by Kevin Zimmermann
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) – The final coronavirus update for this week from the Sheboygan County Division of Public Health showed a continued decline in active cases, as the recoveries of 172 persons outnumbered the 108 new cases confirmed since Thursday. 2,148 persons in the county are now fighting COVID-19, and 30 of those are hospitalized – one less than Thursday.
One person has died since Thursday, identified by the county only as one in their 60s, and bringing the death count to 63. With 358 test returns received in all, the positive rate Friday was just over 30%.
The State Department of Health Services on Friday reported another 4,847 new cases of COVID-19, raising the total so far to 404,555. With 15,297 test results received, the positive rate was 31.9%. 63 more persons fell victim to the coronavirus since Thursday, putting the death toll at 3,625. 202 persons were admitted to hospitals for treatment of their symptoms, and after accounting for deaths and discharges, the patient population dropped 26 to 1,754. Another 154 persons are hospitalized and awaiting test returns. 376 COVID patients are in ICU beds, and 605 persons are on ventilators. 9 persons are being treated at the Alternate Care Facility at State Fair Park in West Allis.
The County DPH continued the Sheboygan County Activity Level rating at “Critically High”, with a current burden rate of 1,234.8 per 100,000 people. This is the highest of six possible ratings assigned.
NEW QUARANTINE GUIDELINES
On Monday, December 7th, the County Department of Health Services, in concert with the Wisconsin DHS, will implement alternative strategies for reduced quarantine. Two strategies will be to:
- Quarantine ending after Day 10 without testing, if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring.
- Quarantine can end after Day 7 if the result of a diagnostic COVID-19 test is negative and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring. The test specimen may be collected and tested within 48 hours before the time of planned quarantine discontinuation but quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than after Day 7. Also, a pending test on day 7 is not sufficient to end quarantine early.
Other conditions apply, and can be found as published in Friday’s daily COVID-19 report at sheboygancounty.com.
