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 04, 2021 at 2:38 PM

A Rusk County resident died from complications related to COVID-19, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported Thursday, Feb. 4.

The person who died brings the total deaths in the county to 16 since the pandemic began. They were among 41 people whose deaths were reported statewide Thursday, DHS said. The total number of Wisconsinites who have died from COVID-19 is 5,992. Overall, 1% of people who have contracted the virus have died.

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An additional 36 Northwestern Wisconsin residents tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday, DHS said. They were reported as follows: seven each in Iron and Sawyer counties; six in Douglas County; five each in Ashland and Bayfield counties; and three each in Burnett and Washburn counties. No new cases were reported in Price, Rusk or Taylor counties.

Statewide, 1,518 new cases were reported Thursday, bringing the total to 546,955.

The seven-day average of positive COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin continues to reach lows not seen since September. On Thursday, the figure was 1,229. 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 2,523,102, an increase of 5,656 from the previous day.

An additional 80 people were hospitalized because of the virus Thursday. Across the state, 639 people are currently hospitalized because of COVID-19 , and the total number of people receiving treatment in intensive care units is 173. DHS reported that 80% of the state's available hospital beds are occupied. Overall, 4.5% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized.

Thursday's report also showed that 96% of the people who have tested positive for the virus have recovered. That means 3%, or 16,684 cases, are currently active.

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

Ashland County

Active cases: 50
Deaths: 16
Probable deaths: 0
Total cases: 1,154
Total negative tests: 6,513

Bayfield County

Active cases: 49
Deaths: 18
Probable deaths: 0
Total cases: 1,047
Total negative tests: 6,386

Burnett County

Active cases: 29
Deaths: 23
Probable deaths: 0
Total cases: 1,116
Total negative tests: 5,693

Douglas County

Active cases: 136
Deaths: 18
Probable deaths: 14
Total cases: 3,609
Total negative tests: 17,467

Iron County

Active cases: 26
Deaths: 19
Probable deaths: 18
Total cases: 483
Total negative tests: 2,391

Price County

Active cases: 18
Deaths: 7
Probable deaths: 0
Total cases: 1,114
Total negative tests: 5,170

Rusk County

Active cases: 23
Deaths: 16
Probable deaths: 1
Total cases: 1,234
Total negative tests: 4,638

Sawyer County

Active cases: 37
Deaths: 17
Probable deaths: 0
Total cases: 1,432
Total negative tests: 7,755

Taylor County

Active cases: 33
Deaths: 20
Probable deaths: 9
Total cases: 1,759
Total negative tests: 5,496

Washburn County

Active cases: 32
Deaths: 18
Probable deaths: 2
Total cases: 1,243
Total negative tests: 6,023

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

36 more people test positive, 1 dies from COVID-19 in Northwestern Wisconsin on Feb. 4

The person who died was a Rusk County resident.