City of Milwaukee Weekly COVID-19 Update

MILWAUKEE – This week, Milwaukee County moved into the Low 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 109.9. This includes the city of Milwaukee’s rate of 92.3 per 100,000. There have been 9.9 new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population and 3.8% 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.

Per the CDC’s guidance at the “low” COVID-19 Community Level, people may choose to mask at any time. Masks are recommended in indoor public transportation settings and may be required in other places by local or state authorities. Other recommended individual protection steps include staying up to date on vaccination, including recommended booster doses, maintaining ventilation improvements in indoor spaces, and avoiding contact with people who are suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases. Those who are at high risk of getting very sick should talk with a healthcare provider about additional prevention actions.

Currently, 65.5% of city of Milwaukee adults 16 years and older are fully vaccinated, and 35.4% of city of Milwaukee adults 16 years and older have received at least one booster dose. The updated booster doses are available at all three Milwaukee Health Department immunization clinics for everyone aged 12 years or older who has completed at least a primary series, regardless of number or type of prior booster doses received so long as at least two months have passed since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Beginning Monday, October 3, all COVID-19 testing administered by the Milwaukee Health Department will take place at the Menomonee Valley Drive-Thru Clinic (2401 W. St. Paul Ave.). COVID-19 testing will no longer be available at the Northwest Health Center or Southside Health Center. Those in need of at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests are encouraged to order free tests through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services at sayyescovidhometest.org. Every household in Wisconsin is eligible for one free testing kit containing five tests.

The Milwaukee Health Department is seeking feedback from Milwaukee residents to help identify gaps in access to health resources such as COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccinations. The purpose of the questionnaire is to get a feel for community members’ lived experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding that there is no one shared experience within our city. All responses are anonymous. No personal identifiers are recorded, so they cannot and will not be reported. The questionnaire should take fewer than five minutes to complete. Any interested participants are encouraged to take the survey at bit.ly/MHDCOVIDsurvey.

 

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.