DHS: 5,906 new COVID-19 cases, 24 more deaths

There have been 5,096 new COVID-19 cases since Thursday, Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm told reporters Friday morning.

The seven-day average for new daily cases was at 4,231, she said.

The total number of confirmed cases was 220,092, with 44 percent of cases confirmed in the past month and 66 percent in the past two months, she said.

The state’s death toll was at 1,972 Wisconsinites, an increase of 24 since Thursday, Palm said.

Wisconsin hospitals reported yet another record for COVID-19 patients on Thursday.

There were 1,453 COVID-19 patients in Wisconsin hospitals, an increase of 14 from Wednesday and up 223 from the prior week, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association.

There were 330 patients in intensive care units, a decline of nine from Wednesday and up two from last week.

On Thursday, leaders from Milwaukee-area health systems and community health centers issued a plea for mask wearing, handing washing, social distancing and getting a flu shot.

During a 72-hour period this week, 4,463 more people in southeast Wisconsin tested positive for COVID-19. More than 500 people are sick with the illness in the region’s hospitals.

“But this isn’t about numbers,” they wrote. “It’s about people. People you know and care about. Your mom. Your dad. Your grandparents. Your husband. Your wife. Your kids. Your partner. Your friends. Your neighbors. Your coworkers.”

The Department of Health Services reported 4,870 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday and 51 additional deaths. There were 13,174 more people tested, for a total of 2,018,461.

According to DHS, 44,896 cases were active.

As of Wednesday, the seven-day positivity rate per person was 27.1 percent, while the seven-day positivity rate per test was 14.2 percent.

The surge facility in West Allis had seven patients as of Thursday morning.