Thirteen die from virus in 13-day stretch

Eleven were unvaccinated people

Thirteen residents of Isabella and Clare counties died from COVID-19 over a 13-day stretch from mid-to-late November, according to the Central Michigan District Health Department. Eleven of those people were not vaccinated.

Eight of those people were in Clare County, where a total of 117 residents have died from COVID-19 as of Friday, said Steve Hall, health officer for CMDHD. The other five were in Isabella County, where a total of 135 people have died from COVID-19.

Seven of the unvaccinated people who died lived in Clare County. They include a middleaged man who died Nov. 20 and two middleaged women, one who died Nov. 21 and one who died Nov. 22. Three elderly people — one woman and two men — died Nov. 24 and an elderly man

died Nov. 27.

Four unvaccinated people died in Isabella County. They included two middleaged women — one who died Nov. 15 and one who died Nov. 18. An elderly man died Nov. 14 and an elderly man died Nov. 26.

One vaccinated person died in each county during the same time period, a middle-aged Clare County man on Nov. 18 and an elderly Isabella County woman on Nov. 26.

Gratiot County has had a total of 135 COVID-19 deaths, according to the state. It is serviced by Midmichigan District Health Department. CMDHD serves six counties: Isabella, Clare, Roscommon, Gladwin, Arenac and Osceola.

The disparity in health outcomes is not limited to deaths, however. Mymichigan Heath System, previously known as Midmichigan Health, published a graphic on Thursday illustrating COVID-19 patients in its medical centers.

According to the graphic, 104 of the 133 people currently hospitalized within its network are unvaccinated with 29 vaccinated. Of the 32 people currently receiving intensive care for COVID-19 within its network, 29 are unvaccinated and three are vaccinated. Eleven people are currently on ventilators within the network, all but one unvaccinated.

As of Friday, a cumulative total of 8,893 cases were reported in Isabella County, 5,186 in Gratiot County and 3,986 in Clare County. A total of 176 Isabella County residents have received hospital treatment for COVID-19, a total of 161 Clare County residents have received hospital treatment for COVID-19, according to CMDHD data.