The percentage of positive tests for the coronavirus soared over the past week in Door County and remained in the double digits in Kewaunee County, all while Door County health workers have given doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the highest percentage of its residents in the state.

After two weeks in which the rate of positive tests for the virus over a seven-day period in Door County was about one in five (23% from March 16 to 22, 19.3% between March 23 and 29), the rate shot up to 35.7% in the week from March 29 to April 5. Twenty people tested positive in that time, 21 fewer than the week before, but those 20 positives came from just 56 test results, according to statistics from the Door County Health and Human Services Department. It appears to be the highest seven-day rate in the county since testing began last year, although the county did record rates close to that mark in three straight weeks in January. 

The percentage of positive tests, also known as positivity rate, over a given time is a metric used by many health organizations to gauge the spread of the virus in a community, and the World Health Organization has said that a rate of more than 5% is concerning because it means testing isn’t widespread enough to capture the spread of the virus among the general population.

Kewaunee County also reported a second straight week with a positivity rate in double digits, 12.1% from March 29 to April 2 (nine positives from 76 tests), after it was below 10% five of the six weeks before.

Door County also recorded a high figure in the number of positive tests in each county per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks. The positives-per-100,000 over a given time is another metric used by the state health department to gauge community spread of the coronavirus.

While Door County's figure for the week from March 29 to April 5 was half that of the week before — dropping from 156, third-most among the state's 72 counties, to 72, 24th most — the figure for the past two weeks is 228, third-highest in the state. For comparison, Kewaunee County's positives-per-100,000 over the past week was 34, tied for 51st among Wisconsin counties.

However, no deaths from COVID-19 complications have been reported in Door County for two weeks and in Kewaunee County for 11 weeks, and one person in Door County and none in Kewaunee County were reported by the health departments as needing hospitalization because of the virus in the past week.

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And with all people ages 16 and older in the state becoming eligible for COVID-19 vaccines as of April 5, county health departments and medical providers continue their efforts to help prevent the spread of the virus and the possibility of another surge. They warned that vaccines are just one tool in that effort, along with wearing face coverings in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing.

Data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said 13,418 Door County residents, 48.5% of the population, had received at least one dose of the vaccine as of Monday, the highest percentage in the state; Bayfield County was next with 47.8%. Also, 28.6% of the population, 7,915 people, have completed their vaccine cycles whether they're getting the one- or two-dose vaccine, the fourth highest percentage in Wisconsin.

Statistics as of April 5 (provided by the county and state health departments) are as follows:

Positive tests in past week (since March 29):

• Kewaunee County, 9, same as previous week
• Door County, 20, 21 fewer than previous week

Negative tests in past week:

• Kewaunee, 65
• Door, 36

Seven-day percentage of positive tests (positivity rate):

• Kewaunee, 12.1% (15.8% the week before)
• Door, 35.7% (was 19.3%)
• Wisconsin, 3.7% (was 2.8%)

Total positive tests:

• Kewaunee: 2,566
• Door: 2,532

Total negative tests:

• Kewaunee: 9,322
• Door: 14,249

Cumulative positivity rate since testing began:

• Kewaunee, 21.6%
• Door, 15%

Positive tests per 100,000 residents over past week:

• Kewaunee, 34, 51st among state's 72 counties
• Door, 72, 24th in state

Deaths from COVID-19 complications:

• Kewaunee, 34, none in past 11 weeks
• Door, 21, none in past two weeks

Hospitalizations from the virus in past week:

• Kewaunee, none
• Door, one

Active cases:

• Kewaunee, 15 (was 11 as of March 29);
• Door, 125 (was 104)

Recovered cases:

• Kewaunee, 2,517
• Door, N/A

Total vaccines given:

• Kewaunee (including other providers besides health department), 6,008 (29.4%) received at least one dose, 4,059 (19.9%) completed their cycles
• Door (including other providers besides health department), 13,418 (48.5%) received at least one dose, most in state, 7,915 (28.6%) completed their cycles
• Wisconsin, 1,922,832 (33%) at least one dose, 1,171,309 (20.1%) completed their cycles

Vaccine doses given in past week:

• Kewaunee, 768; 711 completed their cycles
• Door, 2,002; 1,202 completed their cycles 

Vaccines requested and received by the county health departments for this week:

• Kewaunee, 200 requested, 175 received
• Door, N/A

People on waiting list:

• Kewaunee, 89
• Door, no longer keeping a list

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-741-7952, 920-562-8900 or [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County COVID-19 positivity rate soars, Kewaunee County dips slightly; vaccinations continue