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

July 29, 2020 at 3:19 PM

Douglas, Iron, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn counties reported new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, July 29, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services .

Douglas County reported two new cases, bringing its total to 102 cases, DHS said. Every other county reported one additional case Wednesday. DHS adjusted the total number of cases for Price County from 19 to 18. DHS has said that case counts will be adjusted if errors are found.

Free COVID-19 testing will take place Thursday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Solon Springs Community Center.

Any Wisconsin resident who has any symptom of COVID-19 or who is a close contact to a positive case is eligible for the testing. Pre-registration will be available online to reduce wait times; paper registration will also be available.

Statewide there were a total of 51,049 positive cases of the coronavirus Wednesday, DHS said, an increase of 870 from the day before. Of the tests reported, 5.9% were positive.

Five additional people died from COVID-19, leaving the total number of deaths in the state at 911.

The number of negative tests in the state was 851,391 an increase of 13,824 from the day before.

Here's a breakdown of the situation in the 10-county region:

Ashland County

Active cases: 5
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 15
Total negative tests: 1,576

Bayfield County

Active cases: 3
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 19
Total negative tests: 1,751

Burnett County

Active cases: 5
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 13
Total negative tests: 1,408

Douglas County

Active cases: 21
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 102
Total negative tests: 4,072

Iron County

Active cases: 46
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 68
Total negative tests: 921

Price County

Active cases: 3
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 18
Total negative tests: 1,710

Rusk County

Active cases: 2
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 13
Total negative tests: 1,172

Sawyer County

Active cases: 6
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 27
Total negative tests: 2,399

Taylor County

Active cases: 21
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 42
Total negative tests: 1,625

Washburn County

Active cases: 7
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 14
Total negative tests: 1,674

An additional 46 people were hospitalized because of the virus Wednesday, DHS reported. Overall, 8.9% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized. DHS has said it doesn't know the hospitalization history for 34% of people who tested positive.
Wednesday's report showed that 79% of people who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered.

Wisconsin's daily testing capacity was 24,156 on Wednesday. An increase in the number of tests being done is one reason for the increase in the number of positive cases. The percentage of positive tests over the last several days was:

6.9% on Thursday, July 23
5.8% on Friday, July 24
6.7% on Saturday, July 25
9.6% on Sunday, July 26
8.5% on Monday, July 27
5.3% on Tuesday, July 28
5.9% on Wednesday, July 29

All of Wisconsin's 72 counties have confirmed cases of the illness.
Visit the Douglas County COVID-19 dashboard or Wisconsin Department of Health Services COVID-19 page for updates.

As a public service, we’ve opened this article to everyone regardless of subscription status. If this coverage is important to you, please consider supporting local journalism by clicking on the subscribe button in the upper righthand corner of the homepage.