WISCONSIN (SPECTRUM NEWS) -- As the country sees its highest daily increases in positive COVID-19 tests, areas of Wisconsin are dealing with significant spikes in recent weeks.

Dane County cases have doubled in the last three weeks. Jeff Pothof, an emergency medicine doctor at UW Health, said reopening plans were contingent on people following certain protective protocols, which many people have not followed.

“We weren’t socially distancing when we did this,” Pothof said. “We weren’t wearing a mask. That creates just the perfect environment for COVID-19 to make a comeback.”

A new tool from the state health department assesses the risk levels for each county based on their current COVID-19 caseload and the trajectory of cases. As of June 24, DHS estimates 22 counties have a high level of COVID-19 activity. This includes La Crosse County, where more than half of the 428 total positive cases are people who are currently sick. Jen Rombalski, the La Crosse County health officer, said Monday the county’s testing capacity has been overwhelmed in recent weeks, and as cases sharply increase, it becomes much more difficult to track the spread from person to person.

“We’ll continue to have those same challenges in the next few weeks unless we can get much higher compliance levels with the recommendations,” Rombalski said.

With the Fourth of July approaching, Rombalski said she does not recommend people gather to celebrate. However, knowing that gatherings will still take place, Rombalski suggests people remain outdoors, wears face masks and maintain at least six feet of distance from others. She said these basic protocols must become the norm if Wisconsinites have any hope of stopping another major spike during the pandemic.