MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – New confirmed coronavirus infections are continuing their declining trend, but doctors caution Wisconsin is not out of the woods.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 2,340 new cases on Wednesday, with the seven-day average dropping to 2,416. That was down from 2,932 on Sept. 20.
Dr. Ryan Westergaard of the DHS Bureau of Communicable Diseases said the numbers were encouraging, but they did not constitute definitive proof of Wisconsin being on the down side of the delta variant surge. Westergaard said he hoped Wisconsin could follow the pattern seen in the southern U.S., where cases have been diminishing. However, he was concerned about cooler weather coming and forcing people indoors, pointing out that Wisconsin saw a surge in cases from September through November last year.
Test positivity averaged 7.5% over the most recent seven-day period.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map showed all of Wisconsin in the “high” category for virus transmission.
Deaths from COVID-19 averaged 16 over the previous seven days, with 17 being reported on Wednesday.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 726,982 confirmed cased and 7,997 deaths.
As of Thursday, 56.7 of state residents had received at least one dose of vaccine, while 53.7% had completed their vaccine series.
Hospitalizations decreased slightly on Thursday. The Wisconsin Hospital Association reported treating 1,107 COVID-19 patients, 11 fewer than on Wednesday and eight fewer than a week earlier. Of those, 321 were in intensive care, down 15 in a day and 10 over a week.
Across the state, 6.1% of the 1,359 ICU beds were available.
Northeast region hospitals reported 125 COVID-19 patients, three more than on Wednesday and 10 more than a week earlier. Of those, 37 were in ICUs, up one in a day and five over a week. In the Fox Valley region, there were 104 COVID-19 patients, two fewer than on Wednesday and the same as a week earlier. Twenty-three of those were in ICUs, down four in a day, but up two over a week.
