Wisconsin added 11,547 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, the highest single day of reporting during the pandemic. The seven-day average of new confirmed cases is 6,808. That’s an 85 percent increase from last month and over 200 percent higher than two months ago.

The percent positive by test is 25.9 percent over a seven day average. Wisconsin has confirmed 10,253 deaths from COVID-19. There are 1,123 probable deaths. The state is averaging 22 new deaths over seven days.

“The omicron variant is spreading rapidly through our communities and we are beginning to experiencing the effects,” said Traci DeSalvo, Director, DHS Bureau of Communicable Diseases.

New deaths were reported Thursday in Brown, Forest, Manitowoc, Menominee, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, and Waushara Counties.

There was no significant change in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Fox Valley area and Northeast Wisconsin area. Hospitalizations are growing in southern Wisconsin. Statewide, 91.5 percent of hospital beds are in use and 94.8 percent of ICU beds are in use.

To ease strain on the medical field, DHS recommends asking your primary doctor or visiting a community testing site to get tested for COVID-19. This is for people who have symptoms or believe they’ve been exposed.

Since October, DHS has worked with staffing agencies to recruit almost 600 nurses and health care workers to support 72 hospitals in Wisconsin.

“People who are hospitalized with COVID, even if they have mild infection and are there for some injury, are still putting healthcare workers at risk and still require airborne precautions and respiratory protection protocols,” said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Chief Medical Officer, DHS Bureau of Communicable Diseases.

The Department of Health Services says 62.3 percent of residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 58.3 percent have completed their vaccination series.

An update from the DHS says the spread of the virus is “Critically High” in 47 counties and “Very High” in the other 25. That’s a near-reversal from last week, when 20 counties were critical and 52 were very high. All of WBAY’s viewing area is labeled “critically high” with the exception of three counties.

CRITICALLY HIGH: Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties

VERY HIGH: Forest, Florence and Langlade counties

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