Total cases pass 200 mark in virus update

Two more infections added; Gratiot, Clare see three combined

The number of confirmed cases in Isabella County crossed the 200 mark between Monday and Tuesday, according to data from the health department.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there have been a total of 201 cases of COVID-19 in

Isabella County, according to the Central Michigan District Health Department’s website. That is a cumulative number, and 122 of those people meet the basic criteria for having recovered. Nine people have died from the disease and 14 have required hospitalization at some point.

That criteria is a person who is 30 days past the onset of symptoms and who is neither dead nor hospitalized. It is an imperfect number, with growing evidence that a significant number of people who contract the disease have symptoms such as deep fatigue after 30 days.

The number of confirmed cases in Isabella County have increased by 15 since last Wednesday, the day CMDHD published its latest data and statistics sheet, which includes hospitalization and geographic data, plus breaks cases down by age groups.

Cases continue to grow the most rapidly in the 2049 age group, with a total of 218 as of last Wednesday. That is 47 percent of all cases in CMDHD’S six member counties: Isabella, Clare,

Roscommon, Osceola, Arenac and Gladwin. Across those six counties, 4.5 percent of Covid-positive people in the 20-49 age group — 218 people — have required hospitalization at some point during their illness.

In general, only approximately 20 percent of everyone who tests positive for the disease is expected to require hospitalization, with results skewed heavily towards older age groups.

Clare County added two new cases Tuesday for a total of 81. Three people have

died there and nine people — more than 10 percent of the county’s total cases — have required hospitalization. The health department lists 33 as recovered.

Gratiot County had one additional case announced on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services daily update for a total of 149, with 15 deaths. Three more cases and one more death were announced in Montcalm County for a total of 185 cases and three deaths. Two more cases were announced in Mecosta County for a total of 69 cases and two deaths. One more case was announced in Midland County for 279 cases and 10 deaths.

The Montcalm death was one of 15 deaths announced Tuesday. Of those 15 deaths, seven were people who’ve died from the disease within the last 30 days and who were identified through a review of death certificates. A total of 6,340 people have died from COVID-19 in Michigan. The state’s death rate remains 6.8 percent.

With 64 cases and two deaths, Gladwin County remained unchanged from Monday. Four people have been hospitalized there.

A total of 93,662 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Michigan, with another 477 announced Tuesday.

In general, only approximately 20 percent of everyone who tests positive for the disease is expected to require hospitalization.