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

May 12, 2021 at 2:01 PM

An additional 18 deaths, including one Douglas County resident and one Sawyer County resident, were reported statewide Wednesday, May 12, bringing the total to 6,935, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported. Overall, 1.1% of people who have contracted the virus have died.

An additional 23 Northwestern Wisconsin residents tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, DHS reported.

They were reported as follows: six each in Sawyer and Washburn counties; four in Burnett County; two each in Douglas and Rusk counties; and one each in Bayfield and Price counties. No new cases were reported in Ashland, Iron and Taylor counties.

Statewide, an additional 558 cases were reported Wednesday, DHS said, bringing the total to 604,378.

SEE MORE: News about coronavirus

The seven-day average of positive COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin slipped below 500. On Wednesday, the figure was 491. The seven-day average of positive cases measures the average number of new cases per day over the previous week. An overall decrease in the seven-day average of positive cases indicates the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the state is also going down, according to DHS.

The number of negative tests in the state was 2,890,197 Wednesday, an increase of 4,842.

An additional 82 people have been hospitalized, including two people in Washburn County, because of the virus since Tuesday, bringing the total to 29,833. Overall, 5% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized. The seven-day rolling average for people hospitalized because of the virus was 326 on Tuesday, May 11, with 13.8% of patients on ventilators, according to Wednesday's report.

Wednesday's report also showed that 97.6% of the people who have tested positive for the virus have recovered. That means 1.3%, or 7,700 cases, are currently active.

DHS also reports that 4,751,017 doses of vaccine have been administered by Wednesday with 2,598,820 Wisconsin residents, 44.6% of the population, receiving at least one dose of vaccine, and 2,215,045 people completing the vaccine series.

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