MADISON - The coronavirus is accelerating again in Wisconsin with 20% of the state's cases being reported in the last two weeks, state public health officials announced Thursday.
And half of the 29,199 total positive cases in the state have been identified over the last five weeks — a surge that comes after weeks of decline.
The recent spike precedes a holiday weekend known for the kind of gatherings being tied to the increase in cases. And the majority of people who have contracted the virus are now under the age of 40, according to the the most-recent Department of Health Services data.
Gov. Tony Evers in a statement urged Wisconsin residents, especially younger people who are driving the increase, to stay home.
“We know this is a time people like to celebrate with friends, but COVID-19 is still spreading in our state, and we need everyone to take the necessary precautions,” Evers said.
Evers and state public health officials haven't held a briefing with media to answer questions this week as cases of the coronavirus have started to spread more quickly after a month of decline.
The governor and Department of Health Services have held regular, televised briefings with reporters since the virus began to spread in Wisconsin in March with more frequent press conferences during periods of rapid growth of the virus and fewer as it waned.
But this week marks a noticeable change with no briefings ahead of a holiday weekend during a week that saw troubling acceleration of the virus, particularly among 20 somethings, which pushed Dane County to shut down indoor service for bars.
In the eight days since last Tuesday's news conference, new cases have averaged 475, more than a 50% increase.
More than 5% of new tests have been positive for the coronavirus, a level that hadn't been seen any day since late May. Wednesday's percentage of positive tests dropped to 4%, however.
Republican leaders also haven't commented on the increase in cases, and haven't held a press conference since April.
The DHS website says that briefings are held Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, but they became less frequent during the first half of June as new case numbers, percentage of positive tests, and hospitalizations fell.
When Evers and DHS officials held their last briefing, on Tuesday, June 23, the seven-day rolling average of new cases was 305, and only 2.2% of that day's newly reported tests were positive.
Evers used his introductory statement that day to highlight the longest continuous activation of the State Emergency Operations Center.
Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm thanked the state's data team, and announced the creation of a new dashboard that assigned an "activity level" for the state and its counties.
Wisconsin's activity level was "medium," based on its recent case totals and trajectory.
When it went to a "high" activity level after the dashboard updated the next day, DHS didn't issue any news release to publicize or explain the change.
You can find out who your legislators are and how to contact them here.
Contact Molly Beck and Matthew Piper at molly.beck@jrn.com and mpiper@gannett.com.
"last" - Google News
July 02, 2020 at 11:45PM
https://ift.tt/38jQOiT
Twenty percent of all virus cases in Wisconsin reported in last two weeks as younger people drive surge - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"last" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2rbmsh7
https://ift.tt/2Wq6qvt
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Twenty percent of all virus cases in Wisconsin reported in last two weeks as younger people drive surge - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel"
Post a Comment