MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Wisconsin reported a record number of coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday as the state moved its first patient to the recently opened alternate care facility.
The Department of Health Services reported a record 48 new deaths on Wednesday. Another 4,205 new cases were reported, the second straight day of more than 4,000 new cases. A total of 9,886 test results were reported.
The state cautions that some reported data may be backlog from the weekend, when computer upgrades were done. DHS recommends looking at seven-day averages to get a more accurate picture of the state of the pandemic. As of Wednesday, those averages stood at 3,444 new cases and 21 deaths per day.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 182,687 confirmed cases, more than 1.7 million negative tests and 1,681 deaths. DHS considers 139,455 people to have recovered from COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.
The state also reported its first patient being transferred to the alternate care facility at State Fair Park in West Allis, which opened last week. According to DHS, the facility “will now accept patients who meet specific clinical criteria directly from hospitals’ Emergency Departments, administer remdesivir, and increase its oxygen treatment capability.”
“We are thankful to have this facility available to Wisconsinites and our hospitals, but also saddened that this is where Wisconsin is at today,” Gov. Tony Evers said in a news release. “Folks, please stay home. Help us protect our communities from this highly-contagious virus and avoid further strain on our hospitals.”
Wisconsin hospitals reported slight drops in COVID-19 patient numbers on Wednesday. There were 1,190 total patients, two fewer than on Tuesday but 173 more than a week earlier. Of those, 299 were in intensive care, 16 fewer than on Tuesday but 53 more than a week earlier.
In the Northeast region, patient numbers dropped by seven in one day to 166, which still represented an increase of 14 in a week. There were 52 patients in ICUs, one fewer than on Tuesday and two fewer than a week earlier. Fox Valley region hospitals reported 131 total patients, a drop of seven in a day and 19 in a week. ICU patients, however, increased to 21, three more than on Tuesday and four more than a week earlier.
