Wisconsin reports single-day record in new COVID-19 cases, 8% positivity rate

Wisconsin state officials announced Wednesday 528 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, setting a second state record within seven days. Wisconsin also reported 14 deaths stemming from the novel virus, raising the state’s death count to 481.

Milwaukee County experienced the majority of the state’s 528, reporting 297 new cases of COVID-19. Milwaukee’s influx of new contractions comes less than a week after the county experienced a 100% increase in positivity rates among tested residents.

Wisconsin’s overall positivity rate across the past 24 hours climbed to 8%, just two days after reporting a record-low 2.9% positive tests.

National attention turned to the Badger State after the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s rejection of Gov. Tony Evers’ stay at home mandates resulted in the state’s economy reopening. Images of bar patrons frequenting previously-closed establishment absent protective face covering circulated across social media platforms, with many subjects failing to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Since the state’s reopening, Wisconsin data continues to fluctuate between record-highs and record-lows, with the state low 2.9% positivity rate sandwiched between last Friday’s 8.3% positivity rate and Wednesday’s 8.0% positivity rate.

Wisconsin’s current coronavirus case total sits at 13,418. A total of 298 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms across the state, with 129 current in the intensive care unit (ICU).