MILWAUKEE — The Badger State is being encouraged to social distance “to the maximal degree possible” by the White House Coronavirus Task Force amid continuously increasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
A task force report from this week declares the overall state “in the red zone” for COVID-19 cases, indicating 101 or more new cases per 100,000 population last week, with the third highest rate in the country. Additionally, Wisconsin is in the orange zone for test positivity, indicating a rate between 8.0% and 10.0%, with the seventh highest rate in the country.
“To the maximal degree possible, increase social distancing mitigation measures until cases decline, including through supporting local authorities to pass and enforce mitigation measures,” the task force reccomended in the report.
Metro areas in the "red zone" around the state include Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh-Neenah, La Crosse-Onalaska, Fond du Lac, Stevens Point, Wausau-Weston, Manitowoc, Shawano, Watertown-Fort Atkinson, Menomonie, and Marinette. The counties labeled as "red zones" include Brown, Outagamie, Winnebago, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Washington, Fond du Lac, Portage, Marathon, Calumet, Manitowoc and Jefferson.
President Donald Trump has campaign rallies scheduled for Green Bay and La Crosse this Saturday; both are in the red zones.
Per the report, Wisconsin has seen a decrease in new cases and an increase in test positivity over the last week. The state averaged more than 2,000 cases a day.
“82% of all counties in Wisconsin have moderate or high levels of community transmission (yellow, orange, or red zones), with 47% having high levels of community transmission (red zone),” the report reads.
The task force is also encouraging the state to expand testing capacities.
Wisconsin reported there are currently 646 people in the hospital due to coronavirus on Tuesday, topping the previous record-high, 640 hospitalizations, which was reported on Monday. That number includes 205 ICU patients, another record-high.
Last week, Gov. Tony Evers extended Wisconsin's mask mandate until Nov. 21 due to the increasing cases. He also declared a new public health emergency. Both orders expire in November.