by Kevin Zimmermann
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) – Tuesday’s report on progress of the coronavirus pandemic in Sheboygan County contained a jump of 3 active cases – more than 5% – , to push the total number of COVID-19 cases to 59. That’s the largest increase since the April 19th report of 4 additional cases in a 24-hour period. Another 58 tests came back negative, and an additional person recovered from the disease since yesterday. Only one person is now hospitalized with a coronavirus infection.
Statewide, 3,830 persons were tested since yesterday, the largest single-day testing total to date. While 3,500 were negative, the 330 positive returns pushed the state total to 8,566. Deaths now total 353. As a percentage of returns, positive cases comprised 8.6%, continuing the downward trend which, if sustained for 14 consecutive days, would trigger the first phase of the “Badger Bounce Back” reopening program on May 18th.
Today the Wisconsin Department of Health Service added hospital gating criteria to those already contained in the Badger Bounce Back plan. In order for that plan to be implemented the new metrics require that:
95% of hospitals affirm that they can treat all patients without crisis care;
95% of all hospitals affirm that they have arranged for testing for all symptomatic clinical staff treating patients at he hospital per CDC guidelines;
Downward trend of COVID-19 cases among health care workers calculated weekly.
DHS plans to make data concerning these gating criteria available on May 8th.
