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 12, 2021 at 3:12 PM

An additional 22 Northwestern Wisconsin residents tested positive for COVID-19 , the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported Friday, March 12.

They were reported as follows: eight in Taylor County; five in Burnett County; two in each Ashland, Iron, Rusk and Washburn counties; and one in Bayfield County. No new cases were reported in Douglas, Price and Sawyer counties.

Statewide, an additional 550 cases were reported Friday, DHS said, bringing the total to 568,902.

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One additional death was reported statewide Friday, bringing the total to 6,525, DHS said. Overall, 1.1% of people who have contracted the virus have died.

The seven-day average of positive COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin remained below 400, but went up slightly. On Friday, the figure was 392. 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 2,661,456, an increase of 2,805 on Friday.

An additional 44 people have been hospitalized because of the virus since Thursday. Across the state, 234 people are currently hospitalized because of COVID-19 , and the total number of people receiving treatment in intensive care units is 55. DHS reported that 80% of the state's available hospital beds are occupied. Overall, 4.7% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized.

Friday's report also showed that 97.7% of the people who have tested positive for the virus have recovered. That means 1.1%, or 6,470 cases, are currently active.

DHS also reports that 1,895,402 doses of vaccine have been administered by Friday with 1,185,602 Wisconsin residents, 20.4% of the population, receiving at least one dose of vaccine, and 667,193 people completed the vaccine series .

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