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 21, 2020 at 3:46 PM

One additional person in Taylor County died from complications related to COVID-19, according to data from state Department of Health Services reported Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The death is the county's seventh since the pandemic began. The person was among 48 people who died from the virus in Wisconsin on Wednesday, DHS said.

Nine counties in Northwestern Wisconsin reported new cases of COVID-19: 13 in Taylor County; eight in Rusk County; seven in Ashland County; six each in Douglas, Price and Washburn counties; five in Burnett County; two in Bayfield County; and one in Sawyer County.

The new cases were among 4,205 reported in the state Wednesday, and bring the total to 182,687. The seven-day percentage of positive cases by person was 22.6%.

The number of negative tests in the state was 1,718,564, an increase of 5,681 from the previous day.

An additional 167 people were hospitalized because of the virus Wednesday. There are currently 1,190 Wisconsinites hospitalized because of the virus, a record-high number that continues to climb. Overall, 5% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized.

Wednesday's report also showed that 78% of the people who have tested positive for the virus have recovered. That means 21%, or 38,485 cases, are currently active.

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