by Kevin Zimmermann
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) – Sheboygan County’s active case load of COVID-19 now rests at 17, as the 5 new cases reported since Thursday have been offset by 5 recoveries, and the person hospitalized yesterday has now been released. The total confirmed cases of the disease here now numbers 196. 149 test results came back negative since yesterday, yielding a positive return rate of 3.3%.
Within the state borders, 8,607 tests came back negative, while 520 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the last 24 hours – a rising rate of positive returns now put at 5.7%. It was 4.1% yesterday, and the 520 confirmed positives was the highest daily number reported in the last 2 weeks. Another 9 persons died, raising the death toll in Wisconsin to 766.
The County Division of Health Services today went on record saying that hosting and endorsing mass gatherings, along with other factors, is contributing to the problem of containing the coronavirus pandemic. County Health and Human Services Director Matt Strittmatter said, “We’ve just surpassed the 100-day mark of responding to this pandemic, and although we have done a remarkable job, this is not the point to ease up,” and that “Now more than ever is the time to keep strong in our efforts to stop the spread.”
Sheboygan County Health Officer Starrlene Grossman added that “The communal nature of such (mass gathering) events makes it especially challenging to accommodate the physical distancing and sanitatioin recommendations required to slow the spread of disease.” The County DHS strongly encouraged anyone thinking of attending a mass gathering-type event to “reconsider attendance at such events.”
As of today, The daily reports from the County Division of Health Services enters a weekday-only schedule, and so commensurate with that change, these reports will also coordinate with the DHS. Weekend stats will now be included in the Monday update.
