By Kevin Zimmermann
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) – ll eyes are on the numbers when it comes to finding the light at the end of the tunnel. Governor Evers’ “Badger Bounce Back” program to re-open the state requires 14 consecutive days where reports of influenza-like illness show a downward trend, also 14 days where reports of COVID-19-like illness show a downward trend, plus a “downward trajectory of positive COVID-19 tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period.” While “flu-like” illness numbers aren’t included in daily reports, the statewide tally of positive tests for COVID-19 is now at 5,911. The increase of 224 over Saturday’s total was slower than the previous period (331) or the Thursday-Friday increase of 304, so a downward trend seems to have only just begun.
As for Sheboygan County, positive cases now number 48 with the addition of one person between the ages of 20 and 39, and another between 40 and 59 years old. That also brings the number of active cases to 9, while recoveries remain at 37. Another 13 persons were tested, with 11 of those negative. That puts the rate of positive tests per total tested at about 15% since Saturday. The only 2 deaths due to COVID-19 in Sheboygan County were among 19 who contracted the disease at Sunny Ridge. All but one of the remainder has now recovered, and no one is hospitalized with coronavirus as of Sunday’s update from the Sheboygan County Division of Public Health.
Sunday’s bulletin also re-stated the need to keep person-to-person contact at a minimum as per the “Safer at Home” order’s plan of social distancing, hygiene, mask requirements, travel limited to essential needs, and the closing of non-essential businesses.
