Data Notes for the Week of July 29

Read Data Snapshot 

If you’re new to the data snapshot, we publish a weekly summary of the status for each of our metrics (you can find past issues on our data and dashboard page). The data below are from July 12-July 25.

Cases increased during this 14-day period with an average of 27 cases per day. Cases are increasing rapidly.

Percent positivity also increased to 2% and an average of 1,323 tests were conducted per day.

The number of people hospitalized in Dane County hospitals with COVID is stable, with a 14-day average of 23 people hospitalized. We are not able to discern whether these hospitalizations are among Dane County residents or among patients transferred to one the Dane County hospitals from surrounding areas.

Cases are increasing rapidly. Two weeks ago, our 7 day average was roughly 10 cases per day. As of 7/25, it was 36.7. During the last snapshot period  from 7/5-7/18, the total number of cases identified was 194. During this period, we identified 379 cases.

Delta is the dominant strain of virus in Dane County.

85% of July cases that have been sequenced (23 cases out of 27) have been the Delta variant of concern. Delta is the dominant strain of virus in Dane County. Delta continues to be concerning due to its high transmissibility.

On Tuesday, 7/27, Public Health Madison & Dane County issued a news release strongly advising that everyone 2 years of age and older in Dane County should wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. These recommendations were issued because of the rapid increase in cases in Dane County that could lead to more severe outcomes among unvaccinated people.

Additionally, new research from the CDC this week suggests that vaccinated people can spread COVID to others, perhaps at a similar rate to unvaccinated symptomatic people. This is a very recent change in our understanding of how the Delta variant impacts vaccinated people. CDC is doing more research to find out exactly how likely it is for vaccinated people with and without symptoms to spread COVID. In the meantime, masks are recommended as an effective tool in preventing the spread of COVID to others, even for people who are vaccinated.

The rate for unvaccinated residents is 11.3, which is 2.5 times as high as the rate for fully vaccinated residents, which is 4.5.

The most effective way to protect yourself and our community from being impacted by COVID is to get vaccinated. When there is less COVID circulating in our community, there are fewer opportunities for vaccinated people to experience a breakthrough infection. See our website for locations on where to get vaccinated.

We know that people who are vaccinated are protected from severe illness and death. However, emerging research is showing that people who are vaccinated and get infected with the Delta variant can also carry high levels of virus, which could mean that they could spread it to other people, including people who are immunocompromised or at risk of severe infection. Our partners at UW-Madison who study COVID have found these same patterns in Dane County.

Over 70% of the entire Dane County population have now received at least one dose of vaccine.

70.2% of all Dane County residents have received at least one dose of vaccine and 67.4% have completed the vaccine series. 81% of the eligible population (ages 12+) have received at least one dose of vaccine and 77.8% have completed the vaccine series. Vaccines remain an effective tool in preventing severe outcomes and death due to COVID.