MADISON (WTAQ-WLUK) — New coronavirus cases in Wisconsin topped 3,000 for the second day in a row Wednesday, while another 28 new deaths were recorded.
The state Department of Health Services reported 3,107 positive tests out of 14,542 total completed, or 21.4%. Seven-day averages moved to 2,840 new cases and 17 deaths.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 158,578 total cases, nearly 1.6 million negative tests and 1,536 deaths. DHS considers 123,196 people to have recovered from COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.
Meanwhile, an alternate care facility opened Wednesday at State Fair Park in West Allis, to handle overflow patients from Wisconsin hospitals. The latest numbers available showed a record 959 patients, with 243 in intensive care, in Wisconsin hospitals. As of Wednesday, DHS said there were no patients in the alternate care facility.
DHS called a 2 p.m. news conference to answer questions about the alternate care facility.
Meanwhile, according to the state’s weekly update, all counties in Northeast Wisconsin fell under the “very high” category for case activity. Oconto, Waupaca and Winnebago counties were listed as having a growing trajectory. Brown and Marinette counties were listed as having shrinking trajectories. All other area counties saw no significant change over the past two weeks.
Only 17 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties were listed as having “high” case activity. No counties were listed as having “medium” or “low” activity.
