsin is within 6,300 of a milestone of 700,000 total COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic.

New hospitalizations fell after triple-digit days. State figures show 89 COVID-19 patients have been admitted in the past 24 hours. As of Friday, 1,071 people were being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals in Wisconsin, including 333 in intensive care, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA). This is a net gain of 11 intensive care patients and a total of 5 patients after accounting for transfers, discharges and deaths. The 10 hospitals in the northeastern region of the 7 counties had 117 patients, including 31 in intensive care – 2 fewer people in intensive care and 8 fewer in total since Thursday. The 13 hospitals in the 8-county area of ​​Fox Valley were treating 89 COVID-19 patients, including 17 in intensive care – 1 fewer intensive care patient and 2 fewer patients overall.

The DHS website warns it could underreport data on cases, deaths and hospitalizations. It indicates that a system performance problem is causing a delay in processing data. The question is under development.

Vaccination

Fifty-six percent of Wisconsinians have started getting vaccinated against COVID-19, including 2 in 3 adults (67.0%). That’s 3,262,657 people.

Wisconsin has reached 52.8% of the overall population completing its vaccination series, which includes 63.4% adults (66.8% female, 59.3% male). That’s 3,071,904 people.

Wisconsin residents receive COVID-19 vaccine, by age group (and change since last report)

• 12-15: 45.0% vaccinated (+0.2) / 39.3% fully vaccinated (+0.3)
• 16-17: 50.8% received the vaccine (+0.2) / 45.8% fully vaccinated (+0.1)
• 18-24: 50.7% were vaccinated (+0.2) / 45.5% fully vaccinated (+0.2)
• 25-34: 54.9% received the vaccine (+0.1) / 50.2% fully vaccinated (+0.2)
• 35-44: 62.6% received the vaccine (+0.1) / 58.2% fully vaccinated (+0.1)
• 45-54: 64.0% vaccinated (+0.1) / 60.3% fully vaccinated (+0.1)
• 55-64: 72.9% received the vaccine (+0.0) / 69.9% fully vaccinated (+0.0)
• 65 years and over: 85.2% received the vaccine (+0.0) / 83.2% fully vaccinated (+0.0)

Menominee County has reached 60% of its population fully immunized. It is the fourth county in Wisconsin to cross this threshold, after the counties of Dane, Door and Bayfield. Door County is currently 68% from completing vaccinations.

VACCINATIONS BY COUNTY POPULATION (FRIDAY)

County (Population) (Health region)	% of population (change from previous report)	% complete of population (change from previous report)
Brown (264,542) (NE)	56.8% (+0.1)	53.6% (+0.1)
Calumet (50 089) (VF)	50.8% (+0.1)	48.2% (+0.1)
Dodge (87,839)	45.8% (+0.1)	42.9% (+0.0)
By (27,668) (NE)	71.0% (+0.0)	68.0% (+0.1)
Fond du Lac (103,403) (SE)	48.9% (+0.1)	45.9% (+0.1)
Forest (9,004)	46.0% (+0.1)	43.4% (+0.1)
Florence (4,295) (NE)	46.4% (+0.0)	44.8% (+0.1)
Lac Vert (18,913) (FV)	50.3% (+0.0)	47.0% (+0.0)
Kewaunee (20,434) (NE)	46.1% (+0.1)	43.8% (+0.2)
Manitowoc (78,981) (NE)	53.3% (+0.1)	50.4% (+0.1)
Marinette (40,350) (NE)	46.7% (+0.1)	43.9% (+0.1)
Menominee (4,556) (FV)	66.4% (+0.1)	60.0% (+0.3)
Oconto (37 930) (NE)	47.4% (+0.0)	44.9% (+0.1)
Outagamy (187 885) (VF)	56.4% (+0.1)	53.3% (+0.1)
Shawano (40 899) (VF)	42.0% (+0.0)	39.4% (+0.1)
Sheboygan (115,340) (SE)	54.6% (+0.1)	51.8% (+0.1)
Waupaca (50 990) (VF)	49.1% (+0.1)	46.1% (+0.1)
Waushara (24 443) (VF)	40.1% (+0.1)	37.9% (+0.1)
Winnebago (171 907) (VF)	54.2% (+0.1)	51.1% (+0.1)
NORTHEAST REGION (474,200) (NE)	259,763 (54.8%) (+0.1)	245,567 (51.8) (+0.1)
FOX VALLEY AREA (549,682) (FV)	288,758 (52.5%) (+0.1)	272,189 (49.5%) (+0.1)
WISCONSIN (5,822,434)	3,257,828 (56.0%) (+0.0)	3,071,904 (52.8%) (+0.1)

The spread of the COVID-19 virus is extremely high in Forest County. It is very high in 64 of 72 counties in Wisconsin, including 17 of the 19 counties we track in northeastern Wisconsin. It’s high in Menominee County.

COVID-19 test sites

Walk-in or drive-through COVID-19 testing is available at the Sunnyview Expo Center weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the Wisconsin National Guard handling the testing. Registration is encouraged at www.winnebagopublichealth.org. The test is recommended (and free) for anyone as young as 1 year old who has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has symptoms of COVID-19, which may include fever, chills , cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, headache, muscle pain, or sudden loss of taste or smell. Results are usually back within 48 hours.

COVID-19 vaccination clinics

The community vaccination clinic inside Fox River Mall in Grand Chute is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on select dates until December 15. The list of dates will be updated on Outagamie County website. No appointment is necessary for this walk-in clinic, which is located near the food court and Scheel’s. There is no charge and no ID is required.

In addition to encouraging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, health officials are also urging people to get the flu shot as soon as possible, so that overwhelmed hospitals do not have to deal with influenza cases in addition to COVID-19 cases. Flu season was almost nonexistent last year, as more people self-isolated or socially distanced themselves, masked themselves, and followed other COVID-19 mitigation protocols – the same protocols that are slowing down the disease. spread of influenza virus.

RATE OF CASES AND DEATHS IN FRIDAY COUNTY (increase since last report in bold) **

• Brown – 35,339 cases (+109) (264 deaths)
• Calumet – 6,439 cases (+35) (53 deaths)
• Dickinson (Michigan) * – 2,557 cases (+87) (60 deaths)
• Dodge – 13,215 cases (+34) (188 deaths) (+1)
• Door – 2 960 cases (+5) (31 deaths)
• Florence – 474 cases (13 deaths)
• Fond du Lac – 14,268 squares (+103) (139 deaths) (+1)
• Forest – 1,177 crates (+7) (25 deaths)
• Gogebic (Michigan) * – 1212 cases (+7) (24 deaths)
• Lac Vert – 1,942 cases (+28) (24 deaths)
• Iron (Michigan) * – 1,129 cases (+10) (43 deaths)
• Kewaunee – 2,577 cases (+2) (30 deaths)
• Langlade – 2,353 cases (+8) (36 deaths)
• Manitowoc – 8,470 cases (+45) (78 deaths)
• Marinette – 4,653 cases (+23) (69 deaths)
• Menominee (Mich.) * – 2 112 cases (+77) (43 deaths)
• Menominee – 863 cases (+2) (11 deaths)
• Oconto – 5,115 cases (+40) (65 deaths)
• Outagamy – 22,830 cases (+143) (231 deaths)
• Shawano – 5,263 cases (+18) (74 deaths)
• Sheboygan – 15,279 cases (+69) (155 deaths)
• Waupaca – 5,592 cases (+52) (134 deaths) (+1)
• Waushara – 2,460 cases (+11) (39 deaths)
• Winnebago – 20,639 cases (+109) (214 deaths)

* You can find a list of cases and deaths for all counties in Wisconsin on the DHS County Data Website. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Hospital Association do not issue updates on weekends. Update: The Michigan Department of Health updates information on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

** Cases and deaths are from state COVID-19 reports, which may differ from local health department numbers. The Wisconsin DHS reports cases of all health departments within a county, including tribal, municipal, and county health departments; county websites cannot. Additionally, public health departments update their data at different times, while DHS freezes the numbers it receives at the same time each day to compile the afternoon report.

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