Wisconsin sees consecutive days of double-digit deaths for first time since February.
The state Department of Health Services reported 16 new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday — the highest mark since February.
State officials said many of the deaths were reported in Milwaukee County. The county recorded two new deaths on Wednesday and four on Tuesday, so there may be a lag in how the state records the deaths.
But COVID-related deaths are rising in Milwaukee County, after a period of weeks over the summer when no deaths would be reported for days at a time, according to the county's online COVID-19 dashboard.
Data from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office indicates the county has seen 11 COVID-related deaths between Sunday and Wednesday afternoon. The people who died ranged in age from 58 to 88 years old, and many had underlying health conditions. Three were listed as having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
As the delta variant surges in the state, data has shown an uptick in cases followed by an uptick in hospitalizations and ultimately deaths. This is similar to what we've seen with each surge.
The state reported 12 deaths Tuesday. The last time Wisconsin had consecutive days in double-digit deaths was Feb. 8 and 9.
At the peak of the pandemic in November, there were days when more than 100 deaths a day were reported.
The Wisconsin Hospital Association reported over 700 COVID patients for the first time since Jan. 28.
Latest COVID-19 numbers
New cases reported: 1,403
New deaths reported: 16 Number hospitalized: 727 (intensive care: 221); up 608 patients from a month ago
Seven-day average of daily cases: 1,224 (up 1,069 cases from one month ago)
Seven-day average of daily deaths: 5 (up 5 deaths from one month ago)
Seven-day average positivity rate — as a share of all tests given: 6.7%
Total cases since the start of pandemic: 641,548
Total deaths: 7,499
Latest vaccine numbers
Total
5,968,354
Daily doses administered: 5,259 Seven-day average of daily doses: 7,261
Residents who have received one dose: 3,116,567 (53.5% of the population)
Residents who are fully vaccinated: 2,927,338 (50.3% of the population)
Adults who have received one dose: 2,933,322 (64.4% of the 18+ population)
Adults who are fully vaccinated: 2,773,097 (60.9% of the 18+ population)
Residents ages 12 to 15 with at least one dose: 115,048 (38.8% of age
doses
administered: group)
Residents ages 16 to 17 with at least one dose: 68,167 (46.2% of age group)
Residents ages 18 to 24 with at least one dose: 255,931 (46.9% of age group)
Residents ages 25 to 34 with at least one dose: 378,826 (51.1% of age group)
Residents ages 35 to 44 with at least one dose: 420,903 (59% of age group)
Residents ages 45 to 54 with at least one dose: 436,533 (61% of age group)
Residents ages 55 to 64 with at least one dose: 582,769 (70.8% of age group)
Residents 65 and older with at least one dose: 858,360 (84.4% of age group)
Variant cases of concern
DHS, the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene and other laboratory partners regularly perform whole genome sequencing on a portion of positive tests. The numbers below do not represent the total number of variant cases.
Cases of the alpha (B.1.1.7) variant: 3,614
Cases of the beta (B.1.351) variant: 67
Cases of the delta (B.1.617.2) variant: 471 (96.16% of tests sequenced during the week of Aug. 2— the latest week with results)
Cases of the gamma (P.1): variant: 312