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 18, 2021 at 3:04 PM

An additional 36 Northwestern Wisconsin residents tested positive for COVID-19 , the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported Thursday, Feb. 18.

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

Statewide, an additional 733 cases were reported Thursday, DHS said, bringing the total to 557,722.

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An additional 18 deaths reported statewide Thursday, including one in Douglas County, bringing the total to 6,232, DHS said. Overall, 1% of people who have contracted the virus have died.

The seven-day average of positive COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin continues to drop. On Thursday, the figure was 658. 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 2,579,840, an increase of 4,814 on Thursday.

An additional 58 people have been hospitalized because of the virus. Across the state, 391 people are currently hospitalized because of COVID-19 , and the total number of people receiving treatment in intensive care units is 107. DHS reported that 78% of the state's available hospital beds are occupied. Overall, 4.6% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized.

Thursday's report also showed that 97% of the people who have tested positive for the virus have recovered. That means 2%, or 9,816 cases, are currently active.

DHS is launching a new service in response to the pandemic. Starting March 1, a new Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccine Registry will provide a central place to let people know where and when they can get vaccinated, and let them schedule an appointment. It's not intended to be a comprehensive resource for all vaccination options. Health care systems, pharmacies and local health departments may already have their own registration and scheduling software.

The Telegram will also begin to include the number of vaccinations administered for each of the 10 counties in the region as reported by DHS . It reflects the number of shots in arms, not the number of people fully vaccinated under the two-dose regimen.

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