11 Wisconsin Counties Now In CDC's High COVID-19 Risk Category

MILWAUKEE, WI — COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin are dipping after a recent uptick, but more than 10 counties still report high community transmission levels, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Residents are advised to wear a mask while indoors with strangers to mitigate the spread of disease if they live in a county with high transmission.

Cases haven't been as high since the state reached its peak in hospitalizations in January, but federal health officials have seen growth in community spread in 11 Wisconsin counties.

The following counties were included on the watch list:

• Milwaukee County
• Waukesha County
• Washington County
• Ozaukee County
• Wood County
• Marathon County
• Lincoln County
• Sawyer County
• Bayfield County
• Douglas County
• Pine County

The agency gives low, medium and high rankings to counties depending on the case rate, hospital admissions and full inpatient beds per 100,000 people.

Here's a snapshot of COVID-19 across Wisconsin:

• The seven-day average for confirmed COVID-19 cases was 1,775 new cases per day on Wednesday, data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services showed. There were 1,837 new cases that day.
• There were 379 COVID-19 patients in Wisconsin hospitals on Thursday, data from the Wisconsin Hospital Association showed.
• The seven-day average for coronavirus related deaths was four per day on Wednesday, health services data showed. There were three new deaths that day.

Though there have been no new local or federal masking mandates, federal health officials recommended residents wear masks indoors in public and on public transportation in high transmission counties. People should get tested if they have symptoms and keep up with vaccinations, especially if they're at high risk for severe illness.

Everyone aged 5 and older, who has received their primary vaccination series, is eligible for a booster dose five months after they have been fully vaccinated, state health services said in a statement. A second booster dose is recommended for adults 50 and older, and for those 12 and older who are immunocompromised.

“The COVID-19 vaccines and boosters remain one of the best ways to protect yourself from severe illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19,” health services Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake said.

In the face of rising cases, she added, it's important for people to use all the tools they have to prevent the spread of disease.

State health services endorsed the Pfizer booster shot for kids ages 5 and up on May 23. So far, around 2 million Wisconsinites have received their booster or additional vaccine doses.

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