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 22, 2020 at 1:09 PM

Six counties reported new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, Aug. 22, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services .

Iron and Sawyer counties each reported six new cases of the virus, DHS said. Douglas County reported three new cases; Washburn County recorded two new cases; and Bayfield and Rusk counties each added one new case.

Taylor County reported a death from the virus Saturday, the county's third since the pandemic began.

Statewide there were a total of 70,009 positive cases of the coronavirus Saturday, DHS said, an increase of 950 from the day before. Of the tests reported, 10.9% were positive. The 7-day average for positive tests was 8.2%.

Thirteen additional deaths were reported, putting the overall number of deaths in the state at 1,081, DHS said. Overall, 2% of cases have resulted in death, according to DHS data.

The number of negative tests in the state was 1,110,788, an increase of 7,750 from the day before.

An additional 40 people were hospitalized because of the virus Saturday, DHS reported. There are currently 350 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.

Saturday's report showed that 87% of people who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered. That means about 11%, or 7,977 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: 30
Total negative tests: 1,919

Bayfield County

Active cases: 8
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 41
Total negative tests: 2,271

Burnett County

Active cases: 8
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 33
Total negative tests: 1,957

Douglas County

Active cases: 26
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 238
Total negative tests: 5,913

Iron County

Active cases: 31
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 106
Total negative tests: 1,304

Price County

Active cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 33
Total negative tests: 2,061

Rusk County

Active cases: 4
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 23
Total negative tests: 1,539

Sawyer County

Active cases: 33
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 140
Total negative tests: 3,605

Taylor County

Active cases: 21
Deaths: 3
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 81
Total negative tests: 2,162

Washburn County

Active cases: 24
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 55
Total negative tests: 2,283

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.

As a public service, we’ve opened this article to everyone regardless of subscription status. If this coverage is important to you, please consider supporting local journalism by clicking on the subscribe button in the upper righthand corner of the homepage.