MADISON, WI (WTAQ) — Just over 5,000 more cases of COVID-19 have been added to Wisconsin’s total of over 220,000 since the onset of the pandemic. State health officials announced those numbers this morning.
Another 24 deaths were reported for a total of 1,972. There are 1,400 patients in the hospital. The seven day case average has risen 500% from two months ago, sitting at 4,231 as of Friday, compared to 2,334 a month ago and 694 in August.
“People have to wear a freaking mask. Simple as that,” said Governor Tony Evers during a press briefing on Friday.
Officials reported 5,096 new cases of the virus on Friday for a total of 220,092 since the pandemic began. DHS says over 171,000 have recovered.
It’s not all bad news: the rate of death per thousand has gone down over the past few months, despite the number of overall deaths and overall cases rising.
“Over time, the case fatality rate has gotten lower,” said Bureau of Infectious Disease head Dr. Ryan Westergaard. “There is a wide variety in the risk of severe disease, but anybody who becomes sick can become severely ill. We’ve recorded deaths in every age group over 20.”
Westergaard says that younger people getting the virus has changed the fatality rate.
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