Wisconsin reports record number of COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations and cases

Wisconsin on Tuesday reported record numbers of single-day COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations and cases.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 64 new coronavirus deaths, 220 new hospitalizations and 5,262 new cases since announcing Monday’s numbers. 

Ryan Westergaard, the chief medical officer for the department’s Bureau of Communicable Diseases, labeled the record increases as a “nightmare” during a press conference, NBC affiliate TMJ4 in Milwaukee reported. 

Today’s #COVID19_WI update shows new highs in reported deaths and hospitalizations. Please take steps to avoid illness and protect your community. Stay home if you can, stay 6′ from others, #MaskUpWisconsin, and wash your hands often. #YouStopTheSpread: https://t.co/azIna3TqRR pic.twitter.com/eTm56HQnXm

— WIDeptHealthServices (@DHSWI) October 27, 2020

The previous record for a single-day increase in cases occurred last week with 4,591 new cases, more than 600 less than Tuesday’s reported numbers, according to TMJ4. For the number of deaths related to complications from the coronavirus, the previous record single-day increase also was reached last week, with 48 fatalities.

The department also documented records in the seven-day percent positivity rate per person at 25.7 percent and the seven-day percent positive rate by testing at 12.9 percent. 

Wisconsin has struggled to rein in the virus as coronavirus cases have surged since September. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks Wisconsin as having the third-highest number of cases per 100,000 over the past seven days, behind North Dakota and South Dakota.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Wisconsin has confirmed 206,311 positive tests, 10,636 hospitalizations and 1,852 fatalities. 

Gov. Tony Evers (D) has extended a mask mandate for indoor spaces until Nov. 21 and a limit on indoor public gatherings to 25 percent capacity, although a Wisconsin appeals court paused the latter order.

–Updated at 12:06 p.m.