City of Milwaukee Bi-Weekly COVID-19 Update

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County remains in the Medium COVID-19 Community Level, based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. This level is determined by three metrics: new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days.

In Milwaukee County, the case rate per 100,000 population is 167.07. This includes the city of Milwaukee’s rate of 136.9 per 100,000. There have been 12.4 new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population and 5.6% of staffed inpatient beds are in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19. Additional metrics, such as case burden and percent positivity, are accessible on MHD’s COVID-19 data dashboards.

Currently, 54.2% of city of Milwaukee residents have completed their primary vaccination series, and 10.4% of city of Milwaukee residents have received the updated bivalent booster dose. Everyone six months and older is eligible for the primary COVID-19 vaccine series, and everyone five years and older is eligible for the updated COVID-19 bivalent booster dose after completing their primary series.

The Milwaukee Health Department is proud to partner with the Milwaukee County Public Health Collaborative (MCPHC) and HealthyMKE.com on three new public awareness campaigns to increase COVID-19 booster and flu vaccination rates in Milwaukee this winter. The campaigns, which will primarily run on digital platforms, are designed to target areas in Milwaukee with the lowest vaccination rates. The messages are crafted to educate viewers and provide answers to common questions about COVID-19 and the vaccine. Campaign materials are available for partners of all sectors to leverage with their communities at HealthyMKE.com/fall-comms.

With respiratory illnesses heavily circulating, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re celebrating safely and keeping yourself and loved ones healthy this holiday season. Follow these tips to prioritize health and safety this holiday season:

Get Vaccinated.
COVID-19, influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are circulating in the community and can become potentially severe for many people. Preventative measures, such as ensuring you are up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccine and booster and flu shot before your holiday gatherings, are effective tools to keep you healthy. To ensure the highest level of protection, get your vaccine or booster at least two weeks before gathering. Milwaukee Health Department Immunization Clinics have free COVID-19 vaccines, boosters, and flu shots available without an appointment.

Stay Home if You’re Sick.
The holiday season is a wonderful time to gather with loved ones, but if you’re not feeling well, stay home and opt to video chat with your friends and family. Testing for COVID-19 before gathering is an excellent way to ensure you’re not inadvertently spreading the virus. The Menomonee Valley COVID-19 Drive-Thru has free testing available without an appointment. Rapid at-home antigen tests are also a great tool to utilize. Everyone household in Wisconsin is eligible to order free COVID-19 tests from SayYesCOVIDHomeTest.org each month, or you can check your local pharmacy to purchase tests. Remember, even if your COVID-19 test is negative, stay home if you feel sick. There are many illnesses circulating that you can spread.

Clean the Air You’re Breathing.
Spread of COVID-19 occurs via infected airborne particles which can linger in the air we breathe. Though the risk of infection by breathing in particles carrying the virus generally decreases with distance from infected people and with time, there are simple steps you can take to further decrease your risk. Opening windows if the weather permits, switching your HVAC system to “on” rather than “auto”, and turning on fans can help circulate the air and give you clean air to breathe.

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.