MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Coronavirus activity in the state of Wisconsin is still declining, with 4,618 new cases of the virus reported Thursday.
That brings the seven-day new case average to 3,596, a decrease over the same time last month.
DHS secretary designee Andrea Palm says it’s still too soon to tell if the decrease is simply a result of lower test processing over the thanksgiving holiday or a genuine decrease in virus activity.
The update comes as many Wisconsin counties — including a majority in Northeast Wisconsin — have moved down into the “very high” category for virus burden on the state’s weekly dashboard. Only Florence, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee, Marinette and Menominee counties remained in the “critically high” category, and all showed either a shrinking trajectory or no significant change.
Brown, Calumet, Door, Green Lake, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Waushara and Winnebago counties showed shrinking trends of virus activity. Oconto, Shawano and Waupaca counties showed no significant change.
A “critically high” burden is defined as more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 residents. “Very high” is defined as between 350 and 1,000 cases per 100,000 residents.
Meanwhile, the state’s seven-day average of new cases continued its decline on Thursday. The Department of Health Services reported 4,618 new cases, or 38.6% of the 11,972 total tests done. There were 60 new deaths reported.
Seven-day averages moved to 3,596 cases and 46 deaths.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 399,708 confirmed cases, nearly 2.2 million negative tests and 3,562 deaths. DHS considers 331,425 people to have recovered from COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.
As of Thursday morning, there were eight patients at the state’s alternate care facility near Milwaukee, the same number as on Wednesday.
