© 2024 WXPR
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Wisconsin Breaks COVID-19 Daily Record, Several Northwoods Counties in Federal Task Force 'Red Zone'

White House Coronavirus Task Force

Wisconsin once again set a record for daily COVID-19 cases. 3,747 people tested positive since Wednesday.

“It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” said DHS Secretary-Designee Andrea Palm. She painted a grim picture of the COVID-19 situation in Wisconsin.  

“In some regions of our state ICU beds are 90% or more full. And those numbers while stark, don’t factor in staffing shortages which we are seeing in every region of the state,” said Palm.

More than 1,000 people are now hospitalized because of COVID-19. The seven-day average is 2,927.

“Wisconsin is in crisis and we need to take this seriously it is up to all of us to take action prevent further spread to help Wisconsin get through this,” said Palm.

Those actions include staying home, avoiding getting together with people outside your household, wear a mask, social distance, and wash your hands.

Governor Tony Evers says the White House Coronavirus Task Force echoed that message in its latest weekly report on Wisconsin.

“They said this, quote, ‘lack of compliance with these measures will lead to preventable deaths’, unquote,” said Gov. Evers.

WXPR obtained a copy of that weekly report.

The report said community transmission of the virus is frequently occurring in smaller gatherings of family and friends where masking and social distancing are not being followed.

Credit White House Coronavirus Task Force

The federal task force puts 36 Wisconsin counties in the Red Zone which is new cases at or above 101 per 100,000 people and 10.1% or greater testing positivite.

Marathon, Oneida, Langlade, Lincoln, Vilas, Price and Forest Counties are all in that zone, with Marathon County in the top 12.

More people will continue to die if things don’t change quickly.

“It is preventable.  We do not have to accept rising case numbers and we do not have to accept community spread. We control our own destiny,” said Gov. Evers.

The White House report also puts Wisconsin fourth in the U.S. of new cases per 100,000 people. Only North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana rank higher.

Katie Thoresen is WXPR's News Director/Vice President.
Up North Updates
* indicates required
Related Content