COVID-19 In WI: 8 Counties With Critically High Case Burdens

WISCONSIN — Eight of Wisconsin's 72 counties have the highest possible COVID-19 burden level as rated this week by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Washburn, Barron, Rusk, Buffalo, Trempealeau, Forest, Oconto and Green Lake counties all have "critically high" COVID-19 case activity.

In the rest of the state, 62 counties have "very high" case activity, and two have "high" levels, the health department said.

A county's COVID-19 burden is "very high" when it has between 500 and 1,000 virus cases per 100,000 people. When counties are "critically high," it means their numbers have surpassed 1,000 cases per 100,000 people.

At least 2,778 coronavirus cases were confirmed among Wisconsin residents Thursday, which is nearly 24 percent less than the previous week, the health department said. There were 3,611 new cases Sept. 17.

Almost 95 percent of intensive care unit beds in Wisconsin are in use, health secretary Karen Timberlake said. Some 89.7 percent of Wisconsin's hospital beds are in use, health services data shows.

See Also: WI Hits 700K Total COVID-19 Cases, 95 Percent ICU Beds Full