Special Report

This is the City in Wisconsin With the Most COVID-19 Cases

John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images

The U.S. has reported more than 43.8 million confirmed COVID-19 cases as of October 12. More than 705,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 — the highest death toll of any country.

Nationwide, there were an average of 28.8 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 Americans in the week ending October 12. Cumulatively, the U.S. has reported 13,374.3 cases per 100,000 Americans, and 214.9 deaths per 100,000 Americans.

In Wisconsin, there were an average of 48.9 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the week ending October 12. Cumulatively, Wisconsin has reported 14,280.8 cases per 100,000 state residents, the 22nd most of all 50 states. Wisconsin has reported 154.4 deaths per 100,000, the 13th fewest of all 50 states.

While the nation’s largest metropolitan areas were hit hardest in the early months of the pandemic, nearly every city has suffered from the virus. Outbreaks are particularly likely to occur in places where large numbers of people tend to congregate, leaving cities with high concentrations of colleges, correctional facilities, and nursing homes particularly at risk.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Fond du Lac metropolitan area has reported 17,071 confirmed cases, or 16,638.9 per 100,000 residents — the most of any city in Wisconsin.

Green Bay, the city with the second most cases per capita, has reported 16,631.8 cases per 100,000 residents.

The coronavirus crisis has led to widespread unemployment across the country as consumer-facing businesses are forced to close and customers are encouraged to stay home. Unemployment in Fond du Lac peaked at 15.4% in April 2020, and is now at 3.3% as of May 2021.

To determine the metropolitan area in each state with the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita, 24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed data from state and local health departments. We ranked metropolitan areas according to the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents as of October 12. Data was aggregated from the county level to the metropolitan area level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population data used to adjust case and death totals came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.

These are all the counties in Wisconsin where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

MSA Population Total cases Cases per 100,000 Total deaths Deaths per 100,000
Fond du Lac, WI 102,597 17,071 16,638.9 154 150.1
Green Bay, WI 319,401 53,122 16,631.8 432 135.3
Racine, WI 195,602 30,575 15,631.2 440 224.9
Appleton, WI 235,628 36,697 15,574.1 321 136.2
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI 170,411 26,168 15,355.8 250 146.7
Eau Claire, WI 167,406 25,528 15,249.2 249 148.7
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI 1,575,223 238,772 15,158.0 2,594 164.7
Sheboygan, WI 115,178 17,372 15,082.7 175 151.9
Wausau-Weston, WI 163,140 23,890 14,643.9 360 220.7
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN 136,542 18,796 13,765.7 122 89.3
Janesville-Beloit, WI 162,152 21,550 13,290.0 227 140.0
Madison, WI 653,725 70,105 10,723.9 481 73.6

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