Wisconsin is averaging fewer than 2 confirmed COVID-19 deaths a day as the presence of BA.2 variant increases in the U.S.

Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·4 min read
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A few weeks into the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic and metrics show both positive and negative signs.

Wisconsin has reached new lows this year in the average number of deaths reported by the state Department of Health Services. Currently, the seven-day average of confirmed daily deaths is fewer than two, the lowest average this year. The state reported 11 confirmed COVID deaths this week and another two deaths were probable.

The state averaged 46 deaths a day during the onslaught of the omicron variant peak in January. Now, new death totals provides optimism as the omicron variant wanes and new variants settles in.

The BA.2 variant has been the most dominant variant in the U.S. since mid-March, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is also an increase in the presence of other variants — BA.2.12.1, BA.1.1, BA.1.1.529 — in the last month.

The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene hasn't provided data that shows a significant presence of the BA.2 variant in Wisconsin cases.

The state, though, is experiencing a rise in cases and positivity rate. The seven-day average of daily cases is 895, up 563 cases from a month ago. The seven-day average of percent positive by test is 7.2%, up 4.5%.

Also, the number of total patients hospitalized has increased in recent days, but the number of people hospitalized (163 patients) is considerably lower than its peak of more than 2,250 patients in January.

Track COVID and the vaccine in Wisconsin: See the latest data on cases, deaths and administered doses

Latest COVID-19 numbers

  • New cases reported (Friday): 1,254

  • New deaths reported (Friday), confirmed: 1

  • New deaths reported (Friday), probable: 0

  • New deaths reported (this week), confirmed: 11

  • New deaths reported (this week), probable: 2

  • Number hospitalized: 162 (intensive care: 33); down 73 patients from a month ago

  • Seven-day average of daily cases: 895 (up 563 cases from one month ago)

  • Seven-day average of confirmed daily deaths: 2 (down 23 deaths from a month ago)

  • Seven-day average of new deaths reported within 30 days of death: 1 (down seven deaths from a month ago)

  • Seven-day average positivity rate: 7.2% of all COVID-19 tests given

  • Total cases since the start of pandemic: 1,407,475

  • Total confirmed deaths: 12,872

  • Total probable deaths: 1,531

Latest vaccine numbers

  • Total doses administered: 9,446,188

  • Seven-day average of daily doses: 1,831

  • Weekly doses administered: 8,553 (as of Friday)

  • Total booster doses administered: 1,999,661

  • Seven-day average of daily booster doses: 933

  • Residents who have received one dose: 3,748,025 (64.3% of the population)

  • Residents who are fully vaccinated: 3,557,434 (61% of the population)

  • Residents who have received a booster dose: 1,979,613 (33.9% of the population)

  • Residents ages 5 to 11 with at least one dose: 134,121 (27.5% of age group)

  • Residents ages 12 to 17 with at least one dose: 273,374 (61.5% of age group)

  • Residents ages 18 to 24 with at least one dose: 327,889 (60.2% of age group)

  • Residents ages 25 to 34 with at least one dose: 475,847 (64.2% of age group)

  • Residents ages 35 to 44 with at least one dose: 500,110 (69.3% of age group)

  • Residents ages 45 to 54 with at least one dose: 500,869 (71.7% of age group)

  • Residents ages 55 to 64 with at least one dose: 640,252 (78.1% of age group)

  • Residents 65 and older with at least one dose: 895,563 (85.5% of age group)

Variant case sequencing

State and private labs regularly do further tests on a portion of positive COVID-19 samples to find the prevalence of different variants of the virus. The numbers below are just a fraction of the total number of variant cases.

Omicron variant was identified in 100% of tests sequenced during the week starting March 20.

Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin experiencing rise in COVID-19 cases, positivity rate