MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Wisconsin health officials are reporting more than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases in a single day for the first time as the omicron variant of the coronavirus continues to spread.
The state Department of Health Services reported 10,288 new confirmed cases on Tuesday, eclipsing the previous record of 8,232 on Monday. The seven-day average of new cases rose to 6,260, its highest level since Nov. 20, 2020.
Test positivity averaged a record 25.1% for the most recent seven-day period.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed all of Wisconsin in the “high” category for virus transmission.
With 44 deaths reported Tuesday, the seven-day average increased to 21.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 1,023,729 total cases and 10,198 deaths.
As of Wednesday, 62.2% of the state’s population had received at least one dose of vaccine, while 58.3% had completed the vaccine series.
An average of 14,705 doses were administered per day over the past week. Of those, 9,871 were booster or additional doses.
Total hospitalizations exceeded 2,000 for the first time since Nov. 20, 2020. The Wisconsin Hospital Association reported treating 2,002 COVID-19 patients, 39 more than on Tuesday and 290 more than a week earlier. Of those, 464 were in intensive care, up two in a day and 45 over a week.
Of the 1,353 ICU beds in the state, 3.8% were immediately available.
Northeast region hospitals reported treating 201 COVID-19 patients, up 13 in a day and 37 over a week. Of those, 41 were in ICUs, down five in a day but up two over a week. In the Fox Valley region, there were 122 COVID-19 patients, 10 more than on Tuesday but one fewer than a week earlier. Twenty-five of those were in ICUs, up two in a day and four over a week.
