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

February 09, 2021 at 3:29 PM

Two Sawyer County residents died from complications related to COVID-19, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported Tuesday, Feb. 9.

The people who died bring the total number of deaths in Sawyer County since the pandemic began to 19. They were among 39 people statewide whose deaths were reported Tuesday, DHS said, bringing the total to 6,094. Overall, 1% of people who have contracted the virus have died.

SEE MORE: News about coronavirus

An additional 20 Northwestern Wisconsin residents tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday. They were reported as follows: eight in Iron County; five in Burnett County; two each in Douglas, Rusk and Taylor counties; and one in Ashland County. No new cases were reported in Bayfield, Price, Sawyer and Washburn counties.

Statewide, an additional 681 cases were reported Tuesday, DHS said, bringing the total to 551,050.

The seven-day average of positive COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin continues to drop. On Tuesday, the figure was 970. 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 2,541,584, an increase of 3,487 from the previous day.

An additional 102 people were hospitalized because of the virus Tuesday. Across the state, 572 people are currently hospitalized because of COVID-19 , and the total number of people receiving treatment in intensive care units is 134. DHS reported that 78% of the state's available hospital beds are occupied. Overall, 4.5% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized.

Tuesday's report also showed that 96% of the people who have tested positive for the virus have recovered. That means 2%, or 13,454 cases, are currently active.

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

Ashland County

Active cases: 42
Deaths: 16
Probable deaths: 0
Total cases: 1,162
Total negative tests: 6,564

Bayfield County

Active cases: 39
Deaths: 18
Probable deaths: 0
Total cases: 1,055
Total negative tests: 6,439

Burnett County

Active cases: 32
Deaths: 23
Probable deaths: 0
Total cases: 1,130
Total negative tests: 5,749

Douglas County

Active cases: 103
Deaths: 23
Probable deaths: 14
Total cases: 3,629
Total negative tests: 17,618

Iron County

Active cases: 35
Deaths: 19
Probable deaths: 18
Total cases: 497
Total negative tests: 2,414

Price County

Active cases: 16
Deaths: 7
Probable deaths: 0
Total cases: 1,122
Total negative tests: 5,203

Rusk County

Active cases: 19
Deaths: 16
Probable deaths: 1
Total cases: 1,238
Total negative tests: 4,686

Sawyer County

Active cases: 30
Deaths: 19
Probable deaths: 0
Total cases: 1,441
Total negative tests: 7,820

Taylor County

Active cases: 38
Deaths: 20
Probable deaths: 9
Total cases: 1,770
Total negative tests: 5,530

Washburn County

Active cases: 23
Deaths: 18
Probable deaths: 2
Total cases: 1,256
Total negative tests: 6,073

Visit the Douglas County COVID-19 dashboard or Wisconsin Department of Health Services COVID-19 page for updates.

20 people test positive, 2 die from COVID-19 in Northwestern Wisconsin Feb. 9

The people who died were residents of Sawyer County.