By Shereen Siewert
The number of COVID-19 cases in Marathon County continued an upward climb Thursday, while statewide Wisconsin saw the largest increase of new cases in two weeks.
Health officials say 95 people in Marathon County have tested positive for the virus, up seven from 24 hours prior. The county reports 5,422 confirmed negative tests have been processed, up 246 from Wednesday, and the death toll remains at one.
Three more patients have recovered in Marathon County, bringing the number up to 57. Health officials define recovery as patients whose symptoms are resolved, have been released form isolation, or are 30 days past symptom onset or diagnosis.
Statewide, the Department of Health Services reports 422 positive tests for the virus over a 24-hour period. That is the highest number since 492 were reported on June 4. There were also 10,177 negative tests.
The positive test rate of 4% is a jump from Wednesday’s 2.6%.
While new cases were up, the number of hospital patients continued trending downward.
Wisconsin hospitals are currently caring for 240 patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19, four fewer than Wednesday.
There are 83 patients reported in intensive care, 11 fewer than Wednesday. Another 174 patients are awaiting test results.
In other nearby counties numbers also increased. Portage County reports the number of cases rose to 86, up four from one day prior. Lincoln County rose by one case, while Shawano rose by two cases to 66 and Clark County rose to 56 cases, with five deaths.
