DHS: 20,571 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases In Wisconsin

There have been 20,571 positive cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin as of Saturday, according to the state Department of Health Services. That’s an increase of 322 cases from the day before.

According to health officials, 645 people in Wisconsin have died from COVID-19 as of Saturday afternoon.

DHS reported 314,802 negative tests for the new coronavirus, an increase of 11,470 from Friday to Saturday.

As of Friday, 66 percent of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered, according to DHS. Three percent who have tested positive have died from the virus.

Wisconsin’s daily testing capacity — based on the availability of test supplies and adequate staffing — has grown from 120 available lab tests in early March to 15,418 as of Friday. An increase in testing is one reason for the increase in the number of positive cases. The percentage of positive tests was 2.7 percent Saturday — it has hovered around 3 percent for the past several days.

Wisconsin has seen a 14-day downward trajectory in the percentage of positive tests and in the number of reported COVID-like illnesses — key metrics signifying COVID-19 is under control.

Testing Efforts Continue To Ramp Up

May 29 was the first time the state met the plan’s goal of testing 12,000 people per day for COVID-19, with DHS reporting a total of 12,869 tests. While testing totals dipped last weekend — with DHS reporting tests of between 7,000 to 9,000 per day — on Saturday, 11,470 tests were reported.

According to DHS, 2,832 people have been hospitalized because of the virus as of Saturday. That means at least 14 percent of people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus in the state have been hospitalized. DHS officials have said they don’t know the hospitalization history of 6,176 people, or 30 percent.

There are confirmed cases in all 72 of Wisconsin’s counties.