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

March 16, 2021 at 5:34 PM

An additional 18 Northwestern Wisconsin residents tested positive for COVID-19 , the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported Tuesday, March 16.

They were reported as follows: five in Douglas County; four in Rusk County; three in Taylor County; two in Iron County; one in each Ashland, Price, Sawyer and Washburn counties. No new cases were reported in Burnett County. Bayfield County's confirmed cases was reduced by one. DHS has said data corrections can cause the number of cases to decline.

Statewide, an additional 480 cases were reported Tuesday, DHS said, bringing the total to 570,412.

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An additional three deaths reported statewide Tuesday, bringing the total to 6,539, DHS said. Overall, 1.1% of people who have contracted the virus have died. One person in Douglas County was among the deaths reported Tuesday.

The seven-day average of positive COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin ticked upward. On Tuesday, the figure was 437. The seven-day average of positive cases measures the average number of new cases per day over the previous week. An overall decrease in the seven-day average of positive cases indicates the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the state is also going down, according to DHS.

The number of negative tests in the state was 2,672,681, an increase of 1,132 on Tuesday.

An additional 68 people have been hospitalized because of the virus since Monday. Across the state, 215 people are currently hospitalized because of COVID-19 , and the total number of people receiving treatment in intensive care units is 57. DHS reported that 79% of the state's available hospital beds are occupied. Overall, 4.7% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized.

The DHS report also showed that 97.7% of the people who have tested positive for the virus have recovered. That means 1.1%, or 6,347 cases, are currently active.

DHS also reports that 2,043,125 doses of vaccine have been administered by Tuesday, with 1,273,705 Wisconsin residents, or 21.9% of the population, receiving at least one dose of vaccine, and 721,389 people completing the vaccine series.

DHS announced Tuesday that its moving up the timeline for people 16 and older with certain medical conditions to get their shots. Starting Monday, March 22, one week earlier than originally planned, that group will eligible to receive vaccine.

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