County ID’s 18 new cases in most recent COVID testing

By Patrick Lynn

The Portage Co. Health Dept. on Thursday said the last round of free COVID-19 testing has yielded 18 new positive cases, seven of them in Portage Co. residents.

The July 8 testing was the third free, mass-testing event offered in Portage Co. by a special detachment of the Wisconsin National Guard. Of the 500 tests available, 447 were administered, according to County Health Officer Gary Garske.

More than 7,000 tests have been administered since the pandemic began, according to the health department.

No one was turned away during the testing event, Garske said. Positive cases were also found in residents from Waupaca, Marathon, and Wood counties.

The new results bring Portage County’s total to 49 active, 214 recovered, and 6,902 negative, cases of the coronavirus. As of Thursday, three people are hospitalized, Garske said. There have been no reported deaths. 

The Portage County Division of Public Health continues to encourage all community members to continue following social distancing guidelines and staying home if they feel sick. Nonessential travel outside of the county, especially to areas with high infection rates, should be avoided.