COVID-19 In Wisconsin: Milwaukee County At CDC's 'Medium' Level

WISCONSIN — The Badger State averaged nearly 2,000 new COVID-19 cases per day on Monday, as a small but steady increase has swept across Wisconsin since the start of April.

There were 2,008 new COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin on Monday, leaving the state with a seven-day average of 1,925 new cases per day, Department of Health Services data showed. Over the past week, an average of five people died per day due to coronavirus complications.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control determined Milwaukee County had enough cases to be placed in the 'Medium' category for COVID-19 community transmission, federal data showed.

The last time the county was in the 'Medium' category was early March, when the state was still coming down from the highest spike recorded in state history in January.

The county also passed its 10 percent positivity rate for the first time in over three months, data from the county's virus dashboard showed.

People who are at risk for severe illness should talk to their doctor about wearing a mask, and everyone should keep up to date with vaccines and get tested if they have coronavirus symptoms, the CDC said.

"We are moving in the wrong direction," Milwaukee's chief health adviser Dr. Ben Weston said in a statement. "Now is the time for heightened caution."

The rise in cases follows a lull from the end of February to the start of April 2022, health services data showed. Even with state data, it may not capture the full magnitude of the increase as more people test at home, Weston said.

Wearing a face covering, social distancing and keeping up with vaccines are protections Wisconsinites should bring back after taking a break for the past couple months, Weston said.

"Not forever, but for now," he added.