Author: Sam Buisman

Wisconsin broke its record for single-day increases in COVID-19 cases twice over the weekend as the weekly average of confirmed cases continues to rise. 

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Friday broke the state's record for newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in a single day with 845 new cases, only to be surpassed a day later with 926 new confirmed cases on Saturday. Such jumps have ramped up the state's 7-day average for new confirmed cases to a record-breaking 695 cases. 

As of Sunday night, Wisconsin has suffered a cumulative total of 36,448 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 820 deaths. 

Wisconsin's leaps in confirmed cases mirror those of the country at large. According to the CDC, the US hit the grim milestone of 3 million confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide this past Wednesday and has added at least 59,000 cases every following day. 

The CDC forecasts that Wisconsin's COVID-19 death toll will grow to around 1,000 by Aug. 1. 

At press time, Madison officials have not announced any new policies related to the weekend jump in cases. However, Public Health Madison and Dane County's mandatory indoor-mask policy goes into effect on Monday, July 13, requiring everyone five and older to wear a covering over their mouth and nose if they are inside a building with people that they don't live with.