Wisconsin Experiencing Record Cases, Hospitalizations & Deaths
Deaths Increased 59% Over Last Two Weeks in the State
Wisconsin a “Red Zone”, Coronavirus Task Force Warns Gatherings Will Lead to “Preventable Deaths”
As the United States crosses the threshold of eight million coronavirus infections, Donald Trump continues to put personal politics and flailing campaign ahead of the health and wellbeing of the American people.
Today, Trump is heading to Wisconsin, the site of one of the nation’s worst outbreaks, to host a super-spreader campaign rally. Wisconsin is currently experiencing a record number of cases, deaths and hospitalizations — but Trump is nonetheless determined to undercut the recommendations of his own experts and disregard masks and distancing guidelines as he endangers Wisconsinites for a political stunt.
[New York Times, 10/16/20]
Wisconsin Is Experiencing Its Worst Outbreak Since The Beginning Of The Pandemic
On October 13, Wisconsin Reported 34 Deaths Related To COVID-19, The Largest Single Day Increase Since The Beginning Of The Pandemic.
- “Wisconsin on Tuesday reached a new state record for the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in a single day with 3,279 reported infections, according to the state’s department of health. Tuesday’s numbers surpass Wisconsin’s previous single-day record increase of 3,132 cases on Oct. 8. There were also 34 new deaths on Tuesday, hitting a record for the state’s largest single-day increase in deaths, up from its previous high of 27 on Sept. 30.” [The Hill, 10/13/20]
On October 15, Wisconsin Reported 3,700 New COVID-19 Cases, The Highest Single-Day Increase Since The Beginning Of The Pandemic
- “Wisconsin reported more than 3,700 new coronavirus cases Thursday, shattering previous daily records as the state’s health crisis continued to soar to new heights unimpeded.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/15/20]
Daily New Cases In Wisconsin Are Triple What They Were One Month Ago.
- “The state Department of Health Services reported 3,747 new cases, nearly triple the number reported just one month ago. The seven-day average was the highest ever, at 2,927. Deaths due to the virus rose by 17, bringing the death toll to 1,553.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/15/20]
1,043 People Are Currently Hospitalized While 264 Are In Intensive Care Units In Wisconsin, Both All-Time Highs In The State Since The Beginning Of The Pandemic.
- “There were 1,043 people hospitalized with the coronavirus in the state, including 264 people in intensive care units. Both numbers were all-time highs.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/15/20]
COVID-19 Hospitalizations In Wisconsin Are Up 25 Percent Over The Past Seven Day.
- “Health authorities recorded an almost 25 percent spike in coronavirus hospitalizations in the past seven days compared to the previous week, which the state’s Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said had left the care system ‘in crisis.’ ‘Many of our ICUs are strained,’ she told The Capital Times. ‘And every region of our state has one or more hospitals reporting current and imminent staff shortages.’” [New York Post, 10/15/20]
On October 14, The Wisconsin Department Of Health Services Reported That 86 Percent Of Available COVID-19 Hospital Beds Were Occupied In The State.
- “In Wednesday Update, DHS reports 86 percent of available COVID-19 hospital beds now occupied.” [Wisconsin Public Radio, 10/15/20]
Wisconsin Was Forced To Open A 530-Bed Emergency Field Hospital At The State Fair Park To Deal With The Rise In Hospitalizations.
- “Wisconsin opened a 530-bed emergency field hospital this week after a record surge in coronavirus cases left the state’s health system in ‘crisis,’ officials said. The cavernous facility in Wisconsin State Fair Park just outside Milwaukee has row-upon-row of curtained-off hospital beds ready for a feared influx of patients.” [New York Post, 10/15/20]
Julie Willems Van Dijk, Deputy Secretary, Wisconsin Health Department: “Every Region Of Our State Has One Or More Hospitals Reporting Current And Imminent Staff Shortages.”
- “Wisconsin, where President Donald Trump plans to hold a rally on Saturday, opened a field hospital on its state fairgrounds in West Allis on Wednesday after officials said the health care system is in crisis. ‘Many of our ICUs are strained,’ said Julie Willems Van Dijk, a deputy secretary with the state’s health department. ‘Every region of our state has one or more hospitals reporting current and imminent staff shortages.’” [Politico, 10/16/20]
Dr. Tom Nichols, Surge Section Chief Of Ascension Wisconsin And President Of Medical Affairs at Ascension St. Elizabeth: ‘We’re Seeing The Highest Volume Of COVID Patients That We’ve Seen Since The Pandemic Started.”
- “The Wisconsin Hospital Association reports more than 1,000 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state, adding pressure to hospital systems. ‘We’re seeing the highest volume of COVID patients that we’ve seen since the pandemic started,’ said Dr. Tom Nichols, surge section chief of Ascension Wisconsin and president of medical affairs at Ascension St. Elizabeth.” [NBC26, 10/15/20]
Trump’s Own White House Coronavirus Task Force Advises Against Holding Rallies In Wisconsin
The White House Coronavirus Task Force Warned Wisconsin Residents To Avoid Crowds And Social Gatherings.
- “President Donald Trump plans to hold a rally in Wisconsin Saturday despite his own White House Coronavirus Task Force telling the state this week that residents need to avoid ‘crowds in public and social gatherings in private’ unless they want to cause ‘preventable deaths.’ The warning for Wisconsin came in a weekly report that the White House issues to governors but does not make public.” [Center For Public Integrity, 10/15/20]
The White House Coronavirus Task Force Labeled Wisconsin As A COVID-19 “Red Zone.”
- “In the latest report, dated Oct. 11, Wisconsin was in the ‘red zone,’ fourth in the nation for new COVID-19 cases per population and seventh for test positivity. Hospitalizations in the state tripled over the last three weeks, the White House reported, and deaths climbed to 87 in the prior week. The task force report encouraged Wisconsin residents to be vigilant about ‘mask wearing, physical distancing, hand hygiene, avoiding crowds in public and social gatherings in private.’” [Center For Public Integrity, 10/15/20]
The White House Coronavirus Task Force Warned That Gatherings In Wisconsin Without Social Distancing Measures “Will Lead To Preventable Deaths.”
- ‘Wisconsin’s ability to limit further and avoid increases in hospitalizations and deaths will depend on increased observation of social distancing mitigation measures by the community until cases decline,” the task force wrote. ‘Lack of compliance with these measures will lead to preventable deaths.’ [Center For Public Integrity, 10/15/20]
Harvard Epidemiologist William Hanage: “Given The Rates Of Disease Currently In Wisconsin, We Can Say Pretty Categorically This Is Going To Produce Opportunity For Transmission.”
- “‘That indicates they know the reality because if they weren’t worried about it then they wouldn’t bother,’ said William Hanage, a Harvard epidemiologist, who added that the virus could spread due to crowding at the rally, even if held outdoors, or at indoor celebrations following the event. ‘Given the rates of disease currently in Wisconsin, we can say pretty categorically this is going to produce opportunity for transmission.’” [Center For Public Integrity, 10/15/20]