A Prevea front line healthcare worker receives a COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo: Prevea Health)
MADISON, WI (WTAQ) — State officials are pushing for people to take advantage of widespread vaccine eligibility as the rate of COVID-19 infection in Wisconsin continues trending upwards. Over a thousand new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state of Wisconsin on Thursday.
The state also reported that over a third of all Wisconsinites have received the COVID-19 vaccination.
“As a state we are moving in the right direction,” said Deputy DHS Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk. “Expanded eligibility, more vaccinators on board, more shots in arms.”
The news comes as more people than ever in the state are now eligible for the vaccine. The state opened eligibility to everyone 16 years of age or older on Monday.
“If you are 16 years or older, you can get vaccinated,” Willems Van Dijk said. “Please, please, please do so.”
Officials say the new rise in cases is due, in part, to COVID-19 variant strains, which are more infectious.
“In the past few weeks our seven day average of positive cases has been rising,” said Chief Medical Officer Ryan Westergaard. “We do not want any further movement in that direction.”
Five COVID-19 variants are currently circulating in Wisconsin.
State officials reported 1,046 cases today along with 14 more deaths.
The positives were 17.9% of the 5,846 total tests completed. The seven-day average of new cases rose to 733. That number has more than doubled since March 11, when it was 363.
DHS also announced 14 new deaths linked to COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. The seven-day average rose to six deaths per day.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 582,843 confirmed cases and 6,667 deaths.
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