City of Milwaukee Weekly COVID-19 Update

MILWAUKEE –Milwaukee County remains in the High 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.

Currently in Milwaukee County, the case rate per 100,000 population is 245.42. This includes the city of Milwaukee’s rate of 217.2 per 100,000. There have been 14.5 new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population and 4.5% of staffed inpatient beds are in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19.

Moving forward, the Milwaukee Health Department will realign our reported metrics to the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels to help the public measure their risk and minimize confusion around guidance. Former metrics, such as case burden and percent positivity, will still be accessible on MHD’s COVID-19 data dashboards but no longer drive decision making. Utilizing additional metrics, such as hospitalization data, helps to inform the public not only of the spread of the virus but severity of disease.

While Milwaukee remains in the High COVID-19 Community Level, the mask advisory issued on July 15 remains in place. All individuals over the age of two years who can medically tolerate wearing a mask, regardless of vaccination status or past COVID-19 infection, should wear a mask at all times when indoors and in a public setting.

“Masking is an effective public health tool to protect the mask wearer and those around them,” said Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson. “Vaccination is our most effective tool in protecting against severe illness from COVID-19, but masking is an important additional tool to layer on and stop the spread of the virus within the community. When you leave the house, be sure to bring your mask so you’re ready and prepared in any public, indoor spaces.”

Currently, 64.4% of city of Milwaukee adults 16 years and older are fully vaccinated, and 50.5% of fully vaccinated individuals have received a booster dose. Of children ages 5 to 11, 21.4% have completed their pediatric COVID-19 vaccine series and 25.7% have received at least one dose.

The Milwaukee Health Department COVID-19 sites are expected to receive a shipment of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine next week. The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is different than the Moderna or Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, and experts are hopeful having multiple types of vaccines available will offer more flexibility for the public to protect themselves against the COVID-19 virus. More details will be available next week.

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.