Only One Wisconsin County Has a Shrinking COVID-19 Spread
Even counties without college dorms are seeing case surges.
COVID-19. Credit: U.S. Army.
Wisconsin’s COVID-19 spread continues to twist and turn. And as a result, it’s now more widespread than ever before.
Yesterday we reported that across the state cases are falling in every age group except for the 18-to-24-year-old cohort and that new cases have been driven by college campuses.
Logic would dictate that counties without four-year college campuses should be seeing a decline in cases. But that’s not actually what’s happening.
Take Forest County. The northeastern Wisconsin county has recorded 1,002 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks. That’s the highest per-capita two-week rate ever recorded by a Wisconsin county and indicates one out of every 100 residents has tested positive in the past two weeks.
In total 28 of the state’s 72 counties have a statistically-significant growing caseload according to a Department of Health Services activity level report. Many of the counties, including Burnett, Langlade and Sawyer, don’t have dorms to blame.
Only one Wisconsin county has a stastitically-significant “shrinking” case burden, Waupaca County. The county still has a rate of 272.6 cases per 100,000 residents in the past two weeks, which has dropped by 47.9 from last week.
Milwaukee County, over the past two weeks, has the 39th worst outbreak in the state. Down from 34th last week, even though its case rate actually increased from 158 to 171.6 per 100,000 residents.
The rate across the state increased from 191.9 cases per 100,000 residents to 269.6, the highest it has ever been.
DHS reported 1,408 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday afternoon from 12,196 processed tests.
The seven-day testing total jumped to 66,518 tests, the highest it has been since August 21st. But the seven-day case total went from a record rolling total of 8,8,27 cases on September 14th to a new high of 9,378 reported Wednesday. The seven-day testing total remains more than 30,000 cases below its all-time high.
The seven- and 14-day positive case rates now stand at 14.10 and 13.06 percent, the latter of which is an all-time high. The figure is a measure of the percentage of tests that indicate a new case of the disease. The 14-day figure hit a low of 2.69 percent on June 19th.
A lagging indicator of the disease’s spread, hospitalizations, is again trending upward.
A total of 370 Wisconsin residents are actively hospitalized with a confirmed case of the disease according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association COVID-19 dashboard. The figure is up 27 from Tuesday and 68 from a week ago. DHS reports that 48 people were newly hospitalized in the past 24 hours, bringing the outbreak total to 6,454.
Eight deaths were reported by DHS, bringing the statewide total to 1,228. There have been 518 deaths recorded in Milwaukee County. An average of 6.3 deaths per day have been reported across the state over the past 30 days.
According to DHS data, 2,723.3 out of every 100,000 Milwaukee County residents have tested positive for COVID-19 (up from 2,723.3) since the outbreak began. Brown County has recorded 2,493 cases per 100,000 residents (up from 2,493). Iron County, the northernmost county that borders Michigan, has 2,327.2 cases per 100,000 residents (no change).
Walworth (2,223.8), Racine (2,213.6), Kenosha (1,892), Forest (1,884.1), La Crosse (1,699.4), Trempealeau (1,673.9), Marinette (1,661), Dodge (1,655.7), Outagamie (1,619.2) and Waupaca (1,606.4) are the only other counties with more than 1,600 cases per 100,000 residents.
The statewide average of cases per 100,000 residents rose to 1,603.7 (up from 1,579.4). Wisconsin has recorded a per-capita rate of 269.6 per 100,000 in the past two weeks according to the DHS activity level report released Wednesday.
A total of 92,712 residents have tested positive for the disease.
UPDATE: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated there are no colleagues in Walworth County. UW-Whitewater is on the county’s northwest border.
Charts and Maps
Data from DHS
Percent of COVID-19 cases by hospitalization status
| Hospitalization status | Number of confirmed cases as of 9/16/2020 | Percent of confirmed cases as of 9/16/2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Ever hospitalized | 6,454 | 7% |
| Never hospitalized | 53,959 | 58% |
| Unknown | 32,299 | 35% |
| Total | 92,712 | 100% |
Percent of COVID-19 cases resulting in hospitalization within age group
Data from DHS
Confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths by gender
Data from DHS
Confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths by race
Data from DHS
Confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths by ethnicity
Data from DHS
Number of positive cases and deaths by county
| Number of confirmed cases | Number of negatives* | Number of probable cases | Number of deaths** | Cases per 100,000 people (counties) | Case fatality percentage*** | ||
| Adams | 9/16/2020 | 174 | 3,539 | 13 | 3 | 849 | 1.70% |
| Ashland | 9/16/2020 | 46 | 2,270 | 6 | 2 | 290 | 4.30% |
| Barron | 9/16/2020 | 403 | 8,206 | 21 | 4 | 878.4 | 1.00% |
| Bayfield | 9/16/2020 | 71 | 2,662 | 8 | 1 | 467 | 1.40% |
| Brown | 9/16/2020 | 6,817 | 64,936 | 174 | 59 | 2,618.60 | 0.90% |
| Buffalo | 9/16/2020 | 114 | 2,219 | 5 | 2 | 843.9 | 1.80% |
| Burnett | 9/16/2020 | 90 | 2,444 | 3 | 2 | 582.6 | 2.20% |
| Calumet | 9/16/2020 | 737 | 8,892 | 37 | 2 | 1,431.70 | 0.30% |
| Chippewa | 9/16/2020 | 434 | 13,161 | 24 | 0 | 675.8 | 0.00% |
| Clark | 9/16/2020 | 306 | 5,020 | 25 | 8 | 880.8 | 2.60% |
| Columbia | 9/16/2020 | 455 | 13,066 | 43 | 2 | 796.5 | 0.40% |
| Crawford | 9/16/2020 | 131 | 4,170 | 4 | 0 | 791.3 | 0.00% |
| Dane | 9/16/2020 | 7,984 | 176,565 | 448 | 41 | 1,510.70 | 0.50% |
| Dodge | 9/16/2020 | 1,477 | 20,973 | 23 | 9 | 1,655.70 | 0.60% |
| Door | 9/16/2020 | 204 | 6,296 | 11 | 3 | 727.2 | 1.50% |
| Douglas | 9/16/2020 | 342 | 6,935 | 8 | 0 | 779.5 | 0.00% |
| Dunn | 9/16/2020 | 265 | 7,484 | 19 | 0 | 591.8 | 0.00% |
| Eau Claire | 9/16/2020 | 1,336 | 20,533 | 20 | 6 | 1,298.40 | 0.40% |
| Florence | 9/16/2020 | 51 | 789 | 0 | 0 | 1,153.60 | 0.00% |
| Fond du Lac | 9/16/2020 | 1,521 | 21,120 | 46 | 12 | 1,471.40 | 0.80% |
| Forest | 9/16/2020 | 173 | 1,382 | 2 | 4 | 1,884.10 | 2.30% |
| Grant | 9/16/2020 | 637 | 11,967 | 37 | 19 | 1,216.30 | 3.00% |
| Green | 9/16/2020 | 371 | 7,094 | 20 | 2 | 1,006.40 | 0.50% |
| Green Lake | 9/16/2020 | 150 | 3,389 | 37 | 0 | 785.8 | 0.00% |
| Iowa | 9/16/2020 | 138 | 4,939 | 26 | 0 | 579.9 | 0.00% |
| Iron | 9/16/2020 | 136 | 1,428 | 7 | 1 | 2,327.20 | 0.70% |
| Jackson | 9/16/2020 | 94 | 6,115 | 3 | 1 | 455.3 | 1.10% |
| Jefferson | 9/16/2020 | 1,113 | 17,567 | 70 | 7 | 1,314.40 | 0.60% |
| Juneau | 9/16/2020 | 285 | 7,840 | 4 | 1 | 1,059.20 | 0.40% |
| Kenosha | 9/16/2020 | 3,183 | 35,549 | 370 | 65 | 1,892.00 | 2.00% |
| Kewaunee | 9/16/2020 | 295 | 3,349 | 4 | 2 | 1,429.00 | 0.70% |
| La Crosse | 9/16/2020 | 2,011 | 23,463 | 131 | 2 | 1,699.40 | 0.10% |
| Lafayette | 9/16/2020 | 199 | 3,095 | 5 | 0 | 1,178.70 | 0.00% |
| Langlade | 9/16/2020 | 115 | 3,016 | 1 | 2 | 581.5 | 1.70% |
| Lincoln | 9/16/2020 | 120 | 4,311 | 7 | 1 | 421.9 | 0.80% |
| Manitowoc | 9/16/2020 | 742 | 13,445 | 35 | 2 | 924.6 | 0.30% |
| Marathon | 9/16/2020 | 925 | 19,241 | 81 | 14 | 686.5 | 1.50% |
| Marinette | 9/16/2020 | 680 | 9,022 | 18 | 7 | 1,661.00 | 1.00% |
| Marquette | 9/16/2020 | 152 | 2,781 | 9 | 1 | 988.4 | 0.70% |
| Menominee | 9/16/2020 | 34 | 2,112 | 0 | 1 | 775.9 | 2.90% |
| Milwaukee | 9/16/2020 | 25,884 | 242,480 | 1,582 | 518 | 2,740.60 | 2.00% |
| Monroe | 9/16/2020 | 336 | 9,364 | 10 | 2 | 730.5 | 0.60% |
| Oconto | 9/16/2020 | 580 | 7,991 | 36 | 4 | 1,527.80 | 0.70% |
| Oneida | 9/16/2020 | 293 | 7,324 | 6 | 2 | 815.9 | 0.70% |
| Outagamie | 9/16/2020 | 2,976 | 36,491 | 196 | 24 | 1,619.20 | 0.80% |
| Ozaukee | 9/16/2020 | 1,124 | 17,220 | 90 | 19 | 1,272.10 | 1.70% |
| Pepin | 9/16/2020 | 52 | 1,293 | 2 | 0 | 707.6 | 0.00% |
| Pierce | 9/16/2020 | 348 | 6,763 | 109 | 6 | 835.8 | 1.70% |
| Polk | 9/16/2020 | 214 | 8,104 | 7 | 2 | 487.5 | 0.90% |
| Portage | 9/16/2020 | 1,004 | 12,015 | 33 | 3 | 1,419.70 | 0.30% |
| Price | 9/16/2020 | 40 | 2,367 | 2 | 0 | 289.7 | 0.00% |
| Racine | 9/16/2020 | 4,321 | 60,328 | 397 | 94 | 2,213.60 | 2.20% |
| Richland | 9/16/2020 | 76 | 3,948 | 11 | 4 | 429.1 | 5.30% |
| Rock | 9/16/2020 | 2,091 | 32,958 | 180 | 32 | 1,304.70 | 1.50% |
| Rusk | 9/16/2020 | 40 | 2,050 | 5 | 1 | 275.2 | 2.50% |
| Sauk | 9/16/2020 | 730 | 18,333 | 57 | 3 | 1,164.50 | 0.40% |
| Sawyer | 9/16/2020 | 186 | 4,267 | 0 | 1 | 1,122.60 | 0.50% |
| Shawano | 9/16/2020 | 421 | 8,435 | 5 | 0 | 1,020.40 | 0.00% |
| Sheboygan | 9/16/2020 | 1,294 | 20,835 | 51 | 13 | 1,130.00 | 1.00% |
| St. Croix | 9/16/2020 | 742 | 14,294 | 60 | 7 | 841.6 | 0.90% |
| Taylor | 9/16/2020 | 139 | 2,551 | 3 | 3 | 675.4 | 2.20% |
| Trempealeau | 9/16/2020 | 491 | 6,095 | 16 | 2 | 1,673.90 | 0.40% |
| Vernon | 9/16/2020 | 148 | 5,220 | 5 | 0 | 488.7 | 0.00% |
| Vilas | 9/16/2020 | 154 | 3,933 | 4 | 1 | 711.1 | 0.60% |
| Walworth | 9/16/2020 | 2,282 | 21,895 | 141 | 34 | 2,223.80 | 1.50% |
| Washburn | 9/16/2020 | 84 | 2,623 | 2 | 1 | 529.9 | 1.20% |
| Washington | 9/16/2020 | 2,051 | 22,936 | 67 | 32 | 1,525.10 | 1.60% |
| Waukesha | 9/16/2020 | 6,240 | 74,808 | 601 | 85 | 1,565.30 | 1.40% |
| Waupaca | 9/16/2020 | 831 | 9,857 | 98 | 20 | 1,606.40 | 2.40% |
| Waushara | 9/16/2020 | 245 | 6,245 | 5 | 2 | 1,008.30 | 0.80% |
| Winnebago | 9/16/2020 | 2,168 | 36,726 | 111 | 22 | 1,280.20 | 1.00% |
| Wood | 9/16/2020 | 616 | 13,179 | 31 | 3 | 832.1 | 0.50% |
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More about the Coronavirus Pandemic
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- MHD Release: Milwaukee Health Department Launches COVID-19 Wastewater Testing Dashboard - City of Milwaukee Health Department - Jan 23rd, 2024
- Milwaukee County Announces New Policies Related to COVID-19 Pandemic - County Executive David Crowley - May 9th, 2023
- DHS Details End of Emergency COVID-19 Response - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Apr 26th, 2023
- Milwaukee Health Department Announces Upcoming Changes to COVID-19 Services - City of Milwaukee Health Department - Mar 17th, 2023
- Fitzgerald Applauds Passage of COVID-19 Origin Act - U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald - Mar 10th, 2023
- DHS Expands Free COVID-19 Testing Program - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Feb 10th, 2023
- MKE County: COVID-19 Hospitalizations Rising - Graham Kilmer - Jan 16th, 2023
- Not Enough Getting Bivalent Booster Shots, State Health Officials Warn - Gaby Vinick - Dec 26th, 2022
- Nearly All Wisconsinites Age 6 Months and Older Now Eligible for Updated COVID-19 Vaccine - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Dec 15th, 2022
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UW-Whitewater is in Walworth County – most dorms and college housing are in Walworth, with the rest in Jefferson County.