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 121.6. This includes the city of Milwaukee’s rate of 92.9 per 100,000. There have been 12.6 new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population and 4.9% 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, 56.2% of city of Milwaukee residents have completed their primary vaccination series, and 29.6% of city of Milwaukee residents have received at least one 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.

Vaccination for children is especially important this season, as other respiratory illness such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza are also heavily circulating in the community. Only 18.7% of children ages 11 and younger have completed their vaccination series. In a collaborative effort to keep our children healthy, in the classroom, and able to gather with older relatives this holiday season, parents and caregivers must ensure their children are up-to-date on all their immunizations, including COVID-19 and flu shots. Immunization records can be found on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.

With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching in two weeks, the Milwaukee Health Department strongly urges everyone eligible to get your COVID-19 booster dose so you are fully protected in time for holiday gatherings. Protecting the health of yourself and your loved ones is the kindest gift you can give. Milwaukee Health Department immunization clinics continue to offer free COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, six day per week, without an appointment. Visit Milwaukee.gov/COVIDvax to find locations and hours. Those who are unable to leave their homes to get their vaccine can call 414-286-6800 to schedule a free at-home vaccination appointment.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.