By Shereen Siewert
State health officials on Wednesday reported 585 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Wisconsin, up sharply from 457 reported 24 hours earlier.
The death toll increased from five to six, according to the Department of Health Services. The state also reports 10,089 tests have come back negative, though officials cautioned Tuesday that the actual number of infections likely is in the “thousands” because only the most critical patients and front-line health care workers are being tested.
In Marathon County, the number of confirmed infections remains at one. In a press release, the Clark County Health Department reported one person has tested positive for the virus there, though the county does not appear on the state’s list of affected areas as of Wednesday afternoon, and it is unclear if that case is included in Wednesday’s tally.
During a news briefing on Tuesday, Aspirus President of Regional Markets Jesse Tischer, citing privacy concerns, declined to say whether Wausau’s hospital is treating any patients suspected of having the illness.
Data released so far is not broken down into municipality.
