A model of the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China in late 2019. U.S. health officials have stated that COVID-19 is expected to become a significant public health concern in the United States. (Illustration courtesy of Centers for Disease Control)

By Superior Telegram and Jen Zettel-Vandenhouten

August 28, 2020 at 1:17 PM

Five counties reported new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, Aug. 28, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services .

Sawyer County reported that six additional people tested positive for the virus, DHS said. Taylor County reported three new people received positive tests, while Bayfield, Iron and Washburn counties each recorded one new case.

Officials in Burnett County reported that a person died from causes related to COVID-19, DHS said. It's the county's second virus-related death since the pandemic began.

DHS reduced the case counts in Burnett and Price counties by one each. Officials have said they will correct errors in the data as they find them.

Statewide there were a total of 73,981 positive cases of the coronavirus Friday, DHS said, an increase of 843 from the day before. Of the tests reported, 9.2% were positive. The 7-day average for positive tests was 8.4%.

Two additional deaths were reported, putting the overall number of deaths in the state at 1,113, DHS said. Overall, 2% of cases have resulted in death, according to DHS data.

The number of negative tests in the state was 1,156,807, an increase of 8,313 from the day before.

An additional 52 people were hospitalized because of the virus Friday, DHS reported. There are currently 291 Wisconsinites hospitalized because of the virus. Overall, 8% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized. DHS has said it doesn't know the hospitalization history for 34% of people who tested positive.

Friday's report showed that 88% of people who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered. That means about 10%, or 7,585 cases, are active in the state.

Here's a breakdown of the situation in the 10-county region:

Ashland County

Active cases: 7
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 34
Total negative tests: 2,009

Bayfield County

Active cases: 6
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 43
Total negative tests: 2,434

Burnett County

Active cases: 9
Deaths: 2
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 38
Total negative tests: 2,101

Douglas County

Active cases: 9
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 244
Total negative tests: 6,102

Iron County

Active cases: 29
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 119
Total negative tests: 1,342

Price County

Active cases: 3
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 36
Total negative tests: 2,141

Rusk County

Active cases: 2
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 24
Total negative tests: 1,618

Sawyer County

Active cases: 22
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 157
Total negative tests: 3,882

Taylor County

Active cases: 25
Deaths: 3
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 93
Total negative tests: 2,224

Washburn County

Active cases: 14
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 60
Total negative tests: 2,370

All of Wisconsin's 72 counties have confirmed cases of the illness.
Visit the Douglas County COVID-19 dashboard or Wisconsin Department of Health Services COVID-19 page for updates.

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