Local metrics beating state averages

Region continues to show lower spread rate trends than state, according to dashboard

Isabella, Gratiot and Isabella counties continue to show better metrics for COVID-19 spread that statewide averages.

The metrics include new confirmed and probable cases per 100,000 people based on rolling seven-day averages and rolling seven-day averages for rate of positive results on diagnostic tests.

Data for spread weighted for population comes from a countylevel dashboard hosted by the Brown University School of Public Health.

Isabella County’s latest average — based on the seven days preceding Tuesday — was the highest of the three counties at 8.6, Gratiot County’s was 8.4 and Clare County’s was 5.5. The statewide average was 15.7.

All three counties are in the second-lowest category for risk called Community Spread. The dashboard advises those counties implement rigorous test-and-trace programs. That category is for locales with new confirmed and probable cases per 100,000 people of between 1 and 9 and on an accompanying map are color coded yellow.

Locales with new confirmed and probable cases per 100,000 people of between 10 and 24 are in the second-highest category for risk called Accelerated Spread. The dashboard advises stay-at-home orders for those counties in addition to test-and-trace programs. On the dashboard’s map, those places are color coded orange.

All three counties also had lower rolling seven-day averages in positive diagnostic test rates, too.

The state average of positive tests over seven days going back from Wednesday was 4.65 percent. In Isabella County, it was 2.37 percent; Gratiot County’s was 1.9 percent; Clare County’s was 3.61 percent

A total of 15 new confirmed cases was reported Thursday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Nine of those were in Isabella County, bringing its cumulative total to 3,622, with 72 deaths; two of those were in Gratiot County, bringing its cumulative total to

2,476, with 100 deaths; and four were in Clare County, bringing its cumulative total to 1,416, with 68 deaths.

Elsewhere in mid-michigan, three new deaths were reported, with new and cumulative cases and deaths as follows:

• In Gladwin County, two new cases were reported for a cumulative total of 1,268, with 40 deaths;

• In Mecosta County, two deaths were reported for a total of 21 and an additional three cases were reported for a cumulative total of 1,954;

• In Midland County, an additional 23 cases were reported for a cumulative total of 4,558, with 62 deaths; and,

• In Montcalm County, two deaths were reported for a total of 88 and an additional four cases were reported for a cumulative total of 3,298.

Statewide, another 23 deaths were reported for a total of 15,729 and another 2,091 cases were reported for a cumulative total of 603,375. Of those 23 deaths, 16 were discovered during a search of vital records.