DHS: 22,518 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases In Wisconsin

There have been 22,518 positive cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin as of Saturday, according to the state Department of Health Services. That’s an increase of 272 cases from the day before.

According to health officials, 691 people in Wisconsin have died from COVID-19 as of Saturday afternoon, with 2 new deaths reported.

DHS reported 388,399 total negative tests for the coronavirus, an increase of 11,037 from Friday to Saturday.

As of Saturday, 72 percent of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered, according to DHS. Three percent have died.

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 16,668 as of Friday. The number of tests reported on Saturday was 11,309.

An increase in testing is one reason for the increase in the number of positive cases. The percentage of positive tests was 2.4 percent on Saturday. Positive test rates have mostly hovered between 2 and 3 percent over the past week.

As of Saturday, Wisconsin was no longer seeing a statistically significant 14-day downward trajectory in the either percentage of positive tests, or in reports of COVID-like cases — key metrics signifying COVID-19 is under control.

According to DHS, 3,035 people have been hospitalized because of the virus as of Saturday. That means at least 13 percent of people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus in the state have been hospitalized. DHS officials said they don’t know the hospitalization history of 6,426 people, or 29 percent.

There have been confirmed cases in all 72 of Wisconsin’s counties, though not all cases are currently active.

Evers Announces Direct Payments For Hospitals Impacted By COVID-19

Wisconsin hospitals will be receiving direct payments from the state to assist with lost revenue and added expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Tony Evers announced the new $40 million program on Thursday. Hospitals will receive a one-time payment from DHS for losses and expenses in March, April and May that have not been reimbursed by another program or insurance. The payment will be based on the hospital’s percentage of Medicaid claims compared to all Medicaid claims in the state.

Evers said the state expects to make the payments by the second week in July.

State officials also announced a new federal grant that will expand crisis counseling services for people impacted by COVID-19.

DHS and Wisconsin Emergency Management received a $675,526 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The funding will help community action agencies provide counseling to those experiencing anxiety and stress as a result of the pandemic. Services will be delivered by phone and online to comply with social distancing.

According to DHS, the program will be offered in “areas with the greatest need,” which include Brown, Dane, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, Rock, and Walworth counties. The department said services should be available by early July.