COVID-19 cases continue to increase, particularly among the young, as the number of hospitalizations in Rock County set a record Thursday.
There were 75 people hospitalized in Rock County because of COVID-19 as of Thursday. The previous high mark was 74 hospitalizations on Nov. 18, 2020, according to Rock County Public Health Department data.
There were 4,421 active cases in the county Thursday and a case rate of 1,559 per 100,000 people.
The number of 4- to 18-year-olds who are testing positive for COVID-19 continues to grow. From Jan. 5 to 11, there were 249 cases among children age 4 to 13, and 143 new cases for those age 14 to 18, according to a Rock County Public Health Department report issued on Jan. 13.
Cases were most prevalent in Rock County among 25- to 34-year-olds, followed by 15- to 24-year-olds.
As of Thursday, there were 136 new cases of COVID-19 in Rock County after 338 new cases were reported Wednesday and 638 were reported Tuesday. The total number of cases since the pandemic began reached 28,517, and the total number of deaths reached 261, according to county health department data.
The percentage of the population fully vaccinated in Rock County was 63%.
As of Thursday, the average new cases per day in Wisconsin for the past seven days has been 9,915. The seven-day average of deaths per day in the state has been 24 and the seven-day average state positivity rate was 27.4%.
On Tuesday, there was a seven-day average of 2,166 people in hospitals, with 92.4% of the state’s hospital beds in use and 95.1% of ICU beds in use. Twenty-eight percent of the state’s ventilators in use.
As of Thursday, 58.6% of the total population of Wisconsin had completed the vaccine series.
Beloit College changes
In response to increasing COVID-19 numbers, all Beloit College students, faculty and staff will be required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before returning to campus, according to a news release from the college. Students will resume classes Jan. 24 after winter break. All students, faculty, and staff will be required to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine no later than Jan. 28, according to information from the college.
People affiliated with the college who have been unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and/or booster as a result of medical, religious or philosophical reasons will be required to undergo weekly testing and must quarantine if identified as a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19 in order to remain on campus.
