New COVID-19 infections plateau in Wisconsin

SUPERIOR — Over the last three weeks in Wisconsin, the number of new cases of COVID-19 has hit a plateau, averaging around 2,300 new infections each week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported Wednesday, March 30.

Statewide, 52 counties are still reporting high rates of virus activity, but 18 counties are showing medium levels and two counties had low levels of activity, DHS reported.

The seven-day average of new cases in Wisconsin was 345 on Wednesday, down slightly from 347 on March 16. The figure measures the average number of new cases per day over the previous week. A decrease indicates the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the state is going down, according to DHS.

Hospitalizations as a result of COVID-19 was down to 202 people, DHS reported Wednesday, from 292 on March 16, based on a rolling seven-day average.

Among the people hospitalized, 38 were being treated in intensive care units, down from 55 on March 16. For the two-week period ending March 29, 17.4% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were in ICU beds in Wisconsin, DHS said.

An additional 362 people died from complications related to COVID-19 statewide since March 16, the data showed, bringing the total to 12,768. Among those who died were two people each in Sawyer and Taylor counties; and one person each in Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett and Price counties.

Statewide, an additional 4,637 new cases were reported since March 16. The total number of cases across the state was 1,392,570 Wednesday.

Closer to home, an additional 111 people in Northwestern Wisconsin tested positive for COVID-19 since March 16, DHS said.

They were reported as follows: 23 in Douglas County; 15 in Ashland County; 13 each in Bayfield, Burnett and Washburn counties; 12 in Sawyer County; eight in Taylor County; six in Price County; and four each in Iron and Rusk counties.

About 60.7% of Wisconsin's population is fully vaccinated.

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

• Total cases: 2,469
• Hospitalized: 111
• Deaths: 29
• Probable deaths: 7
• Vaccinated: 68.2%

• Total cases: 2,359
• Hospitalized: 141
• Deaths: 29
• Probable deaths: 10
• Vaccinated: 69.9%

• Total cases: 3,537
• Hospitalized: 230
• Deaths: 42
• Probable deaths: 1
• Vaccinated: 53.4%

• Total cases: 7,934
• Hospitalized: 310
• Deaths: 53
• Probable deaths: 23
• Vaccinated: 62.9%

• Total cases: 1,207
• Hospitalized: 78
• Deaths: 25
• Probable deaths: 22
• Vaccinated: 63.2%

• Total cases: 3,004
• Hospitalized: 241
• Deaths: 31
• Probable deaths: 2
• Vaccinated: 56.9%

• Total cases: 3,234
• Hospitalized: 215
• Deaths: 54
• Probable deaths: 0
• Vaccinated: 41.3%

• Total cases: 3,980
• Hospitalized: 205
• Deaths: 55
• Probable deaths: 6
• Vaccinated: 55.2%

• Total cases: 4,290
• Hospitalized: 271
• Deaths: 56
• Probable deaths: 16
• Vaccinated: 34.5%

• Total cases: 3,685
• Hospitalized: 226
• Deaths: 42
• Probable deaths: 4
• Vaccinated: 53.4%

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