COVID-19 death and hospitalization rates in Wisconsin drop

MADISON, Wisconsin (WBAY) – Even as more and more cases of the coronavirus are confirmed and deaths continue to be added to double digits, Wisconsin’s death rate from the virus is on the decline. The Department of Health Services (DHS) added 15 more deaths to the COVID-19 toll in Wisconsin, bringing the total to 8,107 since the start of the pandemic. That’s 1.08% of all known cases, up from 1.14% a month ago. In other words, more and more people who test positive for COVID-19 are surviving it.

The hospitalization rate is also falling. State figures show that 142 more people have been admitted to hospitals for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. We calculate that the 7-day average has increased from 126 to 127 hospitalizations per day, and this weekend we will exceed a total of 40,000 people hospitalized because of the illness caused by the coronavirus. But the all-time hospitalization rate has fallen to 5.34% of all cases, from 5.42% a month ago. In other words, more people who test positive for COVID-19 are not sick enough to be hospitalized for it.

But the percentage of people infected is on the rise. The DHS calculates that 8.8% of all tests last week confirmed an infection. The state says 3,092 new cases were confirmed in the latest batch of testing, and Brown County topped 38,000 cases in total – the highest tally of any counties in our area. State health officials say we’ve had an average of 2,590 cases a day over the past week. A month ago, we were on average below 2,000 cases per day, but that 7-day average increased later in September.

The 7-day average of deaths is unchanged at 13 deaths per day. Of the 15 deaths just added to the state’s total, 11 occurred in the past 30 days. Three of the people who died were from Dodge County, the only COVID-19 deaths reported in our area today.

While fewer people infected with COVID-19 need to be hospitalized, the delta variant is not only more contagious, but it carries a higher viral load than the original virus, resulting in more people in intensive care and more of deceased. A month ago, Wisconsin had fewer than 1,000 COVID-19 patients in hospitals on any given day.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association reported 1,162 COVID-19 patients hospitalized on Friday, including 307 in intensive care – 3 more in intensive care since Thursday and 45 more in hospital beds in total. Statewide, there are 136 hospitals and 98 intensive care beds available, which are for all patients, not just for COVID-19. Hospitals in the Northeastern 7 County Health Care Region had 156 patients on Friday, including 39 in intensive care – 2 fewer in intensive care but 6 more – with the 10 hospitals reporting 8 available intensive care beds among them . The Fox Valley region, which has 8 counties, had 109 patients, including 26 in intensive care – 4 more in intensive care and 8 more overall – with 1 intensive care bed opened among the 13 hospitals.

We’ve reported these numbers before: Fully vaccinated people are 9 times less likely to be hospitalized and 11 times less likely to die from the virus than people who have never been vaccinated or are not fully vaccinated. They are also much less likely to contract the virus: 0.361% of the vaccinated population versus 1.41% of the unvaccinated population tested positive in August, although the vaccinated are the larger population of the two. DHS is expected to release the September comparison next Friday.

Right now, figures from vaccinators show we may have the fewest COVID-19 vaccines given since December of last year. Reports from the vaccinators may come 2-3 days later, but we are currently sitting at 22,626 doses reported this week – which includes the first and second vaccine doses given. The only week with a lower count was the week of December 13, when vaccinations began and access to a vaccine was severely limited, and 11,167 doses were administered. The next week’s lowest was December 20, with 29,503 “hits in the arm”. We’ll have a better picture next week once the vaccinator reports are finished, but at the end of the day the numbers are low.

The majority of adults in Wisconsin are already fully vaccinated. DHS says 68.2% of adults statewide have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 64.9% of the adult population who have completed the vaccination schedule. That’s nearly 3 million adults (2,958,890). DHS reports that 60.8% of men and 68.4% of women are fully immunized.

Including children, 57.1% of the state’s population received an injection, including 54.2% who completed their vaccinations, or 3,157,251 people. These percentages include children under 12, who are not eligible for the vaccine, or 14% of the population. Pfizer has requested approval of vaccinate children aged 5 to 11.

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

• 12-15: 46.9% received the vaccine (+0.0) / 42.8% fully vaccinated (+0.2)
• 16-17: 52.1% received the vaccine (+0.1) / 48.4% fully vaccinated (+0.1)
• 18-24: 52.1% were vaccinated (+0.1) / 47.6% fully vaccinated (+0.1)
• 25-34: 56.5% received the vaccine (+0.1) / 52.4% fully vaccinated (+0.2)
• 35-44: 64.0% vaccinated (+0.0) / 60.3% fully vaccinated (+0.1)
• 45-54: 65.1% received the vaccine (+0.0) / 62.0% fully vaccinated (+0.1)
• 55-64: 73.8% received the vaccine (+0.0) / 71.2% fully vaccinated (+0.0)
• 65 years and over: 85.8% received the vaccine (+0.0) / 83.7% fully vaccinated (+0.1)

VACCINATIONS BY COUNTY POPULATION (FRIDAY)

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.

The Town of Green Bay and Brown County holds a vaccination clinic this Friday, October 8, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. These free vaccination clinics are located on the first floor of the Sophie Beaumont building, 111 N. Jefferson St. People will receive the Pfizer vaccine. The clinics for their second dose will take place three weeks later.

The Oshkosh Farmers Market hosts COVID-19 vaccination clinics three Saturdays in October: October 16, 23, and 30. All clinics will be held at the Time Community Theater, 445 N. Main St., from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm The Winnebago County Department of Health will provide a vaccine for everyone ages 12 and older. The vaccine is free.

COVID-19 TEST SITES

The Town of Appleton offers a walk-in clinic in the former Best Buy building, 2411 S. Kensington Dr., every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until December 14 (see the list of dates here). Pre-registration is not required, but is encouraged to speed up the process.

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.

RATE OF CASES AND DEATHS IN FRIDAY COUNTY (counties with an increase in cases or deaths since the last report are in bold) **

• Brown – 38,012 cases (+ 192) (264 deaths)
• Calumet – 6,800 cases (+27) (53 deaths)
• Dickinson (Mich.) * – 2,909 cases (+23) (62 deaths)
• Dodge – 14,179 cases (+66) (196 deaths) (+3)
• Door – 3,319 crates (+32) (31 deaths)
• Florence – 496 cases (+1) (13 deaths)
• Fond du Lac – 15,744 squares (+96) (141 deaths)
• Forest – 1,339 cases (+4) (27 deaths)
• Gogebic (Michigan) * – 1,313 cases (+24) (24 deaths)
• Lac Vert – 2,313 cases (+22) (25 deaths)
• Iron (Michigan) * – 1,211 cases (+16) (44 deaths)
• Kewaunee – 2,829 cases (+15) (30 deaths)
• Langlade – 2,732 cases (+9) (38 deaths)
• Manitowoc – 9,199 cases (+45) (81 deaths)
• Marinette – 5,222 cases (+36) (69 deaths)
• Menominee (Mich.) * – 2,392 cases (+18) (44 deaths)
• Menominee – 913 cases (+3) (11 deaths)
• Oconto – 5,680 cases (+39) (65 deaths)
• Outagamy – 24,235 cases (+77) (236 deaths)
• Shawano – 5,783 cases (+33) (77 deaths)
• Sheboygan – 16,075 cases (+41) (156 deaths)
• Waupaca – 6,245 cases (+17) (135 deaths)
• Waushara – 2 802 cases (+22) (43 deaths)
• Winnebago – 22,218 cases (+78) (223 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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