COVID-19 infection rates critically high throughout Wisconsin, data shows

More than 1,200 people in Northwest Wisconsin tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous week as new cases continued to climb across the state to more than 79,000 new cases since Jan. 5, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported Wednesday, Jan. 12.

All 72 counties in Wisconsin were reporting critically high rates of infection, DHS reported.

The seven-day average of new cases in Wisconsin was 9,675 on Wednesday, up from 6,260 on Jan. 5. The figure measures the average number of new cases per day over the previous week. An increase indicates the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the state is going up, according to DHS.

Hospitalizations as a result of COVID-19 rose to 2,166 people, up from 1,784 on Jan. 5 based on a rolling seven-day average.

Among the people hospitalized, 474 were being treated in intensive care units, up from 416 the previous week. For the two-week period ending Jan. 11, 95.1% of the ICU beds in Wisconsin were in use, DHS said.

An additional 209 people died from complications related to COVID-19 statewide since Jan. 5, the data showed, bringing the total to 10,407. Among those who died were one person each in Bayfield, Price and Sawyer counties.

Statewide, an additional 79,643 new cases were reported since Jan. 5. The total number of cases across the state was 1,103,464 Wednesday.

Closer to home, an additional 1,285 people in Northwestern Wisconsin tested positive for COVID-19 since Jan. 5, DHS said.

They were reported as follows: 263 in Douglas County; 213 in Sawyer County; 149 in Taylor County; 141 in Burnett County; 121 in Price County; 119 in Rusk County; 112 in Washburn County; 67 in Bayfield County; 60 in Ashland County; and 40 in Iron County.

The number of negative tests in the state was 3,905,454 Wednesday, an increase of 41,029 since Jan. 5.

Since vaccines became available, 8,779,183 vaccines have been administered, and 1,733,763 booster shots have been administered.

About 58.6% of Wisconsin's population is fully vaccinated.

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

• Total cases: 1,961
• Total negative tests: 9,878
• Hospitalized: 103
• Deaths: 22
• Probable deaths: 6
• Vaccinated: 65.2%

• Total cases: 1,832
• Total negative tests: 9,888
• Hospitalized: 125
• Deaths: 25
• Probable deaths: 9
• Vaccinated: 68.2%

• Total cases: 2,902
• Total negative tests: 8,993
• Hospitalized: 211
• Deaths: 35
• Probable deaths: 1
• Vaccinated: 52.1%

• Total cases: 6,365
• Total negative tests: 27,138
• Hospitalized: 294
• Deaths: 49
• Probable deaths: 22
• Vaccinated: 60.7%

• Total cases: 894
• Total negative tests: 3,540
• Hospitalized: 70
• Deaths: 23
• Probable deaths: 21
• Vaccinated: 61.2%

• Total cases: 2,540
• Total negative tests: 7,697
• Hospitalized: 205
• Deaths: 23
• Probable deaths: 0
• Vaccinated: 55.3%

• Total cases: 2,676
• Total negative tests: 7,065
• Hospitalized: 192
• Deaths: 41
• Probable deaths: 0
• Vaccinated: 39.7%

• Total cases: 3,366
• Total negative tests: 11,717
• Hospitalized: 178
• Deaths: 47
• Probable deaths: 4
• Vaccinated: 53.7%

• Total cases: 3,640
• Total negative tests: 8,803
• Hospitalized: 244
• Deaths: 47
• Probable deaths: 15
• Vaccinated: 33.6%

• Total cases: 3,065
• Total negative tests: 9,871
• Hospitalized: 202
• Deaths: 35
• Probable deaths: 2
• Vaccinated: 61.5%

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