Wisconsin COVID-19 Cases 'Growing At Unsustainable Rate:' Study

MILWAUKEE, WI — Wisconsin is considered in danger of losing its ability to contain the coronavirus as infection numbers surge to record new highs across the state and the U.S., according to a study from researchers and epidemiologists.

The group, Covid Act Now, has reassigned Wisconsin to a high-risk level and described the disease's spread in the state as "growing at an unsustainable rate."

"If this trend continues, the hospital system may become overloaded. Caution is warranted," the group said.

Wisconsin set a new single-day COVID-19 case record on Saturday, as state health officials reported 738 new confirmed cases over a 24-hour period.

That eclipses the previous mark of 733 cases over a 24-hour period that was set on May 29.
Saturday's 733 confirmed COVID-19 cases represent 10.8 percent of all tests that were recorded that day, and the highest positive case percentage over the last 14 days.

This is what Covid Act Now wrote about Wisconsin:

Contact tracing: "Per best available data, Wisconsin has 600 contact tracers. With an average of 569 new daily cases, we estimate Wisconsin needs 2,845 contact tracing staff to trace all new cases in 48 hours, before too many other people are infected. This means that Wisconsin is likely able to trace 21 percent of new COVID infections in 48 hours. At these lower levels of tracing, it is unlikely Wisconsin will be able to successfully identify and isolate sources of disease spread fast enough to prevent new outbreaks."

Infection rate: "On average, each person in Wisconsin with COVID is infecting 1.17 other people. As such, the total number of active cases in Wisconsin is growing at an unsustainable rate. If this trend continues, the hospital system may become overloaded. Caution is warranted."

ICU headroom used: "Wisconsin has about 1,345 ICU beds. Based on best available data, we estimate that 37 percent (497) are currently occupied by non-COVID patients. With 848 ICU beds remaining, we estimate 67 are needed by COVID cases, or 8 percent of available beds. This suggests there is likely enough capacity to absorb a wave of new COVID infections."

Positive test rate: "A significant percentage (5.9 percent) of COVID tests were positive, meaning that Wisconsin’s testing meets WHO minimums but needs to be further expanded to detect most new cases. Identifying and isolating new cases can help contain COVID without resorting to lockdowns."