City of Milwaukee Weekly COVID-19 Update

MILWAUKEE – The disease burden in the City of Milwaukee this week is 318.6 new positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people over seven days and remains in the “extreme transmission” category. This is a slight decrease over last week. The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests remained at 10.5% and in the “high transmission” category.

Currently, 60.5% of city of Milwaukee adults 16 years and older are fully vaccinated and 65.5% have received at least their first dose. Additionally, 27.7% of fully vaccinated individuals have received a booster dose. 5.5% of children ages 5 to 11 have completed their pediatric COVID-19 vaccine series and 11.1% have received at least one dose.

It is crucial for every eligible individual to get their COVID vaccine and booster dose. With the presence of the Omicron variant in the community and the cold weather keeping everyone indoors, the vaccine is the strongest tool to protect ourselves from this virus. Everyone 5 years of age and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and everyone 16 years of age and older is eligible to receive a booster dose. Booster doses are available for fully vaccinated individuals at least six months after their second dose of the mRNA Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months after their single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Individuals 16 and 17 years old are currently only approved to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 booster.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, many people are planning to gather with loved ones to celebrate. The Milwaukee Health Department urges those who are gathering to do so safely. This means gathering with only fully vaccinated friends and family, wearing a mask when gathering in public, indoor spaces, and staying home if you experience any COVID-19 symptoms or come in contact with anyone who is confirmed positive for COVID-19.

“We were all hopeful for a holiday season that felt more normal, but unfortunately COVID-19 is still very present in our community” said Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson. “While the vaccine provides an effective level of protection against this virus, we still must be diligent with the other proven safety mitigations. We want everyone to be able to celebrate this season and many more holiday seasons to come.”

The Milwaukee Health Department COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites will be observing upcoming holiday hours. Anyone in need of a PCR test or vaccine is encouraged to plan ahead. The Northwest Health Center, Southside Health Center, and Menomonee Valley Site will be closed Friday, December 24 through Sunday, December 26 and Friday, December 31 through Sunday, January 2. Individuals who need COVID-19 services during that time are encouraged to visit HealthyMKE.com to find alternative locations.

The Milwaukee Health Department is currently working to develop a three-to-five year strategic plan to advance the health of Milwaukee through an anti-racist framework and is seeking input from the Milwaukee community. Milwaukee community members interested in sharing their thoughts and insights can access the survey at city.milwaukee.gov/MHDsurvey. Next week is the final week the three-question survey will be open, as it closes on December 23, 2021. The results of this data-gathering initiative will help MHD focus their resources and guide the department’s work in the future.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.