Allegan County: Virus spread at record levels
ALLEGAN — This week the Allegan County Health Department reported COVID-19 virus transmission in the county had reached its highest level since the beginning of the pandemic.
The county is reporting more than 800 new COVID-19 infections per 100,000 people per week and COVID-19 test positivity rates of 21.56 percent, as of last week. One hundred and eighty-seven of those cases were among kids ages 0-18, the health department said.
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The average number of new daily infections in Allegan County reached 142 on Nov. 19, the most recent day for which data was available, which was the highest daily case count since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Ottawa County is reporting an average of 298 new cases per day and 1.43 deaths from COVID-19 per day.
COVID-19 test positivity in Ottawa County was 23.9 percent last week, and 2,217 new COVID-19 infections were reported in one week, up 14 percent from last week. New cases among kids aged 0-18 increased 17 percent to 567 cases last week.
Although virus transmission is approaching the levels seen in November and December of 2020, death figures remain much lower than the November 2020 surge. In November 2020, 96 people in Ottawa County died of COVID-19, compared to 44 deaths from the virus in November so far this year.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a public health advisory Nov. 19 recommending all Michiganders wear masks indoors, whether they have received the COVID-19 vaccine or not, due to the high levels of virus spread in the state.
Holland Hospital penned a letter to the community last week expressing the strain on hospital staff due to COVID-19 and other serious illnesses, combined with staffing shortages, fatigue and incivility from community members. The letter urged people to consider getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and to take preventative steps for other health issues.
“We need community members to work together to bring the level of community transmission down before the educational institutions and businesses are impacted further,” Allegan County Medical Director Richard Tooker stated in a press release this week about the county's levels of COVID-19 spread.
“Without quick and intentional action from the community, people can expect a decrease in the capacity for local hospitals to provide COVID-19 interventions, other emergency services and routine care for other health concerns. We may see more schools and businesses close due to widespread illness and staff shortages.”
The health department urged people to talk to their doctors about vaccination if they have not received a COVID-19 vaccine yet, wear a mask indoors when gathered with other people, stay home if feeling sick, get tested before planned gatherings and, if you contract COVID-19, let the health department know and contact people who you may have exposed to the virus.
Since the Allegan County Health Department lacks the capacity to conduct case investigations and contact tracing for all COVID-19 cases, the department asked Allegan County residents to report information about their COVID-19 cases and possible close contacts to the health department through a self-reporting form, available on the department's website.
Case investigators are prioritizing COVID-19 cases at schools and among vulnerable populations, the department said.
The health department holds regular drive-thru COVID-19 testing from 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the Allegan County Transportation Building, 750 Airway Drive, Allegan.
COVID-19 testing will also be offered 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29 at Allegan High School, 1560 M-40, Allegan.
The COVID-19 vaccine is available for ages 5 and older at most pharmacies by appointment.
Upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Allegan County:
Nov. 29: 3 to 6 p.m. at Allegan High School, 1560 M-40, Allegan.
Nov. 30: 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Saugatuck High School, 401 Elizabeth St., Saugatuck.
Dec. 4: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wayland High School, 870 E. Superior St., Wayland.
Dec. 12: 3 to 6 p.m. at Hamilton High School, 4911 136th Ave., Hamilton.
Dec. 14: 3 to 5 p.m. at Casco United Methodist Church, 880 66th St., South Haven.
Dec. 28: 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Saugatuck High School, 401 Elizabeth St., Saugatuck.
— Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Allegan County: Virus spread at record levels
