City of Milwaukee Weekly COVID-19 Update

MILWAUKEE – The disease burden in Milwaukee spiked in the first week of August and has since plateaued, staying in the “extreme transmission” category again this week, with 254.5 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people. This is a decrease from 272.5 on Tuesday and slight increase from 247.4 last Thursday. The percentage of positive tests was at 9.6% this week and remains in the “substantial transmission” category.

Vaccination continues to be the top priority as our way out of this pandemic. Currently, 54.1% of City of Milwaukee adult residents have completed their vaccination series and 59.7% have received at least one dose. Getting vaccinated and surrounding unvaccinated children with fully-vaccinated adults is the best way to protect the community.

“We know that vaccination is the most effective tool to minimize the spread of the virus and reduce critical illness and hospitalization,” said Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson. “The demographics with the highest disease burden are also those with the lowest vaccination rates. We need to come together as a community to keep everyone, especially our most vulnerable populations, safe and healthy, by getting vaccinated.”

The age demographic with the highest seven-day burden rate, including those who are under 12 and ineligible to be vaccinated, are 12 to 15 year olds with 499 positive cases per 100,000 people. This is also the demographic with the lowest vaccination rate, with 35.8% of this population fully vaccinated. The percent positivity per age is also highest for 12 to 15 year olds (20.4%), followed by 16 to 19 year olds (13.4%), and continues to decrease as the age demographics get older.

The Milwaukee Health Department will be at Summerfest tomorrow, Saturday, September 11, from noon until 10 p.m. with free vaccinations available without an appointment. The vaccination tent will be inside the festival grounds, near the mid-gate, with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination available for anyone over the age of 12. Any Wisconsin resident vaccinated at this clinic, in addition to any vaccination clinic until September 19, is still eligible for the $100 incentive from Governor Evers’ COVID-19 Vaccine Reward Program. More information available at 100.milwaukee.gov. Full MHD mobile vaccination schedule for the upcoming week available at Milwaukee.gov/COVIDvax.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and today, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day. The ongoing stress, fear, grief, and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has weighed on the mental health of many people. It’s been an incredibly difficult situation to navigate, and feeling emotional effects of the pandemic is normal. But it’s important to recognize the warning signs of a mental health crisis in yourself or your loved ones and have the tools to get the help needed. If you are experiencing feelings of hopelessness or suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. You can call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK or you can text “NAMI” to 741-741 if you are uncomfortable talking on the phone. Just one conversation can save a life. There is always hope.

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.