March 11: Weekly Driftless Region COVID-19 update
Editors note: this story is updated as of Tuesday, Mar. 9, in the COVID variants section to reflect growth in numbers.
DRIFTLESS - Over the past week COVID-19, diagnoses statewide increased from 564,268 on Monday, Mar. 1 to 566,871 on Monday, Mar. 8. That is a statewide increase of 2,603 cases. The number of deaths increased from 6,412 to 6,481, an additional 69 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).
Wisconsin continues to be a national leader in COVID-19 vaccine administration. As of March 5:
• 1.6 million doses administered
• 9.8 percent of Wisconsin’s population (over 572,000) has completed their series
• 59.8 percent of people age 65 or older (over 600,000) have received their first dose
New Clorox Total 360 cleaning machine unveiled
Unmute
CHIPPEWA FALLS (WQOW) - COVID-19 could be meeting its match in Chippewa Falls after a survey was sent out by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to many EMS departments about how best to disinfect and sterilize equipment.
The solution: The Clorox Total 360 cleaning machine. It can be sprayed on ambulance equipment, police cars and any surface that might have a trace of an infectious disease.
Chippewa Falls Fire and Emergency Services was given the machine by DHS thanks to a grant.
The biggest advantage is speed according to Lieutenant Justus Busse with Chippewa Falls Fire and Emergency Services. He said the machine takes just two minutes to clean each surface.
The number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin rose by 516 Wednesday, March 10, officials with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported, for a total of 567,850.