MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Wisconsin reported its highest single-day number of coronavirus deaths in nearly four months on Tuesday.
The state Department of Health Services reported 17 new deaths on Tuesday, the most in one day since 20 deaths were reported on May 30.
Meanwhile, the month-long surge in new cases continued. DHS reported 2,367 new confirmed cases on Tuesday, which represented 22% of the 10,764 total tests done. Seven-day averages stood at 2,255 new cases, 19.5% positive testing and seven deaths.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 119,955 cases, more than 1.4 million negative tests and 1,300 deaths. DHS considers 98,385 people to have recovered from COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.
Hospitalization data was not available as of early Tuesday afternoon.
In a news conference Tuesday, state health officials said infections were spreading in all age groups, not just the 18-24 age group where spread was happening earlier in September. Gov. Tony Evers urged citizens to cancel or postpone planned gatherings in order to slow down the spread.
Coronavirus spread has risen to the level of a generalized, as opposed to localized, epidemic, said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases. That means the rate of infections has outpaced the ability of local health departments to track it and do contact tracing.
DHS secretary-designee Andrea Palm said the state is closer than it ever has been to needing an alternate care facility as hospitals reach their capacity. She said that should be considered a last resort, and that the goal is to avoid using it.
