Manistee County sees sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in past 7 days

This is an increase of 111 new cases and five new deaths reported since Feb. 28.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's updated COVID-19 Community Level tool shows the risk for new cases in Benzie and Manistee counties remains at medium. Other counties in the region are also at a medium COVID-19 community level including Alpena, Leelanau, Kalkaska and Antrim counties. Grand Traverse County is the only county in the state with a high COVID-19 community level,  according to the most recent data from the CDC.

However, despite the CDC showing Manistee County at a medium COVID-19 community level, the Michigan MI SAFE Start Map reads, “Manistee County is at risk level high because of the weekly cases per 100K of 122.2, above the threshold of 100, and the test positivity of 14%, above the threshold of 10%, for the week of May 1-8, 2022.”

The CDC updates the community level maps once a week, showing its last update as May 5.

On Nov. 28, 2020, the county recorded 17 new cases in a single day and the same number again on April 12, 2021. On Nov 16, 2021, the county broke that record with 18 cases recorded, according to MDHHS information. On Jan. 11, 2022, Manistee County recorded 24 new cases in one day — the highest total yet.

With COVID-19 cases going up in Manistee County, it is important to test if you believe you have symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms can include any or all of the following, according to the CDC:

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

In Manistee, people can get free COVID-19 testing at these four locations:

• Rite Aid at  1243 US-31 South.

• Walgreens at 1525 US-31 South.

• Meijier at 15 Caberfae Hwy.

As of April 6, MDHHS is providing COVID-19 updates weekly on Wednesdays.

Here are some quick facts from the most recent MDHHS report:

• There have been just over 2.47 million probable and confirmed cases, and 36,140 confirmed and probable deaths statewide during the pandemic. MDHHS has updated its COVID-19 reporting to include confirmed and probable cases and deaths, instead of only confirmed cases and deaths.

• This is an increase of 27,705 confirmed and probable cases and an increase of 76 confirmed and probable deaths. MDHHS noted its average number of new confirmed cases at 3,958 cases per day for seven days.

• Grand Traverse County reported 14,042 cases and 204 deaths. This is an increase of 185 new cases with two new deaths.

• Wexford County reported 5,412 cases and 96 deaths. This is an increase of 34 new cases with no new deaths.

• Benzie County has seen 2,506 cases and 60 deaths. This is an increase of 29 new cases with no new deaths.

• Lake County has seen 1,584 cases and 34 deaths. This is an increase of 15 new cases with no new deaths.

• Mason County has seen 6,286 cases and 92 deaths. This is an increase of 57 new cases with no new deaths.

Manistee County is considered part of Region 7 for tracking by the state. Region 7 includes Manistee and 17 other counties.

The region has 948 hospital beds, with 581 occupants in hospital beds and 114 adult patients in the intensive care unit as of Wednesday.

The region has 43 adults who have had suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the hospital, four on a ventilator and nine adult intensive care unit patients who have been confirmed or suspected to have had COVID-19.

Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital has one COVID-19 patient, according to the most recent data available from MDHHS.

Manistee County has 62.8 % of its population completely vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the state's data from May 11, the most recent available data. This is 14, 765 out of 23,506 eligible residents, according to 2019 U.S. Census estimates for people 5 years old and older.

The county has 65.1% of the population considered fully vaccinated with at least one booster shot for those who are eligible. This is 8,989 out of 13,816 eligible residents who are eligible for a booster shot.

So far, 364 residents in Manistee County aged 5-11 years old have initiated their COVID-19 vaccine or 24.1 %; this age group has a total population of 1,509. In the 12-15 group, 459 children have initiated the vaccine with 427 completed, or 43% who have had an initiation dose and 40 % who have completed their vaccinations. There are 1,067 children in this age group.

In Benzie County, about 67.1% of the residents are fully vaccinated.

Parents and guardians can schedule an appointment to vaccinate their children age 5 and over from COVID-19 through DHD#10 at dhd10.org/schedule .

DHD#10 is offering off-site vaccine clinics. Participants do not need an appointment. All clinics will have Pfizer for people 5 and older and most will have Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for those 18 and older.

The health department is also scheduling third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for anyone age 12 or older; you can schedule an appointment at dhd10.org/schedule .

The U.S. has the highest counts globally. India has the second-highest number of cases and Brazil has the second-highest number of deaths.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been about 81.94 million cases in the United States and 995,747 deaths.

The World Health Organization lists over 516.4 million confirmed cases and about 6.2 million deaths in the world. There have been about 11.5 billion vaccine doses administered worldwide.