by Kevin Zimmermann
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) – The number of active cases of COVID-19 reported by the Sheboygan County Division of Public Health has fallen to its lowest level since October 23rd, when 971 cases were of record. Thursday’s report indicated 1,421 active cases were being experienced here, a drop of 36 cases since Wednesday. 99 more positive test returns were received, while 124 were negative yielding a positive rate of 44.4%. 135 persons recovered since Wednesday, and 16 persons – 1 fewer than on Wednesday – were hospitalized. When looking at the two-week rates and trajectories, however, a somewhat different picture emerges.
The Sheboygan County Activity Level was raised from “Very High” Wednesday to “Critically High”, and the Burden, or number of cases per 100,000 persons, rose from 989.4 to 1,068.9. No significant change was seen in the 2-week trajectory of case numbers between Wednesday and Thursday.
Wisconsin received 10,938 test returns in the last 24 hours, and 3,643, or 33%, were positive for COVID-19, raising the state’s running total to 448,441 confirmed cases. 59 deaths due to COVID-19 were recorded since yesterday, putting the death toll at 4,255. 129 more persons entered hospitals for treatment, and after accounting for deaths and discharges, the patient population fell 47 to 1,363. 298 of those are in ICU beds, and 5 patients are being treated at the Alternate Care Facility at State Fair Park in West Allis. 298 more persons require hospital care while awaiting their test results, and 516 persons in all are on ventilators.
The number of facility-wide investigations didn’t change from last week, with 58 now underway. 17 of those are long-term care facilities such as skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities. 2 group housing investigations are underway. There are 2 health care facilities where testing and contact tracing is happening now, 23 workplaces are receiving the attention of the County DPH, 1 “other” setting is involved, and 13 education settings are being investigated.
Of the 17 Skilled Nursing Long-term Care Facilities with Active Investigations noted, 8 were identified:
- Meadowview
- Morningside
- Pine Haven-Haven Drive Campus
- Progressive
- Rocky Knoll Health Care Center
- Sheboygan Health Services
- Sheboygan Senior Community
- Sunny Ridge Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
And of the 13 Education Settings with Active Investigations, the 12 identified were:
- Christ Child Academy
- Elkhart Lake Middle
- Howards Grove High
- Kohler High
- Oostburg Elementary
- Oostburg High
- Oostburg Middle
- Plymouth Riverview Middle
- Sheboygan County Christian
- Sheboygan Falls Elementary
- Sheboygan Falls Middle
- Sheboygan Falls High
