DHS: 1,730 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases In Wisconsin

The state Department of Health Services announced Thursday there are 1,730 positive cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin.

According to figures from DHS, 31 people in Wisconsin have died from COVID-19 as of Thursday afternoon — not including two additional deaths in Milwaukee County reported by local officials. According to DHS, 461 people have been hospitalized.

The number of positive test results increased by 180 cases from Wednesday to Thursday.

There are confirmed cases in 52 Wisconsin counties.

Wisconsin’s major cities are seeing the highest number of positive cases and deaths related to COVID-19. As of Thursday, DHS reported there were 869 positive test results and 16 deaths reported in Milwaukee County — not including two deaths in Milwaukee County reported by local officials. Dane County reported 228 positive cases and three deaths.

Other highly populated counties with a large number of cases include: Waukesha County has 120 cases and one death. Kenosha County has 67 cases; Ozaukee County has 48 cases and three deaths; Washington County has 46 cases; and Racine County has 35 cases. Fond du Lac County has 28 positive cases and two deaths. Rock County has 19 cases and one death. Sauk and Sheboygan counties both have 16 cases and a single death.

Other counties with multiple cases but no deaths include: Brown and Winnebago counties both have 17 positive cases; Columbia and Walworth counties both have 15 cases, Eau Claire and Outagamie counties both have 14 cases; Dodge County has 13. Jefferson has 12 cases; and Chippewa County has 11.

Milwaukee’s African American community has been hit particularly hard during the pandemic. The majority of deaths in the county have been African Americans living on the city’s northwest side.

State health officials said Thursday they have no plan to begin releasing data on the number of patients who’ve recovered from COVID-19. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Westergaard said that’s become many patients who recover at home don’t require follow-up testing.

“If we presented numbers on how many people have recovered it would be a guess,” he said.

The following counties have no confirmed cases as of Thursday afternoon: Barron, Burnett, Florence, Forest, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Pepin, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, Vernon, Washburn and Waushara.

Across the state, 20,317 people have tested negative for the virus so far. From Wednesday to Thursday, the number of negative test results increased by 1,498.