COVID-19 Cases Rising Again

The number of new cases of COVID-19 is rising again in Milwaukee County, and has been for the past several weeks.

A weekly COVID-19 report produced by epidemiologists and faculty from the Medical College of Wisconsin and UW-Milwaukee and public health officials shows that there were 1,968 new cases of COVID-19 among county residents from May 11-17. This is up slightly from 1,768 cases the week prior.

More than a month ago, when there were low levels of transmission occurring, the county was seeing some weeks with less than 200 new cases of COVID-19.

Among children, there were 467 new cases this past week up from 438 the week prior.

There were 115 adults hospitalized with COVID-19 this past week, up from 93 the week prior. There were 14 children hospitalized, up from 13 the week prior.

There were, however, no deaths due to COVID-19 identified this past week.

The positivity rate, which measures what percentage of tests come back positive for COVID-19, is also rising. This past week positivity was 14.8% up from 13.3% the week prior. This data only includes laboratory PCR tests and not rapid antigen tests or home tests.

The latest reproduction number for the county, from May 4-11, shows the county has not been suppressing the disease. That, 1.253, indicates that, on average, each identified case of COVID-19 will transmit the disease to more than one other person.

On Thursday the City of Milwaukee announced that the city was experiencing a high level of community spread of the disease, and re-upped an advisory that recommends all people regardless of vaccination status wear a mask when indoors in public.

In Milwaukee County, 61% of the population that is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine is completely vaccinated, and 58.6% of booster eligible residents have received one, according to a countywide vaccine report.

Read the weekly report here. Read the kids report here. Read the vaccine report here.