Do not assume you will contract COVID-19, says health official
Milwaukee County has been moved to the “high” COVID-19 transmission category, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ben Weston, chief health policy adviser for Milwaukee County, said the county was moved to the “high” transmission category due to a rise in COVID hospitalizations in Milwaukee, and although a rise in cases is likely to continue, residents should not assume they will contract the virus.
In total, 18 counties are currently in the high transmission category in Wisconsin, including Ozaukee, Washington, Washington and Racine counties, which border Milwaukee.
The CDC recommends people residing in counties with “high” transmission use masking and social distancing to stop the spread. To find free N95 masks, visit the CDC’s mask finder website.
The Milwaukee Health Department on Friday recommended that residents return to masking. The mask advisory applies when inside in public settings — regardless of vaccination status or past COVID-19 infection, the department said in a statement.
“We’ve seen an increase in cases over the last driven largely by the emergence of new, more transmissible variants ... we must remain cautious and use the tools available to prevent transmission,” Weston said.
“We’re at a familiar moment where our collective focus should be to flatten the curve and maintain hospital capacity. Residents should not assume they will contract the virus. In our third year of battling the pandemic, we have the accumulated knowledge and available resources to help people stay safe and avoid infection, transmission and severe disease.”
“Residents should consider wearing high-quality masks indoors, mind their distance to others, increase ventilation when possible and maximize their personal protection with the vaccine and booster,” Weston added. “We can mitigate the spread by utilizing the tools at our disposal to keep ourselves and our community healthy and safe.”
Latest COVID-19 numbers
● New cases reported (Friday):
2,143
● New deaths reported (Friday), confirmed: 5
● New deaths reported (Friday), probable: 8
● New deaths reported (this week), confirmed: 12
● New deaths reported (this week), probable: 17
● Number hospitalized: 343 (intensive care: 53); up 202 patients from a month ago
● Seven-day average of daily cases: 1,980 (up 1,214 cases from one month ago)
● Seven-day average of confirmed daily deaths: 2 (even from a month ago)
● Seven-day average of new deaths reported within 30 days of death: 1 (even from a month ago)
● Seven-day average positivity rate: 12.9% of all COVID-19 tests given
● Total cases since the start of pandemic: 1,455,196
● Total confirmed deaths: 12,966
● Total probable deaths: 1,565
Latest vaccine numbers
● Total doses administered:
9,505,699
● Seven-day average of daily doses: 1,646
● Weekly doses administered:
7,898 (as of Friday)
● Total booster doses administered: 2,029,097
● Seven-day average of daily booster doses: 830
● Residents who have received one dose: 3,755,978 (64.4% of the population)
● Residents who are fully vaccinated: 3,568,933 (61.2% of the population)
● Residents who have received a booster dose: 2,006,049 (34.4% of the population)
● Residents ages 5 to 11 with at least one dose: 135,854 (27.8% of age group)
● Residents ages 12 to 17 with at least one dose: 274,574 (61.8% of age group)
● Residents ages 18 to 24 with at least one dose: 329,401 (60.5% of age group)
● Residents ages 25 to 34 with at least one dose: 477,456 (64.4% of age group)
● Residents ages 35 to 44 with at least one dose: 501,141 (69.4% of age group)
● Residents ages 45 to 54 with at least one dose: 501,616 (71.8% of age group)
● Residents ages 55 to 64 with at least one dose: 640,970 (78.2% of age group)
● Residents 65 and older with at least one dose: 894,966 (85.4% of age group)