MILWAUKEE — COVID-19 hospitalization numbers are down across the state of Wisconsin, but officials caution we shouldn’t let our guard down against the virus.
According to the Wisconsin Hospital Association, there are currently 412 patients with coronavirus in the hospital. That’s down from the November high of 2,277.
“We’ve seen the numbers decline almost as rapidly as they inclined,” says Wisconsin Hospital Association CEO Eric Borgerding.
Borgerding says it’s hard to pinpoint an exact cause of the decline, but says Wisconsinites have been doing a good job of slowing the spread, noting the statewide 7 day average of positive cases has fallen and that the vaccine distribution is underway.
Officials are cautiously optimistic with the trends, warning people not to get a false sense of security.
“All things are trending in the right way, but we’ve got to make sure that we continue to go there. We saw what it was like in the fall. We don’t what to go back there. We don’t want to go close to back there,” said Borgerding.
The reduced number of COVID patients also allows hospital workers to get a much-needed break. Facilities can also restart elective or other medical procedures that were put off because the system was overwhelmed.