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

November 05, 2020 at 1:27 PM

Two residents of Northwestern Wisconsin died from complications related to COVID-19, the state Department of Health Services reported Thursday, Nov. 5.

The people were residents of Ashland and Taylor counties, respectively. Ashland County has reported four deaths related to the virus, while Taylor County has reported eight, DHS said.

Their deaths were among 38 reported in Wisconsin Thursday, pushing the total number of deaths from the virus to 2,194. Overall, about 1% of people who have contracted the virus have died.

A total of 135 people tested positive for COVID-19 across Northwestern Wisconsin Thursday. They were reported as follows: 22 in Rusk County; 17 in Sawyer County; 15 in Price County; 14 each in Burnett and Douglas counties; 13 in Taylor County; 12 each in Ashland and Washburn counties; nine in Iron County; and seven in Bayfield County.

The new cases were among 5,922 reported in the state Thursday . The total number of COVID-19 cases grew to 249,924, DHS said. The seven-day percentage of positive cases by person was 32%.

The number of negative tests in the state was 1,881,813, an increase of 9,518 from the previous day.

An additional 223 people were hospitalized because of the virus Thursday. A record-high 1,747 Wisconsinites are currently hospitalized because of the virus. Overall, 5% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized.

Thursday's report also showed that 77% of the people who have tested positive for the virus have recovered. That means 22%, or 54,326 cases, are currently active.

Here's the breakdown in the 10-county region: