March 11: Weekly Driftless Region COVID-19 update
Editors note: this story is updated as of Tuesday, Mar. 9, in the COVID variants section to reflect growth in numbers.
DRIFTLESS - Over the past week COVID-19, diagnoses statewide increased from 564,268 on Monday, Mar. 1 to 566,871 on Monday, Mar. 8. That is a statewide increase of 2,603 cases. The number of deaths increased from 6,412 to 6,481, an additional 69 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).
Wisconsin continues to be a national leader in COVID-19 vaccine administration. As of March 5:
• 1.6 million doses administered
• 9.8 percent of Wisconsin’s population (over 572,000) has completed their series
• 59.8 percent of people age 65 or older (over 600,000) have received their first dose
March 4: Weekly Driftless Region COVID-19 update Number of UK variant cases in Wisconsin triples in the last week
Editors note: this story is updated as of Tuesday, Feb. 23, in the COVID variants section to reflect growth in numbers.
DRIFTLESS - Over the past week COVID-19, diagnoses statewide increased from 559,998 on Monday, Feb. 22 to 564,268 on Monday, Mar. 1. That is a statewide increase of 4,270 cases. The number of deaths increased from 6,284 to 6,412, an additional 128 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).
BREAKING NEWS: On Thursday, March 4, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced that the number of B.1.1.7 (UK variant) cases in Wisconsin had more than tripled in the last week, rising to 19. No information was given about where those cases are located in the state. Last known news was that there had been one case in the Eau Claire area, and several cases in the Milwaukee area.
February 25: Weekly Driftless Region COVID-19 update
Editors note: this story is updated as of Tuesday, Feb. 23, in the COVID variants section to reflect growth in numbers.
DRIFTLESS - Over the past week COVID-19, diagnoses statewide increased from 555,708 on Monday, Feb. 15 to 559,998 on Monday, Feb. 22. That is a statewide increase of 4,290 cases. The number of deaths increased from 6,166 to 6,284, an additional 118 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The U.S. reached a grim milestone last weekend, now recording over 500,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the last year.
According to the DHS e-newsletter published on Friday, Feb. 19, in just two months Wisconsin is one of the best states in the country for administering vaccine and has achieved one million doses administered. We have also reached 40 percent of the 65 and older population who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
February 18: Weekly Driftless Region COVID-19 update
Editors note: this story is updated as of Wednesday, Feb. 17, in the COVID variants section to reflect growth in numbers.
DRIFTLESS - Over the past week COVID-19, diagnoses statewide increased from 550,639 on Monday, Feb. 8 to 555,708 on Monday, Feb. 15. That is a statewide increase of 5,339 cases. The number of deaths increased from 6,055 to 6,166, an additional 111 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) on Monday announced a $6.1 million investment to support community-based organizations in raising awareness and access to COVID-19 vaccine among communities that have faced both historical and current barriers to healthcare services and the COVID-19 vaccine. $3.1 million of the investment will fund efforts to activate organizations to serve as trusted messengers to build vaccine confidence and reduce barriers that may impede vaccination
February 11: Weekly Driftless Region COVID-19 update
Editors note: this story is updated as of Thursday, Feb. 11, in the COVID variants section to reflect growth in numbers.
DRIFTLESS - Over the past week COVID-19, diagnoses statewide increased from 543,165 on Monday, Feb. 1 to 550,639 on Monday, Feb. 8. That is a statewide increase of 7,204 cases. The number of deaths increased from 5,897 to 6,055, an additional 158 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Monday COVID update
On Monday, Feb. 8, the White House COVID-19 Response Team held a public briefing.
White House COVID-19 Response Team Lead Andy Slavitt reinforced that the focus of the vaccine effort to start has been to vaccinate those most at risk, in cluding residents in long-term care facilities and skilled nursing homes. To date, 40 million doses of the vaccine have been administered to these populations, as well as to frontline healthcare workers.