Nursing home cases low during recent surge

The surge of cases of COVID-19 that pushed the Mt. Pleasant area to the top of the New York Times list of fastest-growing outbreaks for nearly a week has so far spared the highest at-risk group.

It’s also the group that has the highest vaccination rate.

So far, just 11 cases of COVID-19 in the last month have involved residents of nursing homes in Isabella, Gratiot and Clare counties, according to state records. None of those cases have been in Isabella County, the hardest-hit county of the three.

Seven of the cases have involved residents of two Gratiot nursing homes, three at the Michigan Masonic Home and four at the Masonic Health Care Center. The other four were at Horizon Senior Living II in Clare County.

The last reported cases involving Isabella County nursing homes were reported in February.

All three counties, but especially Isabella County, have seen rapid increases in cases due to community spread of COVID-19. Heavy community spread is considered the biggest risk markers for nursing home outbreaks, according to industry groups.

An explanation? Vaccination rates are highest among the oldest age cohorts.

Across the state, 70 percent of people 75 and older have been vaccinated. In Isabella County, it’s 74 percent. In Gratiot County, it’s 74.7 percent. In Clare County, it’s 66.7 percent.

Higher rates of vaccinations are associated with lower rates of cases, serious illnesses and deaths.

One new death was reported from COVID-19 was reported in mid-michigan on Tuesday. It was in Isabella County, where 79 people have died from the disease. No information about the person was immediately available.

The county had been listed as the fastest-growing COVID-19 outbreak, according to the New York Times, for almost a week, before falling to number seven on Tuesday. It also dropped a spot on the worst overall outbreak to number seven.

An additional 49 cases were reported in Isabella County on Tuesday, bringing its cumulative total to 4,464.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also reported an additional 25 confirmed cases in Gratiot County and 13 in Clare County. They bring Gratiot’s cumulative total to 2,753, with 102 deaths; and Clare’s cumulative total to 1,680, with 69 deaths. Elsewhere in mid-michigan, one new death was reported, with new and cumulative cases and deaths as follows from over the weekend:

• In Gladwin County, an additional 14 new confirmed cases were reported for a cumulative total of 1,606, with 40 deaths;

• In Mecosta County, an additional nine cases were reported for a cumulative total of 2,478, with 25 deaths;

• In Midland County, one death was reported for a total of 70, with an additional 50 new cases for a cumulative total of 5,635; and,

• In Montcalm County, an additional 52 cases were reported for a cumulative total of 4,232, with 91 deaths.

Statewide, 74 new deaths were reported for a total of 16,586 and another 8,867 cases were reported for a cumulative total of 756,564. Of those deaths, 37 were discovered during a review of death certificates.