704 Deaths, 4,074 Hospitalizations, 103,096 COVID-19 Cases in October
State crosses 2,000-death threshold as it also sets a new one-day high for cases.
COVID-19. Credit: U.S. Army.
Wisconsin ends October where it started when it comes to COVID-19, amidst a record-breaking surge.
But the disease’s spread far exceeds where it was on September 30th. At that point the record for cases was 2,817, the record for active hospitalizations was 683 and the 30-day average daily death total was 6.83.
October closes with a peak one-day case total of 5,278 set on the 31st, an active hospitalization high of 1,546 set on the 30th and a 30-day average daily death total of 22.77 set after 59 deaths were recorded on the 31st.
According to Department of Health Services data, Wisconsin recorded 103,096 COVID-19 cases in October, 4,074 new hospitalizations and 704 deaths.
On Saturday DHS reported 5,278 cases from 14,853 positive cases.
Officials have looked for the positive case rate to trend downward to indicate a slowing spread of disease and sufficient testing. Multiple public health benchmarks call for the positive case rate figure to be sustained under five percent.
A record 30,830 Wisconsin residents have tested positive for the disease in the past week. Since the pandemic began 225,370 people have tested positive.
Lagging indicators of the disease’s spread continue to set new highs, while state health officials warn that hospitalization and death surges are connected to earlier record case reports.
Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer of the DHS Bureau of Communicable Diseases, called it a “nightmare scenario” during a Tuesday afternoon press briefing.
Friday morning he expressed dismay with how things are going.
“Personally and frankly I am surprised and disappointed that we have failed as much as we have to slow the virus. I say that because it is important to understand that there is still time to turn this around,” said Westergaard.
He said left unchecked the virus would infect 70 to 80 percent of Wisconsin residents. “It’s probably fewer than 10% of Wisconsin residents that have been infected,” said Westergaard, estimating those with confirmed and unconfirmed cases.
“I think it’s so important we understand we can turn the corner,” he said. “If we don’t do that it would not be surprising for numbers to continue to get worse.”
The Wisconsin Hospital Association reported 1,510 people are actively hospitalized with a confirmed case of the disease. That’s down 36 in the past 24 hours, but up 273 since last week.
The state reported a record 229 people were newly hospitalized in the past 24 hours. A total of 11,374 people have required hospitalization since the outbreak began, 1,137 in the past week.
A record 11 patients are in the Alternate Care Facility in West Allis.
DHS reported 59 deaths Saturday. A total of 2,031 Wisconsin residents have died as a result of the virus, including 592 in Milwaukee County. Officials confirmed Tuesday that the total includes only people where a medical examiner determined the disease was a contributing factor in the death.
Westergaard said the case fatality rate has fallen because of a broadening age distribution in those who contract the virus. “Anyone who is infected can become severely ill,” he said, noting that death wasn’t the only negative outcome. “I think the short lesson is deaths are on the rise because cases on the rise.”
Since September, Milwaukee County has gone from having the worst per-capita outbreak to the 16th worst in the state, even as its case and hospitalization load has surged to record levels.
Menominee County has recorded 7,759 cases per 100,000 residents (up from 7,576.4). Shawano County has recorded 6,371.8 cases per 100,000 residents (up from 6,226.4). Brown, Oconto, Kewaunee, Winnebago, Calumet, Forest, Langlade, Outagamie, Dodge, Florence, Waupaca, Fond du Lac and Marinette counties are the remaining counties leading Milwaukee.
According to DHS data, 4,538.4 out of every 100,000 Milwaukee County residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the outbreak began (up from 4,416.4).
The statewide average of cases per 100,000 residents rose to 3,898.4 (up from 3,807.1). Wisconsin has recorded a per-capita rate of 891.7 cases per 100,000 residents in the past two weeks according to the DHS activity level report released Wednesday.
Charts and Maps
Data from DHS.
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.
Cases and deaths by county
| Number of confirmed cases | Number of negatives* | Number of probable cases | Number of deaths † | Number of probable deaths ‡ | Cases per 100,000 people (counties) | Deaths per 100,000 people (counties) | Case fatality percentage †† | |
| Adams | 576 | 5,154 | 40 | 5 | 0 | 2,810.40 | 24.4 | 0.90% |
| Ashland | 300 | 4,167 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1,891.20 | 18.9 | 1.00% |
| Barron | 1,281 | 12,394 | 32 | 7 | 0 | 2,792.10 | 15.3 | 0.50% |
| Bayfield | 266 | 4,039 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1,749.50 | 13.2 | 0.80% |
| Brown | 16,115 | 93,768 | 369 | 103 | 3 | 6,190.20 | 39.6 | 0.60% |
| Buffalo | 330 | 3,236 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2,442.80 | 22.2 | 0.90% |
| Burnett | 327 | 3,722 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 2,116.90 | 38.8 | 1.80% |
| Calumet | 2,818 | 13,624 | 68 | 14 | 0 | 5,474.40 | 27.2 | 0.50% |
| Chippewa | 1,939 | 19,066 | 37 | 24 | 2 | 3,019.30 | 37.4 | 1.20% |
| Clark | 998 | 7,062 | 80 | 17 | 3 | 2,872.70 | 48.9 | 1.70% |
| Columbia | 1,908 | 19,531 | 143 | 7 | 0 | 3,339.90 | 12.3 | 0.40% |
| Crawford | 374 | 5,180 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2,259.10 | 6 | 0.30% |
| Dane | 15,839 | 241,086 | 579 | 49 | 1 | 2,997.00 | 9.3 | 0.30% |
| Dodge | 4,683 | 28,814 | 186 | 35 | 1 | 5,249.70 | 39.2 | 0.70% |
| Door | 925 | 9,355 | 69 | 9 | 0 | 3,297.60 | 32.1 | 1.00% |
| Douglas | 841 | 10,315 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1,916.90 | 2.3 | 0.10% |
| Dunn | 1,177 | 11,490 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 2,628.60 | 2.2 | 0.10% |
| Eau Claire | 3,845 | 30,345 | 37 | 17 | 1 | 3,736.90 | 16.5 | 0.40% |
| Florence | 221 | 1,160 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 4,998.90 | 158.3 | 3.20% |
| Fond du Lac | 4,994 | 29,735 | 157 | 23 | 0 | 4,831.00 | 22.2 | 0.50% |
| Forest | 501 | 2,611 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 5,456.30 | 119.8 | 2.20% |
| Grant | 2,018 | 16,918 | 83 | 34 | 1 | 3,853.10 | 64.9 | 1.70% |
| Green | 1,030 | 10,564 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 2,794.10 | 16.3 | 0.60% |
| Green Lake | 798 | 5,279 | 118 | 4 | 0 | 4,180.60 | 21 | 0.50% |
| Iowa | 560 | 7,211 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 2,353.00 | 8.4 | 0.40% |
| Iron | 212 | 1,807 | 46 | 4 | 0 | 3,627.70 | 68.4 | 1.90% |
| Jackson | 591 | 7,509 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2,862.80 | 4.8 | 0.20% |
| Jefferson | 2,951 | 24,744 | 128 | 19 | 0 | 3,485.10 | 22.4 | 0.60% |
| Juneau | 837 | 10,855 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3,110.60 | 18.6 | 0.60% |
| Kenosha | 5,378 | 49,112 | 566 | 88 | 2 | 3,196.80 | 52.3 | 1.60% |
| Kewaunee | 1,160 | 5,135 | 31 | 7 | 0 | 5,619.10 | 33.9 | 0.60% |
| La Crosse | 4,550 | 32,945 | 164 | 22 | 0 | 3,845.10 | 18.6 | 0.50% |
| Lafayette | 589 | 4,471 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3,488.70 | 5.9 | 0.20% |
| Langlade | 1,065 | 4,839 | 41 | 11 | 2 | 5,385.00 | 55.6 | 1.00% |
| Lincoln | 931 | 7,036 | 44 | 12 | 2 | 3,273.30 | 42.2 | 1.30% |
| Manitowoc | 2,986 | 19,737 | 361 | 16 | 3 | 3,720.70 | 19.9 | 0.50% |
| Marathon | 5,322 | 31,915 | 404 | 57 | 4 | 3,949.80 | 42.3 | 1.10% |
| Marinette | 1,870 | 12,242 | 134 | 16 | 0 | 4,567.90 | 39.1 | 0.90% |
| Marquette | 668 | 4,200 | 91 | 2 | 0 | 4,343.90 | 13 | 0.30% |
| Menominee | 340 | 3,243 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7,759.00 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Milwaukee | 42,864 | 319,252 | 2,788 | 592 | 5 | 4,538.40 | 62.7 | 1.40% |
| Monroe | 1,238 | 12,684 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 2,691.40 | 17.4 | 0.60% |
| Oconto | 2,238 | 11,741 | 103 | 18 | 3 | 5,895.40 | 47.4 | 0.80% |
| Oneida | 1,351 | 11,605 | 23 | 13 | 0 | 3,761.90 | 36.2 | 1.00% |
| Outagamie | 9,750 | 55,433 | 397 | 81 | 0 | 5,304.70 | 44.1 | 0.80% |
| Ozaukee | 2,492 | 25,302 | 269 | 25 | 2 | 2,820.30 | 28.3 | 1.00% |
| Pepin | 170 | 1,891 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2,313.20 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Pierce | 792 | 10,025 | 235 | 7 | 1 | 1,902.20 | 16.8 | 0.90% |
| Polk | 640 | 11,644 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1,457.90 | 6.8 | 0.50% |
| Portage | 2,978 | 17,802 | 79 | 21 | 1 | 4,211.00 | 29.7 | 0.70% |
| Price | 408 | 3,711 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 2,954.80 | 21.7 | 0.70% |
| Racine | 8,110 | 78,902 | 852 | 114 | 2 | 4,154.60 | 58.4 | 1.40% |
| Richland | 497 | 6,939 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 2,806.00 | 50.8 | 1.80% |
| Rock | 5,533 | 48,883 | 263 | 46 | 2 | 3,452.40 | 28.7 | 0.80% |
| Rusk | 241 | 3,068 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1,658.20 | 6.9 | 0.40% |
| Sauk | 1,927 | 25,217 | 69 | 7 | 0 | 3,074.10 | 11.2 | 0.40% |
| Sawyer | 417 | 5,501 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2,516.70 | 24.1 | 1.00% |
| Shawano | 2,629 | 12,104 | 25 | 26 | 1 | 6,371.80 | 63 | 1.00% |
| Sheboygan | 5,158 | 30,351 | 184 | 31 | 1 | 4,504.20 | 27.1 | 0.60% |
| St. Croix | 2,055 | 21,619 | 100 | 11 | 0 | 2,330.80 | 12.5 | 0.50% |
| Taylor | 537 | 3,783 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 2,609.30 | 34 | 1.30% |
| Trempealeau | 1,123 | 8,092 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 3,828.60 | 13.6 | 0.40% |
| Vernon | 538 | 8,604 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1,776.30 | 6.6 | 0.40% |
| Vilas | 638 | 5,876 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 2,946.10 | 32.3 | 1.10% |
| Walworth | 3,589 | 28,894 | 312 | 39 | 1 | 3,497.50 | 38 | 1.10% |
| Washburn | 263 | 3,864 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1,659.00 | 12.6 | 0.80% |
| Washington | 4,809 | 34,146 | 399 | 44 | 2 | 3,575.80 | 32.7 | 0.90% |
| Waukesha | 13,353 | 107,410 | 1,109 | 125 | 3 | 3,349.60 | 31.4 | 0.90% |
| Waupaca | 2,586 | 13,817 | 281 | 47 | 8 | 4,998.90 | 90.9 | 1.80% |
| Waushara | 1,091 | 8,203 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 4,490.10 | 20.6 | 0.50% |
| Winnebago | 9,323 | 55,534 | 480 | 67 | 2 | 5,505.40 | 39.6 | 0.70% |
| Wood | 1,917 | 19,123 | 123 | 10 | 2 | 2,589.60 | 13.5 | 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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Thank goodness the election is Tuesday. I hope the results will mean no more trump rallies in the state. Every place trump or one of his minions staged a rally, there has been a massive increase in covid cases, hsopitalizations, and deaths.