Wisconsin Breaks COVID-19 Record, More Than 11K In One Day, 2K Hospitalized

MILWAUKEE, WI — Wisconsin broke a record for new COVID-19 cases in a single day, with more than 11,000 residents testing positive Wednesday as the state experienced the effect of the omicron variant, Wisconsin Department of Health Services officials said.

Some 11,547 COVID-19 cases were counted Wednesday, said Traci DeSalvo, the health services director of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases, in a news conference. The seven-day average for new cases was 6,808 per day.

The new cases number exceeded the record set Tuesday — 10,470 new cases — which marked the first time the state counted cases above the 10,000 level.

The seven-day average of 6,808 new cases per day was an 85 percent increase over the level in December and a 200 percent increase over November's, DeSalvo added.

"The omicron variant is spreading rapidly through our community, and we're beginning to experience the effects," DeSalvo said.

Wisconsin also reached another milestone Thursday, with 2,060 people hospitalized for COVID-19, Wisconsin Hospital Association data showed. There were 59 intensive care unit beds available in the state.

Dr. Ryan Westergaard, the state's chief epidemiologist, said that officials considered the spread from the omicron variant "astonishing" and that the speed of its spread across the state was surprising, even with vaccinations and everything learned about the coronavirus so far.

Officials weren't sure how far the state was from cases peaking. National models said January will see a lot of viral spread, Ryan Westergaard, the state epidemiologist for communicable diseases, said at a news conference.

"It wouldn't shock us if we see higher case numbers this week and next week," Westergaard said. "Let's do what we can following the guidance, staying home when you're sick, getting tested. We have some say of how high and when the peak happens."

Health officials recommended residents get tested, isolate after coming in close contact with someone with COVID-19 and get vaccinated against the virus to prevent its spread.

Wisconsin health services data showed that 58.3 percent of residents have been fully vaccinated, and 62.3 percent of residents have received at least one shot. Almost a third of those vaccinated have received a booster dose; 1,662,543 booster shots had been given as of Wednesday, state health services reported.

State health officials endorsed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest guidance on isolation and said that people who tested positive for COVID-19 without symptoms should only isolate for five days and wear a mask for five more days.

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