Two weeks after court scraps Safer at Home, Wisconsin sets record for new coronavirus cases and deaths

Two weeks to the day after the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Governor Tony Evers’ “Safer at Home” order, the state has set a one-day record for new coronavirus cases, as 642 positive cases were identified in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 16,565 — and increasing the number of currently active cases by more than 10 percent.

Additionally, the day was the deadliest so far, as 22 people succumbed to COVID19 since this time Tuesday, bringing the total death toll to 539.

The percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive also rose from 3.6 percent to 5.8 in the past 24 hours.

The largest local increase in new cases today comes from Milwaukee County, with 271 new cases and 21 percent of tests coming back positive.

After a few days with lower numbers, an outbreak in Racine County continues to rage, as 184 new cases were identified there, with nearly 15 percent of tests returning positive results.

Similarly, a smaller outbreak seems to be taking shape in Dane County, which shows 25 new cases today, and 51 over the past three days. The county’s positive test rate remains low at about three percent, but the county has consistently seen single-digit daily case increases and positive tests rates of one percent or lower.

Dane County began its first phase of “reopening” yesterday.

Hospitalizations are down slightly from yesterday, but remains higher than in recent days, as 413 people are hospitalized.Of those currently hospitalized, 139 require intensive care. Additionally, 335 people are hospitalized and awaiting test results — an increase of 117 from yesterday.

The rate of disparity in Latino populations continues to stand out — 33 percent of total cases are now Latino people, and 42 percent of today’s new cases. Latinos make up just seven percent of the state’s overall population.

Similarly, 20 percent of all cases are Black people, who also make up 26 percent of deaths. Black people make up just six percent of the state’s population.

DHS also reports that 60 percent of those confirmed to have been infected have recovered and 3.3 percent have died, leaving about 6,000 active, confirmed infections in the state.