By RICHARD JENKINS
Even as the vaccination process continues, the number of local COVID-19 cases continues to rise; with Gogebic County passing the 1,000-case mark in the last week.
The county has had 712 confirmed positive cases and 294 additional probable cases, according to the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department’s Monday update, for a total of 1,006 cases since the presence of the virus was first confirmed in the area in March.
The county has 18 active cases as of Monday’s update and 39 deaths.
Ontonagon County has had 278 positives and 31 additional probables over the course of the pandemic, according to Monday’s update, with 16 deaths and two active cases.
The WUPHD reports the five-county area it serves of Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties have had a total of 3,965 cases — including 3,147 confirmed cases — during the pandemic, with a total of 118 deaths and 67 current active cases.
In Wisconsin, the Iron County Health Department announced there will be a free COVID-19 testing event hosted by the health department and Wisconsin National Guard at the Hurley Fire Hall on 5th Avenue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The county has had 423 confirmed cases and 109 additional probables over the course of the pandemic, according to the health department’s Monday update on Facebook.
Of these, 77 cases are considered active as of Monday. The county has had 35 deaths and 29 cases that have required hospitalization, according to the update.
Health officials in both states encourage residents to continue to work to combat the spread of the virus, including wearing masks, staying home when possible, practicing social distancing and frequently washing their hands.