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Alison Dirr
| Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
As health workers in Wisconsin begin to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, new cases of coronavirus and hospitalizations in the state have continued their steady decline and showed no signs of an expected post-Thanksgiving increase.
The seven-day average, a measure that illustrates trends and smoothes out deviations from one day, is about 3,000 cases lower than a record high about a month ago.
The case average has been declining since a peak of over 6,500 was reached in mid-November. On Tuesday, the measure fell below 3,500 for the first time since October 23.
New cases reported: 3,501
New deaths reported: 54
Number admitted to hospital: 1,461 (intensive care: 331); 635 patients decreased from a month ago
Seven-day average of daily cases: 3,421 (less than 3,001 cases from a month ago)
Seven-day mean of daily deaths: 45 (less than a month ago)
The average positivity rate – first-time positive tests in the past seven days – was 27.5% Tuesday.
Total number of cases since the start of the pandemic: 442,396 (44,076 active cases)
Total number of deaths: 4,122
Follow COVID-19 in Wisconsin: View the latest figures and trends
How to interpret COVID-19 data: What experts say about positive cases, deaths and hospital admissions
Cases, hospital admissions less than a month ago, deaths about the same
In the run-up to Thanksgiving, health officials warned that post-holiday numbers would rise if people attended large gatherings, as the virus spreads easily indoors.
Just under three weeks after Thanksgiving, the state has not seen the expected rise. The incubation period of the virus can be up to 14 days.
However, testing is not available statewide. On Tuesday, the state reported only 7,299 first positive and negative results. On this day a month ago, the state reported 17,977 initial results.
And the positivity rate remains high, meaning the state doesn’t have a clear picture of the spread of disease in the state. More people could be sick and go unnoticed.
Hospital admissions to COVID-19 are also down statewide: by about 30% since a month ago. More reliable than case numbers – which require consistent test levels over time – declining hospital admissions may indicate that the burden of disease is declining.
The seven-day death average is comparable to what it was a month ago. Since an average of 40 deaths per day was exceeded on Nov. 9, the measure fluctuated slightly, to 61 deaths on Dec. 7, but remained high.
The share of active business has decreased
The share of active cases of the total total has also declined in recent weeks as previously exponential growth in the number of cases has slowed.
The 44,076 active cases reported by the State Department of Health Services on Tuesday make up exactly 10% of all confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic. An active case means that the infected person has not yet recovered and has not died.
The proportion of active cases of the total total has declined in recent weeks as the previously exponential growth in the number of cases has slowed. In November, active cases accounted for more than 20% of all cases.
A month ago, there were nearly 70,000 active cases in the state.
To be “recovered” by DHS standards, there must be documented evidence that symptoms have resolved or that 30 days have passed since diagnosis. There are 394,095 people recovered in the state, or 89.1% of all cases.
The 4,122 deaths from COVID-19 account for 0.9% of the cases in Wisconsin.
The virus is gaining speed nationally.
One in 20 Americans has tested positive for COVID-19, data from Johns Hopkins University and population estimates from the Census Bureau show.
The United States now reports more than 1.5 million cases every week, at a rate of about 150 per minute, according to an analysis by USA TODAY.
Even New York State, America’s first epicenter, is now reporting coronavirus cases faster than in the spring. Every state except Florida and Hawaii reported more cases in a week of November or December than at any time during the pandemic.
Milwaukee officials are pushing for more testing, caution against holiday gatherings
In Milwaukee, Monday’s test numbers had dropped, Mayor Tom Barrett said.
Miller Park saw 1,384 people being tested, while Northwest Health Center had 425 people tested and the Southside Health Center 300, he said.
“We have seen a steady decline in the number of community tests and this is something of concern,” Barrett said during a virtual press conference.
He said testing is “probably more important than ever” during this holiday season.
The province has a total of 77,988 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 787 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon, said Dr. Ben Weston, Director of Medical Services in the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management.
The vaccines now available will be “game changers” for the pandemic, the health system’s ability to care for patients and society’s return to a normal way of life, he said.
“We certainly cannot welcome their arrival soon enough,” he said. “In the meantime, as we begin to see health workers getting vaccinated, we know we have several months left before large-scale vaccination takes place for the public, until we really see the true impact of the vaccine on our cause. numbers, our hospital admissions and our deaths. “
Each of these measures – cases, hospitalizations and deaths – seems to indicate a slowing down in the community’s disease burden, he said. Still, the total numbers remain high.
He warned residents to remain cautious about following security measures.
Interim Milwaukee Health Commissioner Marlaina Jackson said the department discourages religious and New Year’s Eve celebrations in which people gather.
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
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