Key takeaways 4,831 new cases and 77 deaths
Wisconsin’s 7-day daily death average hits record, even as COVID-19 cases continue fall from peak
As the number of newly reported COVID-19 cases continues to fall from last month’s peak, the number of new deaths has not.
On Saturday, Wisconsin hit an alltime high for the seven-day average of daily deaths.
New cases reported: 4,831
New deaths reported: 77
Number hospitalized (as of Friday): 1,660 (intensive care: 371); down 87 patients from one month ago
Seven-day average of daily cases: 4,073 (down 916 cases from one month ago)
Seven-day average of daily deaths: 60 (up 25 from one month ago)
The average positivity rate — firsttime positive tests over the last seven days — was 31.3% Saturday.
Total cases since the start of pandemic: 409,386 (63,202 active cases)
Total deaths: 3,702
Before Saturday, the record for the state’s seven-day average of daily deaths stood at 55. That number was first hit Nov. 25, and again on Friday. As of Saturday, that number sits at 60.
Wisconsin passed 400,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday. The state hit 100,000 cases Sept. 20. Then, 36 days later, Wisconsin reached 200,000. It took 18 days to record the third 100,000 cases, and then 21 days after that, the state reached 400,000.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services updated its quarantine recommendations to align with new guidelines announced this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health experts previously recommended those exposed to a person infected with COVID-19 quarantine for 14 days. As scientists continue to study the virus, the CDC said Wednesday that people could self-isolate for less time.
According to the new guidelines, people who have close contact with an infected individual, but do not develop symptoms, can end their quarantine:
After completing 10 days of quarantine without testing.
After completing seven days of quarantine and receiving a negative test result that was collected within 48 hours of the end of quarantine.
The CDC defines close contact as 15 minutes total spent 6 feet or closer to an infected person. People should continue to monitor for symptoms for the full 14 days.
Contact Natalie Brophy at (715) 2165452 or nbrophy@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @brophy_natalie.