SHEALAH CRAIGHEAD

Wisconsin’s COVID-19 cases jump 65%, Milwaukee’s positivity rate increases by 100%

May 17, 2020

Update 5/18 3:29 p.m.: Wisconsin state officials reported Monday the state’s lowest single-day case total, announcing just 144 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The decrease marks a drop of more than 200 relative to Sunday’s report of 356.

Though Wisconsin recorded its fewest amount of tests in five days, the testing conducted over the past 24 hours remains higher than the average state testing prior to last Wednesday. Wisconsin also reported a record 2.9% positivity rate, a full percentage point lower than the previous record set last Thursday. 


Wisconsin’s 24-hour COVID-19 totals increased by 65% between May 1 and May 16.

Between May 1 and May 2, Wisconsin state officials confirmed 328 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.  Yesterday, state officials confirmed 502 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest single-day jump since COVID-19 recording began.

However, part of the increased accumulative totals can be attributed to increased testing. In the 24 hours between May 1 and May 2, Wisconsin tested 3,350 of its residents. Over the past 24 hours, that figure climbed to 5,824, meaning Wisconsin’s rate of transmission increased by approximately 12%.

Wisconsin’s largest cities are experiencing exponential increases in positvity rates. Milwaukee’s positivity rate jumped 11% over the 24-hours between May 13 (11%) and May 14 (22%). Between May 1 and May 2, Dane County, home to Madison, Wis., reported only two new cases. However, between May 16 and May 17, Dane County officials announced 13 new cases, an 85% increase.

Last week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court determined Gov. Tony Evers overstepped his authority after Evers attempted to extend the state’s stay at home order through May 26. Since the Supreme Court’s ruling, many nonessential businesses reopened, leading to large crowds gathering absent face masks or social distancing guidelines.

Read more by Matthew Rago:

Florida experiences 4.7% uptick in COVID-19 cases, 14% increase in deaths since entering phase one of reopening plan

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