MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin hit grim coronavirus milestones Tuesday, reporting record highs for positive cases, deaths and hospitalizations on the eve of an overflow field hospital opening near Milwaukee.
The state Department of Health Services reported3,279 confirmed new cases, breaking a record of 3,132 set just five days earlier. There were 34 deaths reported, also a new high, bringing the total number of people who have died to 1,508. To date, more than 155,000 people in Wisconsin have tested positive.
The seven-day rolling average of new cases was 2,727 more than double the 1,141 from a month ago.
The number of people in the hospital due to COVID-19 also hit an all-time high for a second day in a row, growing from 950 to 959, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association. There were 243 patients in intensive care.
Wisconsin’s death count as of Monday was the 30th highest in the country overall and the 42nd highest per capita at more than 25 deaths per 100,000 people. The 595 new cases per 100,000 people in Wisconsin over the past two weeks, which ranks fourth in the country for new cases per capita.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers attributed the increase to the Wisconsin Supreme Court striking down his “safer at home” order in May at the request of his Republican opponents, as well as fatigue over wearing masks and other recommendations to slow the spread.
“We let down our guard,” he said on a conference call.
Outbreaks have also been reported at three state prisons — the Racine Correctional Institution/Sturtevant Transitional Facility, the Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution and the Oshkosh Correctional Institution.
“The numbers are very, very concerning,” Evers said.
Evers urged people to stay at home, wear masks when they go out, limit exposure to others and maintain a social distance.
“We have to get this virus under control and help flatten the curve to prevent our health care system from being overwhelmed,” he said on a conference call.
In the face of rising hospitalizations, the overflow hospital opening at State Fair Park will be prepared to handle up to 50 patients starting on Wednesday and can increase from there depending on need, said state health secretary Andrea Palm.
She urged people to “double down” on taking steps to prevent a spread of the virus so hospitals won’t become overrun, forcing patients into the overflow facility.
Evers also called on Republicans who control the Legislature to come forward with their plans for fighting the virus. Republicans successfully sued to overturn Evers’ “safer at home” order earlier this year and are now suing to overturn the governor’s statewide mask mandate. A GOP-controlled legislative committee took steps on Monday to block new indoor capacity limits that he ordered.
The committee directed the Department of Health Services to submit a rule on the capacity limits, which the Legislature could then vote to overturn. Evers said there was no reason to submit a rule given that his order is in place.