MADISON (WLUK) -- As a surge in COVID-19 continues, Wisconsin health officials are encouraging people, especially those in schools, to be vaccinated and wear face coverings.
Department of Health Services secretary-designee Karen Timberlake says confirmed cases among children under 18, especially those in ages 9-13, continue to grow.
Timberlake warned that some children later develop a condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome after having COVID-19.
Timberlake encourages everyone eligible to get vaccinated, and those working in schools or child care settings to be diligent about wearing face masks. Timberlake also encourages anyone who is not feeling well to stay home.
On top of masking in schools, and mitigating spread among children, staffing issues made it into the Wednesday briefing.
"Let's remember why we are having those pressures," said Timberlake. "We are having those pressures because we are asking our hospital staff, our nurses, our CNAs, our physicians... to be working in really challenging circumstances for 18 months."
Dr. Ryan Westergaard, with the DHS Bureau of Communicable Diseases, warns of the Delta variant as it continues to spread.
"Our data right now shows us on a steep uphill and we do not see a plateau," he said. "lf that happens in the next coming weeks that would be wonderful, it's not a forgone conclusion."
On Wednesday, the seven-day average of new cases fell slightly to 2,857. DHS reported 2,723 new cases on Tuesday. Test positivity averaged 7.7% over the most recent seven-day period.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map showed all of Wisconsin in the "high" category for virus transmission.
There were 19 deaths reported on Tuesday, with the seven-day average at 12.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 707,074 total cases and 7,876 deaths in Wisconsin.
Vaccinations increased to 56.3% of the population (3,280,843 people) having received at least one dose and 53.1% (3,093,777) having completed their vaccine series.
Hospitalizations increased slightly on Wednesday. The Wisconsin Hospital Association reported treating 1,103 COVID-19 patients, 18 more than on Tuesday and 49 more than a week earlier. Of those, 318 were in intensive care, 14 fewer than on Tuesday and three fewer than a week earlier. WHA said 6.1% of ICU beds in the state were immediately available.
Northeast region hospitals had 112 COVID-19 patients, 11 more than on Tuesday but four fewer than a week earlier. Twenty-six of those were in ICUs, the same as on Tuesday and three fewer than a week earlier. In the Fox Valley region, there were 103 COVID-19 patients, flat from Tuesday and 19 more than a week earlier. Twenty-two of those were in ICUs, down one in a day but up six over a week.