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

February 08, 2021 at 2:02 PM

The number of new COVID-19 cases reported by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Monday, Feb. 8, hit lows not seen since early September, figures show.

The state tallied an additional 543 positive cases Monday, bringing the overall total to 550,369. Wisconsin recorded a similar number of new cases — 545 — on Sept. 2, 2020, DHS data shows.

An additional 40 Northwestern Wisconsin residents tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. They were reported as follows: seven in Washburn County; six each in Burnett and Sawyer counties; four each in Ashland, Douglas and Price counties; three in Bayfield County; and two each in Iron, Rusk and Taylor counties.

SEE MORE: News about coronavirus

An additional 35 deaths were reported statewide over the weekend, DHS said, five of them in Douglas County. The people who died bring the total in Douglas County since the pandemic began to 23 and the statewide total to 6,055. Overall, 1% of people who have contracted the virus have died.

The seven-day average of positive COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin continues to drop. On Monday, the figure was 1,029. 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 2,538,369, an increase of 3,175 from the previous day.

An additional 34 people were hospitalized because of the virus Monday. Across the state, 570 people are currently hospitalized because of COVID-19 , and the total number of people receiving treatment in intensive care units is 144. DHS reported that 77% of the state's available hospital beds are occupied. Overall, 4.5% of Wisconsinites who contracted the virus have been hospitalized.

Monday's report also showed that 96% of the people who have tested positive for the virus have recovered. That means 3%, or 13,939 cases, are currently active.

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