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

October 13, 2020 at 1:22 PM

Three people died from COVID-19 in Northwestern Wisconsin, the state Department of Health Services reported on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Ashland County reported one death, its third since the pandemic began. Taylor County reported two additional deaths, its fifth and sixth, respectively. They were among a record high 34 deaths reported in the state Tuesday, bringing the total to 1,508. Overall, 1% of people who contracted the virus in Wisconsin have died, DHS data shows.

New cases were reported in nine of the ten counties in the region: 15 in Douglas County; seven in Ashland County; six each in Bayfield and Taylor counties; five in Washburn County; four in Sawyer County; three in Iron County; one each in Burnett and Price counties.

They were among 3,279 new cases in the state reported Tuesday, pushing the total to 155,471. The percentage of positive cases over the last seven days was 19.6%.

The number of negative tests in the state was 1,556,954, an increase of 11,262 from the day before.

An additional 147 people were hospitalized because of the virus Tuesday. There are currently 950 Wisconsinites hospitalized because of the virus. Overall, about 6% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized.

Tuesday's report also showed that 79% of the people who have tested positive for the virus have recovered. That means 20%, or 30,731 cases, are currently active.

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

Ashland County

Active cases: 94
Deaths: 3
Total cases: 204
Total negative tests: 3,426

Bayfield County

Active cases: 32
Deaths: 1
Total cases: 156
Total negative tests: 3,427

Burnett County

Active cases: 48
Deaths: 4
Total cases: 247
Total negative tests: 3,117

Douglas County

Active cases: 134
Deaths: 1
Total cases: 639
Total negative tests: 9,048

Iron County

Active cases: 5
Deaths: 1
Total cases: 156
Total negative tests: 1,609

Price County

Active cases: 119
Deaths: 0
Total cases: 240
Total negative tests: 3,243

Rusk County

Active cases: 40
Deaths: 1
Total cases: 102
Total negative tests: 2,411

Sawyer County

Active cases: 41
Deaths: 1
Total cases: 288
Total negative tests: 4,988

Taylor County

Active cases: 81
Deaths: 6
Total cases: 296
Total negative tests: 3,275

Washburn County

Active cases: 20
Deaths: 2
Total cases: 159
Total negative tests: 3,282

*Indicates a figure reported by the Douglas County Health Department after the DHS update was released.

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

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