DHS Data Shows COVID-19 Cases Continue To Decline In Wisconsin

4 COVID-Related Deaths Reported On Wednesday

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A nurse hangs a sign on a glass door that says "Free COVID-19 Vaccines Here"
Registered nurse Ashley Lindstrom hangs up a sign to advertise the temporary COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Washington Park branch of the Milwaukee Public Library on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in Milwaukee, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

New reports of COVID-19 cases continue to decline in Wisconsin, based on the latest data published by the state Department of Health Services.

DHS reported 202 cases of the disease Wednesday, bringing the average for the past seven days to 1.7 percent. One week ago, the average was 2.3 percent. Daily new cases have been decreasing.

As COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin continue to decrease, more of the state’s residents are being vaccinated against the disease.

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A total of 5,782,655 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered in Wisconsin as of Wednesday, with 79.2 percent of Wisconsinites age 65 and up having completed the vaccination series. According to DHS, 19.8 percent of the state’s 12- to 15-year-olds have had their first doses of vaccine. That age group became eligible May 13.

Increasing rates of vaccination have provided a sense of hope after a yearlong pandemic that has claimed the lives of 7,110 people in Wisconsin. There were four new deaths from COVID-19 reported Wednesday.

Other DHS data from Wednesday include:

  • 610,400 total cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
  • 194 people were in the hospital with COVID-19 as of Wednesday, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
  • Daily testing capacity remains at 59,273, though preliminary statistics show 6,565 people were tested Wednesday.

Coronavirus rates vary from county to county. In order to track COVID-19 activity levels, DHS looks at the number of new cases per a county’s population over a 14-day period — and whether there’s an upward or downward trend in new cases. Activity levels range from “very high,” “high,” “medium,” to “low.”

As of last week, DHS data showed the state had no counties with a “very high” level, while the majority of Wisconsin counties had “high” levels of activity. There were growing case trajectories in one county and shrinking trajectories in 12. Wisconsin’s overall COVID-19 activity level is “medium.”

For more about COVID-19, visit Coronavirus in Wisconsin.

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