HEALTHCARE

Rise in COVID-19 cases spurs renewal of indoor mask guidance in parts of Michigan

Paul Welitzkin
The Petoskey News-Review
Residents of several counties in Northern Michigan are being urged to wear a mask while indoors following a jump in COVID-19 cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

GAYLORD — Residents of several counties in Northern Michigan are being urged to wear a mask while indoors following a jump in COVID-19 cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In Michigan, 16 counties, including Antrim, Cheboygan, Emmet and Chippewa, now have "high" community levels, a CDC classification designed to show where coronavirus cases have risen to the point that people are recommended to wear masks indoors.

Charlevoix and Otsego counties are classified in the "medium" level. A week ago both counties were in the "low" designation.

“Although still much lower than during the fall and winter, our hospital admission rates have also trended up, and thus the CDC community levels are now ‘medium’ and ‘high’ in our counties,” said Dr. Joshua Meyerson, medical director of the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, in a statement. “This is a good time to remind ourselves and the community of mitigation measures that should be considered.” 

CDC recommendations for areas during medium to high community levels include the following: 

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. If you have not had a first booster dose and are eligible, you can greatly reduce your risk of severe illness by getting a booster dose. A second booster dose, for those eligible, can further reduce the risk of infection. 
  • If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease, wear a well-fitting mask or respirator (KN95 or N95) while in indoor public spaces where you could be exposed, or consider avoiding those activities.  
  • If you have someone in your household or have other contact with someone at high risk for severe disease, consider wearing a mask while indoors with them and/or get tested before contact. 
  • Have a plan for rapid testing, such as having home tests on-hand or access to testing. 

“While transmissions are increasing rapidly, it is important to note we are not in the same situation as we were last fall with the delta variant. The rate of hospitalizations and deaths are not rising at the pace of infections, which follows the pattern of what happened in Europe before the United States,” said Dan Thorell, interim health officer for the health department.

Case Count

As of May 17, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan reported Otsego County had 5,810 COVID-19 cases and 101 deaths from the disease. As of May 10, Otsego County had 5,757 cases and 101 deaths.

Antrim County was reporting 4,494 cases and 66 deaths while Charlevoix County had 5,049 cases and 60 deaths. Emmet County had 6,632 cases and 87 deaths. 

On May 10, Antrim County was reporting 4,449 cases and 66 deaths while Charlevoix County had 4,996 cases and 60 deaths. Emmet County had 6,574 cases and 87 deaths. 

Statewide, Michigan had 2,501,863 confirmed and probable cases and 36,218 deaths as of Wednesday, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. 

The state was reporting 2,472,596 cases and 36,140 deaths on May 11.