County Reports 6th COVID-19-related Death

Door County Public Health reported a sixth COVID-19-related death Tuesday, the second of the week. That came as Wisconsin reported its most dire daily toll of the pandemic, recording 5,262 new positive tests, 64 new deaths, and 220 new hospitalizations. 

Texas, with five times the population of Wisconsin, was the only state to report more new cases Tuesday, at 7,266. 

On Wednesday, Door County reported 42 new positive COVID-19 tests, bringing its total to 822. Statewide, 86 percent of hospital beds are now full. Hospitals typically operate at about 65 percent of their capacity. As of Wednesday, 339 Wisconsinites were hospitalized in intensive care units. 

In northeastern Wisconsin, 159 people were hospitalized, down from a high of 182 on Oct. 16. Eighty-three percent of hospital beds in the region are now full.

Neighboring Kewaunee County reports 1,073 through Tuesday, and seven deaths. Kewaunee County has one of the highest case-per-capita rates of COVID-19 in the state. Brown County has confirmed 15,377 cases and 97 deaths. 

The rising numbers seem to finally be hitting home with some Republican legislative leaders. On Tuesday, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the state needs “rigorous, rapid testing to find the virus faster” and said he would be open to considering a relief bill for Wisconsin. Just days earlier, Vos had posted on Facebook that there is little the state government can do to fight the virus. 

Wisconsin Republicans earlier this year sued Gov. Tony Evers to end his Safer at Home order, and they have fought orders to mandate masks and capacity limits for businesses, even as the virus has spread rapidly this fall. 

Upcoming Community Testing

The National Guard’s free COVID-19 community testing site will move back to the Sister Bay Fire Station on Nov. 2, 8 am – 4 pm. Members of the public are encouraged to visit register.covidconnect.wi.gov to register in advance, but they are not required to do so. 

To be tested, an individual must be at least five years old and experiencing at least a mild case of one of the following COVID-19 symptoms: cough, fatigue, sudden loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, fever, muscle pain, nausea or vomiting, chills, headache or diarrhea. 

This is a drive-through testing site, and anyone being tested must stay in the vehicle. A uniformed Wisconsin National Guard member will collect a sample using a nasal swab. Testing will be done on a first-come, first-served basis and will not operate outside of the scheduled times.

Upcoming testing dates in Sister Bay will be Nov. 16 and 30, and testing dates at the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department will be Nov. 9 and 23 and Dec. 7.