MILWAUKEE — Forty-eight people died from the coronavirus in Wisconsin on Wednesday, by far the highest daily death toll in the state since the pandemic began.
The number of daily deaths in Wisconsin has on average climbed since the end of September. On Sept. 28, two people died from the coronavirus. Two days later, 27 had died. On Oct. 13, the second highest number of people died from complications caused by the virus, at 34, according to numbers from the Department of Health Services.
Wednesday's update raises the death toll to 1,681 in Wisconsin since the pandemic began. That's .9 (point nine) percent of all residents who have tested positive for the virus, according to DHS numbers.
“We are thankful to have this facility available to Wisconsinites and our hospitals, but also saddened that this is where Wisconsin is at today,” Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement following the release of Wednesday's DHS numbers. “Folks, please stay home. Help us protect our communities from this highly-contagious virus and avoid further strain on our hospitals.”
Also on Wednesday, the Alternate Care Facility in State Fair Park in West Allis admittedits first patient since opening last Wednesday.
DHS reports an additional 167 patients were hospitalized Wednesday. The seven-day average of confirmed coronavirus cases also continued to rise, to a record-breaking 3,444, with 4,205 cases coming in positive. There are 37,358 active cases in the state, another record.
Evers' Office said in the statement that the state continues to see high levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations, with some communities reporting over 90 percent of their ICU beds being used.
“Wisconsin health systems are doing all they can to provide quality care to their patients, but hospitals are facing incredible operational challenges as COVID-19 continues to surge throughout the state,” said Deb Standridge, CEO of the ACF at Wisconsin State Fair Park, in the statement.
The DHS has yet to release the number of people who died in Milwaukee County in the last 24 hours, but deaths on average in the county have remained comparatively low in the last month. But Milwaukee County still leads the state in total deaths since the pandemic began, at 559.
:: Wednesday numbers.
— Steve Chamraz (@TMJ4Steve) October 21, 2020
37,358 active cases today, another record.
1,192 people in the hospital, down 2 from yesterday.
139,455 have recovered.
In the last 24 hours, 48 people have died. That is a record number of deaths in one day. Our total is now 1,633. pic.twitter.com/yXMiQAgcia