Milwaukee health officials brace for a possible rise in COVID-19 cases
COVID-19 cases have ticked up slightly in Milwaukee County in what health officials are calling a stable but persistent increase as they work to expand vaccine access to the most vulnerable residents.
“We saw the first national increase in cases in two months, locally in Milwaukee County we are seeing a subtle but stable increase in cases,” said Ben Weston, director of medical services at the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management.
The seven-day average number of cases has ticked up since March 13, when it was about 62, according to the county’s dashboard. On March 17, the most recent data displayed, the sevenday average had reached about 77.
“These are small changes, but they appear to be persistent. And we know with the more contagious variants widespread in our country and likely in our community, an increase is likely,” Weston added.
There are two major factors in attempting to control a rise, Weston said. First, being cautious about gatherings, do not mix unvaccinated people from one household with unvaccinated people from another household. Second, we need to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible.
The B.1.1.7 variant discovered in the United Kingdom now is widespread in the United States. Officials announced last month that the variant had been found in Milwaukee.
Health officials are in a race to beat the variant by administering doses of the vaccine as quickly as possible.
Weston said 30 states have seen an increase in their cases recently and Milwaukee is likely to see an increase as well.
About 23% of Milwaukee County residents have received at least one dose of vaccine and 11.6% of residents have received both doses, according to the state Department of Health Services.
“While these percentages are certainly encouraging, it’s not yet high enough to have any sort of major impact on the spread of disease in the case of another surge in cases,” Weston said.
Latest COVID-19 numbers
The state did not issue a data update on new cases or deaths as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday but did provide vaccine data.
● Total doses administered: 2,384,898
● Wisconsin residents with at least one dose: 1,494,521 (25.7% of the population)
● Residents with both doses: 874,884 (14.8% of the population)
● Residents 65 and older with at least one dose: 740,405 (72.8% of 65+ population)
More than 50,000 vaccine doses administered at Wisconsin Center
There have been more than 50,000 vaccine doses administered at the Wisconsin Center in downtown Milwaukee, officials said.
Those include first and second doses. “That’s an important and exciting milestone to share,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said.
Appointments at the site, which is receiving support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, can be made at Milwaukee.gov/covidvax or by calling the COVID-19 Hotline at 414286-6800.
The city is working with FEMA to vaccinate 2,500 people per day at the Wisconsin Center, which is open to eligible Wisconsin residents, not solely Milwaukee or Milwaukee County residents, said Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson.
Milwaukee County had administered 5,600 doses, including first and second doses, at the Kosciuszko Community Center, 2201 S. 7th St., County Executive David Crowley said Tuesday.
Nearly 2,000 people are registered as part of a program aimed at providing the vaccine to residents in 10 vulnerable ZIP codes, with 300 people having received their first doses, he said.
The 10 eligible ZIP codes are 53204, 53205, 53206, 53209, 53215, 53216, 53218, 53223, 53224 and 53233.
The top three ZIP codes served so far are 53215, 53204 and 53233.
“Based on the preliminary data that we’re seeing from last week, the expanded ZIP code eligibility is reaching our most vulnerable communities,” Crowley said. “And we’ve seen a shift in registration that is more reflective of the racial makeup of Milwaukee County.”
That’s critical, he said, given the disproportionate toll of the virus on the county’s Black and brown communities.
Crowley, who was vaccinated Tuesday along with County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson and Milwaukee Common Council President Cavalier Johnson, encouraged others to take advantage of community sites meant to improve access to the vaccine.
Nearly 850 people were vaccinated between the two walk-in clinics at North Division and South Division high schools Monday, the first day that they opened, Barrett said.
On Monday, 434 people were vaccinated at North Division High School and 411 people were vaccinated at South Division High School.
Each high school can give out 600 doses a day.
A third no-appointment-needed site at Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Road, is expected to open Monday.
Barrett said temporary community sites have also been instrumental. On Friday, the city and Milwaukee Health Services administered 785 vaccinations at Greater New Birth Church despite having anticipated only 600 vaccinations would take place, he said.
Between Tuesday and April 1, 20 additional temporary community sites are scheduled, said Johnson, the health commissioner.
She said almost 10% of Milwaukee residents have been fully vaccinated and 63% of residents ages 65 and older.