Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
HANCOCK — Western Upper Peninsula Health Department officials said they were notified Thursday of the first positive confirmation of COVID-19 in Baraga County.
The case involved a man with a recent history of travel, according to the officials, and the department is continuing to investigate whether the case is related to his travels and if others have been in close contact with the man.
“We will be closely monitoring any individuals who may have had direct, personal contact with the identified case, such as household contacts,” department Health Officer Kate Beer said in the announcement. “Additional information will be provided if our investigation reveals any possible lower-risk community exposures. Please remember this is a time for us to support each other and work together to reduce any possible spread of illness in our community.”
The Baraga County case brings the number of positives in the department’s five-county jurisdiction of Gogebic, Ontonagon, Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties to a total of seven.
Gogebic County has had four of the seven positive cases with the two other cases coming from Houghton County. Gogebic County’s first positive confirmation, and the five-county region’s only fatality related to the virus, was reported March 26.
A total of 480 people have tested negative for the virus in the five counties as of Thursday, according to the department, with an additional 48 tests pending. That number includes 106 negatives and 10 pending tests in Gogebic County and 25 negatives and six pending tests in Ontonagon County. There have been zero confirmed positives in Ontonagon County.
Michigan has had a total of 41,379 positive cases and 3,789 deaths as of Thursday, according to information on the state’s website.
Iron County, Wisconsin has had two positive cases, with the first — the county’s lone fatality — reported March 26. Wisconsin has had a total of 6,854 positive cases and 316 deaths as of Thursday, according to information on the state website.
With no known vaccine for the virus, the best way to prevent illness remains avoiding exposure to the virus.
Health officials continue to encourage people to frequently wash their hands, avoid close contact with others, stay home if sick and wear a mask in public spaces.
