Active cases of COVID-19 took the lead over recoveries on Thursday as reported by the Sheboygan County Division of Public Health. 12 of 103 test returns received by the DPH were positive, while 6 persons recovered, leaving 117 actively battling the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Hospitalizations, meanwhile, were halved, and two persons are now being so treated in Sheboygan County. 13,759 in all have experienced an infection of the coronavirus, and 142 have lost their battle.
As the day-by-day numbers can vary widely, the two-week activity levels are offered as a better measure of the course of the pandemic, and in Sheboygan County, those metrics have changed little. The Burden of 94.3 cases per 100,000 has not budged in the last week, there’s no significant change in trajectory, and the activity level is “High”.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has added 485 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since Wednesday, and 604,863 cases have been logged since the beginning of the pandemic. 18 new deaths raise that toll to 6,953, and 76 hospitalizations were noted since Wednesday. After accounting for deaths and discharges, the Wisconsin Hospitals Association recorded a net drop of 11 patients statewide, and 317 Wisconsinites are now hospitalized for treatment. 90 of those are in ICU beds, and 376 patients are on ventilators.
Based upon data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services that tracks the number of residents who have received at least one dose of vaccine, 190 additional Sheboygan County residents have received at least one shot since Wednesday. 37.9% of our population, or 43,672, are fully vaccinated. Compared to last week at this time, that’s 2,414 more fully-immunized Sheboygan County residents. And as of Thursday, May 13th, all Wisconsin residents age 12 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Also on Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control released updated recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals, announcing that those persons no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. Fully vaccinated people can also refrain from testing following a known exposure unless they are residents or employees of a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter.
Finally, Thursday’s facility-wide investigations update from the County DPH reports that there are no ongoing investigations at any skilled nursing long-term care facilities, while Sheboygan North High, South High and Sheboygan Christian Schools currently host active investigations.
