City of Milwaukee Weekly COVID-19 Update

MILWAUKEE – The disease burden in the City of Milwaukee this week is 251.8 new positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people over seven days and remains in the “extreme transmission” category. The percentage of positive COVID-19 test results increased to 14.1% and remains in the “extreme transmission” category. Additionally, based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, Milwaukee County remains in the High COVID-19 Community Level.

Currently, 64.8% of city of Milwaukee adults 16 years and older are fully vaccinated, and 49.1% of fully vaccinated individuals have received a booster dose. Of children ages 5 to 11, 20.4% have completed their pediatric COVID-19 vaccine series and 24.6% have received at least one dose.

On Wednesday, June 8, Governor Tony Evers and Secretary Karen Timberlake visited the Southside Health Center on their final stop of Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ (DHS) “Thank You Tour: Moving Forward Together.”

“It was only through collaboration we were able to successfully respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson. “The virus does not adhere to invisible geographic boundaries, and it was imperative for our entire region to work together to keep everyone safe and healthy. Thank you to our state leaders for their recognition and gratitude. I am incredibly proud of the tireless and dedicated work of our COVID-19 responders.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee will meet in the upcoming weeks to discuss and approve expanding the use of COVID-19 vaccines for new age groups. On June 14, FDA experts will discuss Moderna’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) request for people aged 6 to 17 years. On June 15, FDA experts will the Moderna EUA for people aged 6 months through 5 years old and the Pfizer EUA for people aged 6 months through 4 years old. This is an important first step in the EUA approval process that many parents of young children have been awaiting.

Vaccination rates for those currently eligible have plateaued over the past few months. It’s important, especially now as health experts discuss opening vaccination eligibility to more individuals, for everyone currently eligible to be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. The Milwaukee Health Department strongly recommends getting you COVID-19 vaccine and booster as soon as you’re eligible. Vaccines are the strongest tool to protect yourself and those around you from the virus. Vaccination information and opportunities can be found on the Milwaukee Health Department website.

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.