7th-grader quarantined as probable COVID case
A seventh-grader at Mt. Pleasantmiddle School is that district’s first case of COVID-19.
The student does not have a confirmed case of the disease, but is considered by the Centralmichigan District Health Department to be a probably positive case. A probably positive case is someone who has had close contact with someone with a confirmed case of the disease and who has developed symptoms.
This particular student developed symptoms Thursday and did not return to school Friday, said Mt. Pleasant Superintendent Jen Verleger.
Isabella County has cumulatively had 88 probable cases since March, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 website. Isabella County’s number of cases confirmed through testing increased to 665 over the weekend, up from648 Friday. Fourteen people have died.
Seven teachers, including two student teachers, and 15 students who were in close contact with the student are now under quarantine until Oct, Verleger said. 15. As a result, some students at
the middle school are doing virtual learning but are not under quarantine.
It is the only public school case currently in Isabella County, according to the MDHHS website. The only other school-related cases in Isabella County on that website are at Central Michigan University, where the state is reporting 323 cases involving undergraduate students and five involving graduate students. That is up three undergraduate students from last week’s 320.
CMU’S COVID-19 dashboard on Monday reported that the number of cases associated with the university, however, increased by seven last week. During CMU’S return-to- campus outbreak, the university typically reported fewer cases than did CMDHD and the state because its reporting criteria were very narrowly focused on cases specifically tied to the university community. CMDHD also reported secondary cases in the community that originated from a member of the university community.
This is the first week that the university’s reported number is higher than the state. The MDHHS website is reporting affected students; while CMU’S reporting involves students, staff and faculty members. CMU doesn’t break their reporting down by individual category.
The only other schoolrelated outbreaks in midMichigan are both in Gratiot County, where confirmed cases increased by nine over the weekend, from 259 to 268. Fifteen people there have died.
No new cases were reported Monday at Luce Road Early Childhood Learning Center, which last week increased from 23 to 31 cases. The week before that, the number jumped from six to 23. A common profile of a COVID-19 outbreak brought
under control is that cases will continue to increase at a slower rate, which is what the numbers at Luce Road show.
The other cases are at Alma College, with no links established between the two. Alma College’s COVID-19 dashboard last week reported 21 cumulative cases, and 22 on Monday. The MDHHS website reported 18. Alma College updates its dashboard on Mondays with information thatmay come in until the update.
Montcalmcounty’s outbreak at Carson City- Crystal increased from six last Monday to 18 this week, according to the MDHHS website. That outbreak is believed connected to the death of a district paraprofessional, according to reporting by the Greenville Daily News.
Another four cases were reported at the Montcalm Area ISD.
Seventeen more cases were reported in Montcalm County over the weekend, increasing its total from 329 to 339, with seven deaths.
Cases at Ferris State University, in Mecosta County, increased by 12 from 85 to 97. The number of confirmed cases increased by 12, from 222 to 234. Three people have died there.
In Midland County, Northwood University’s cases increased by just three, from 71 to 74. The cumulative number of confirmed cases increased by 14, from 541 to 555. Eleven have died.
Clare County, which has no school-related cases, reported six additional cases over the weekend, increasing from 105 to 111, with four deaths. Confirmed cases increased in Gladwin County by four, from 97 to 104. Two have died.
Statewide, another 1,407 cases were announced Monday, the product of reporting two days’ worth in one day. Michigan has had 128,923 cumulative cases of COVID-19. Another 15 deaths were reported for a total of 6,816.