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 07, 2020 at 2:27 PM

Burnett, Douglas, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn counties reported new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, July 7, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services .

Douglas County reported the most cases Tuesday with five, while each of the other counties reported one new case, respectively. The increases bring the total in Burnett County to five cases, Douglas County to 46 cases, Sawyer County to 13 cases, Taylor County to 16 cases and Washburn County to five cases.

Rusk County also reported its first death from the virus Tuesday.

Statewide, there were 32,556 positive cases of the coronavirus, DHS said, an increase of 495 cases from the day before. Of the tests reported Tuesday, 3.9% were positive.

Nine additional people died from COVID-19, leaving the total number of deaths in the state at 805.

The number of negative tests in the state was 601,012, an increase of 12,099 from the day before.

In the 10-county region of Northwestern Wisconsin, there have been 113 positive tests, 12,043 negative tests and four deaths from the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Since June 25, when Douglas County saw its first new cases after almost three weeks, the total number of cases in the region has risen by 46. Douglas County's overall total during that timeframe grew by 26 cases.

In an email to the Telegram, Douglas County Health Officer Kathy Ronchi said the new cases developed among people who visited crowded indoor spaces, such as bars, and people who traveled out of the area.

Free COVID-19 testing will be available through the Wisconsin National Guard from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 10 at the Iron River Community Center, 8275 E. Mill St. People do not need to have symptoms to get tested. Anyone, including people who live outside of Wisconsin, can get tested.

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

Ashland County

Active cases: 0
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 3
Total negative tests: 933

Bayfield County

Active cases: 1
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 4
Total negative tests: 1,141

Bayfield County has not had a new positive case since Monday, July 6.

Burnett County

Active cases: 3
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 5
Total negative tests: 957

Douglas County

Active cases: 21
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 46
Total negative tests: 2,555

Iron County

Active cases: 3
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 8
Total negative tests: 420

Iron County last saw an increase in cases on Saturday, July 4.

Price County

Active cases: 0
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 2
Total negative tests: 1,015

Rusk County

Active cases: 0
Deaths: 1
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 11
Total negative tests: 826

Sawyer County

Active cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 13
Total negative tests: 1,897

Taylor County

Active cases: 12
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 16
Total negative tests: 1,082

Washburn County

Active cases: 2
Deaths: 0
Total cases reported since pandemic began: 5
Total negative tests: 1,217

Of the people statewide who have tested positive for the new coronavirus, 11% — or 3,639 people — have been hospitalized because of the virus as of Tuesday. DHS reported that officials don't know the hospitalization history of 10,019 people, or 31%.

Tuesday's report also showed that 79% of those with confirmed cases have recovered from the illness.

Wisconsin's daily testing capacity was 19,014 on Tuesday. 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:

4.3% on Wednesday, July 1
4.2% on Thursday, July 2
5.7% on Friday, July 3
10.8% on Saturday, July 4
10.4% on Sunday, July 5
9.2% on Monday, July 6
3.9% on Tuesday, July 7

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.