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MADISON, Wisconsin (WBAY) – The state’s Department of Health Services says the spread of the COVID-19 virus is much higher than a week ago. DHS says viral activity is high in 29 counties, nearly double the 15 counties that spread a week ago, and a 1,450% increase from the 2 counties two weeks ago.
In our region, counties with high viral activity include Calumet, Dodge, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Outagamie, Shawano and Winnebago. The number of cases has increased by more than 200% in the past two weeks in Calumet and Winnebago counties, according to DHS disease activity charts.
Viral activity is low in 5 counties, including Menominee County – the others are Lincoln in north-central Wisconsin and Ashland, Barron and Polk counties in northwest Wisconsin. It is moderate in the other 38 counties.
DHS reports that Wisconsin is averaging 221 new cases per day, a jump from 193 on Tuesday, based on the 7-day average. This is the 15th day in a row that the moving average has increased. DHS says it received 345 positive tests in the latest batch of results. Information from the Wisconsin Hospital Association indicates that out of 7,101 test results for people tested for the first time or positive for the first time. This is the most tests we’ve seen in a single day since March 31 – so a relatively low 5% of those tests were positive.
The positivity rate for all tests rose an average of 2.8% from 2.5% on Tuesday. This is the percentage of tests that came back positive in the past 7 days, including results from people who have already been tested. This comes close to the 3% often cited by health officials as the extent to which the spread of the virus is considered managed, but the trajectory matters too.
Seven deaths from COVID-19 have been reported to the state, including one person who lived in Green Lake County. Three of these deaths occurred in the past 30 days. DHS says Wisconsin still averages only one death per day. The death rate was stable at 1.20% of all known cases, with a toll of 7,390 lives.
State figures show 40 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. That’s less than Monday and Tuesday, but still above our 7-day average of 32 hospitalizations per day.
The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) reports that 143 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized Wednesday, including 37 in intensive care. That is to say 3 fewer patients in intensive care and one less patient in total compared to Tuesday, after taking into account new admissions minus discharges and deaths. The WHA says hospitals in the Northeast Health Region are treating 11 COVID-19 patients among them, including 3 in intensive care – that’s 1 more in intensive care and 1 more patient overall compared to the day before. Fox Valley area hospitals are treating 8 COVID-19 patients, none in intensive care, the same as Tuesday.
Even with numbers rising rapidly, the severity of what we are seeing now is a far cry from the coronavirus outbreaks Wisconsin experienced last summer, fall or winter – even though some states are experiencing worse outbreaks. Vaccinations help slow the spread of the disease and reduce the severity of symptoms in those who have been fully vaccinated but are still positive.
In Wisconsin, 51.2% of the population has started or completed the COVID-19 vaccination, or nearly 3 million people, of which 48.9% are fully vaccinated Wisconsinians.
We don’t have statistics for Wisconsin, but nationally it has been reported that unvaccinated people make up 98% to 99% of new cases. These include children who are not yet eligible for any vaccine. Health officials fear that the spread of the virus through unvaccinated populations could lead to more mutations, such as the delta variant, which is believed to be responsible for 83% of recent coronavirus cases nationwide, up from 51% cases in early July.
We’ve been reporting the slowdown in vaccinations in Wisconsin for a few months now. Yesterday was the first time in a month that more new vaccinations were more than people completing their immunization schedule. That was no longer true on Wednesday, but the numbers were close: Vaccinators reported 4,622 more people who had not received a vaccine before receiving a dose, while 4,484 (corrected figure) more reported. received their second dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or that Johnson & Johnson vaccine shot.
Waushara, Shawano, Dodge and Kewaunee counties have the lowest vaccination rates in the WBAY observation area. Vaccination rates in Shawano and Waushara counties are less than 40%.
Door, Menominee, Brown and Outagamie counties have the highest vaccination rates, over 50%.
These are departmental averages. On the DHS vaccine data map, you can see immunization rates by municipality, zip code, or school district boundaries. For example, although 51.1% of residents of Brown County received at least one “bullet in the arm,” this varies between 36.2% in the town of Morrison and 64.6% in the town of Lawrence.
VACCINATIONS BY COUNTY POPULATION (WEDNESDAY)
| County (Population) (Health region) | % of population (change from previous report) | % complete of population (change from previous report) |
|---|---|---|
| Brown (264,542) (NE) | 51.1% (+0.1) | 49.1% (+0.1) |
| Calumet (50 089) (VF) | 46.2% (+0.1) | 44.2% (+0.1) |
| Dodge (87,839) | 41.0% (+0.0) | 39.3% (+0.0) |
| By (27,668) (NE) | 66.5% (+0.1) | 64.5% (+0.0) |
| Fond du Lac (103,403) (SE) | 43.8% (+0.0) | 42.1% (+0.1) |
| Forest (9,004) | 42.2% (+0.2) | 40.7% (+0.1) |
| Florence (4,295) (NE) | 44.4% (+0.0) | 42.9% (+0.1) |
| Lac Vert (18,913) (FV) | 44.9% (+0.1) | 43.3% (+0.1) |
| Kewaunee (20,434) (NE) | 41.4% (+0.0) | 40.3% (+0.1) |
| Manitowoc (78,981) (NE) | 48.1% (+0.1) | 46.2% (+0.1) |
| Marinette (40,350) (NE) | 42.3% (+0.1) | 40.5% (+0.1) |
| Menominee (4,556) (FV) | 53.0% (+0.1) | 49.5% (+0.0) |
| Oconto (37 930) (NE) | 42.7% (+0.1) | 41.3% (+0.1) |
| Outagamy (187 885) (VF) | 51.0% (+0.1) | 48.9% (+0.1) |
| Shawano (40 899) (VF) | 37.7% (+0.1) | 36.1% (+0.1) |
| Sheboygan (115,340) (SE) | 49.6% (+0.0) | 47.7% (+0.0) |
| Waupaca (50 990) (VF) | 43.9% (+0.1) | 42.3% (+0.0) |
| Waushara (24 443) (VF) | 36.3% (+0.1) | 35.0% (+0.1) |
| Winnebago (171 907) (VF) | 49.0% (+0.0) | 47.0% (+0.0) |
| NORTHEAST REGION (474,200) (NE) | 235,186 (49.6%) (+0.1) | 226,297 (47.7%) (+0.1) |
| FOX VALLEY AREA (549,682) (FV) | 260,796 (47.4%) (+0.0) | 250 187 (45.5%) (+0.1) |
| WISCONSIN (5,822,434) | 2,981,652 (51.2%) (+0.1) | 2,844,891 (48.9%) (+0.1) |
Population of Wisconsin vaccinated, by age group (and change since last report)
- 12-15: 31.5% received one dose (+0.2) / 27.4% completed (+0.2)
- 16-17: 41.2% received one dose (+0.1) / 37.8% completed (+0.2)
- 18-24: 43.6% received one dose (+0.1) / 40.1% completed (+0.1)
- 25-34: 48.2% received one dose (+0.0) / 45.3% completed (+0.1)
- 35-44: 56.1% received one dose (+0.1) / 53.3% completed (+0.1)
- 45-54: 58.3% received one dose (+0.0) / 55.7% completed (+0.1)
- 55-64: 68.6% received one dose (+0.1) / 66.1% completed (+0.0)
- 65+: 83.5% received one dose (+0.0) / 81.5% completed (+0.0)
The Winnebago County Health Department has informed that the window is closing for children 12 and older to get vaccinated so that they can be fully vaccinated – and that vaccination be as effective as possible – before September 1. The Pfizer vaccine is the only one approved. for children 12 to 17 years old, children in this age group should therefore receive their first injection before July 27 and their second injection three weeks later, plus two weeks for the vaccine to arm the immune system of the organization. Anyone 18 and over should start the Moderna vaccination schedule today, July 20, or get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine before August 17.
Pfizer has conducted clinical studies of its vaccine in young children. Pfizer says it may be ready to apply to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization for ages 5 to 11 in September.
DHS says children under 19 make up 16.5% of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin in the past year and a half, including 2% of hospitalizations. That includes 137 new cases the week of July 11, just behind the 25-34 age group.
February 5, 2020 to July 21, 2021
- 615,732 confirmed cases of coronavirus
- 32,838 hospitalizations (5%)
- 7,390 deaths (1.20%)
- 3,374 still active cases (1%)
- 604,601 considered as recovered (98%)
On Tuesday, active cases climbed back to 1% of all coronavirus cases in Wisconsin since that first confirmed patient in Madison. Health officials are encouraging people to continue their mitigation efforts if they are not vaccinated, including wearing masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing. There is debate in the medical community as to whether those vaccinated should continue with these mitigation efforts as well, arguing that there is no harm but potential benefits in doing so.
CASE AND DEATH RATES IN WEDNESDAY COUNTY (counties with new cases or deaths are shown in bold) **
- Brown – 32,037 cases (+8) (256 deaths)
- Calumet – 5,865 cases (+2) (51 deaths)
- Dickinson (Mich.) * – 2,421 cases (59 deaths)
- Dodge – 12,050 crates (+3) (177 deaths)
- Door – 2,639 crates (+2) (27 deaths)
- Florence – 457 cases (13 deaths)
- Fond du Lac – 12,661 squares (+4) (130 deaths)
- Forest – 971 cases (+1) (24 deaths)
- Gogebic (Mich.) * – 1,080 cases (24 deaths)
- Lac Vert – 1,623 cases (+1) (20 deaths) (+1)
- Iron (Michigan) * – 996 cases (43 deaths)
- Kewaunee – 2,380 cases (27 deaths)
- Langlade – 2,056 cases (35 deaths)
- Manitowoc – 7,666 cases (+1) (76 deaths)
- Marinette – 4,242 cases (68 deaths)
- Menominee (Mich.) * – 1,803 cases (42 deaths)
- Menominee – 805 cases (11 deaths)
- Oconto – 4,553 cases (+2) (61 deaths)
- Outagamy – 20,923 cases (+11) (223 deaths)
- Shawano – 4,777 cases (73 deaths)
- Sheboygan – 13,942 cases (+3) (152 deaths)
- Waupaca – 4,991 cases (+4) (123 deaths)
- Waushara – 2,227 cases (+1) (35 deaths)
- Winnebago – 18,445 cases (+6) (202 deaths)
* As of July 2, the Michigan Department of Health only updates information on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Hospital Association do not update reports on weekends.
** 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.
Copyright 2021 WBAY. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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