The rate of new COVID-19 cases reported to the Sheboygan County Division of Public Health since last week increased by 40% compared to last Friday according to the department’s weekly update. Whereas 152 cases were added in the week preceding July 8th, the past week increased by 214 to a total of 31,734 confirmed cases during the pandemic. Many experts believe that with the number of persons self-testing at home, the actual number may be higher given that those tests aren’t reported to the county. The rate of new COVID-19 cases in Sheboygan County per 100,000 persons over the past 7 days was 197.68, increasing from 168.2 the previous week.
One additional death was attributed to COVID-19 in the last week, that to a county resident in their 50s. Of the 275 deaths now recorded, one was between 10 and 19 years old, one was in their 20s, six were in their 30s, nine were in their 40s, twenty-two were in their 50s, forty-four were in their 60s, seventy-three were in their70s, and one-hundred-nineteen were at least 80 years old.
Hospital admissions per 100,000 over the past week declined to 4.9 after a level of 9.0 reported last Friday. 4 patients are currently hospitalized. Of the available inpatient beds in Sheboygan County, 3.7% are occupied by COVID-19 patients, down from 4.0% the previous week.
The rate of community transmission in Sheboygan County as measured by the CDC remains low, however several surrounding counties are increasing once again. Manitowoc, Washington and Ozaukee Counties now report “Medium” levels, while Fond du Lac and Calumet Counties are “Low”. At the same time, Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties are now at “High” levels, and Milwaukee County has issued a “Mask Advisory” – not a “mandate” – and is recommending that all individuals older than age two, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection, wear a mask in public setting when indoors.
It is assumed that the increases noted recently are attributed to the Omicron sub-variant BA.5. This virus now accounts for a majority of cases in the U.S., and early indications are that the variant may have increased ability to escape immunity from both vaccines and prior infections. Due to this, it is possible (if not expected) that there may be a rise in cases in the coming weeks. As always, health officials advise that those who have not been vaccinated do so; those who have not received boosters schedule an appointment to receive them, and those eligible for a second booster should also keep up with their scheduled shots.
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