Milwaukee County COVID update on virus spread, mask allocation

Milwaukee County health officials said on Tuesday, Jan. 25 that we are turning a corner with the omicron variant. 

COVID cases and positivity rates are showing a downward trend. However, officials say even with that decline, cases are still at record numbers.

Milwaukee County is seeing an average of 975 new cases of COVID-19 per day – and about eight deaths per day. While the average number of new cases per day is down by 387 compared to last week, deaths are increasing. 

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Milwaukee County also announced Tuesday that it received 575,000 N95 masks from the state. 175,000 of those masks have been given to ten local municipalities. 

Dr. Ben Weston said wearing a mask, getting the vaccine and a booster shot, are the best protection against the coronavirus.

"Of course breakthrough infections can occur but if you’re vaccinated and especially if you’re boosted, you’re substantially less likely to have a breakthrough infection and test positive for COVID than those who are not," Weston said.

Dr. Weston said it is also important to keep in mind that we are not yet past this surge – and statewide data shows more than 1,900 people are hospitalized with COVID-19.

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