TRI-CITY AREA — On Monday, Lapeer County’s COVID-19 case count surpassed 300. In the past week, there have been 40 new confirmed cases and that pushes the total number to 319. As of Monday, there were 73 probable and 213 recovered cases. The county’s death count remains unchanged at 31.
On Thursday, Lapeer County Health Department Director Kathy Haskins said the 20 new cases reported that week included positive results within the local migrant worker population and it’s suspected that those cases originated from outside the county “although we cannot confirm that at this time.”
Haskins added that the other confirmed cases last week were among residents from across the county who ranged in age from their 20s to 70s.
“The 2019 Novel Coronavirus has only been with us about seven months. It is a new coronavirus. We are learning more about it, but it is still relatively ‘young.’ Reports are beginning to show long term effects experienced by those who have had the disease and ‘recovered,’” Haskins said.
She noted that other viruses are known to lay dormant and then reemerge years later to a debilitating state, giving the example of chickenpox returning as shingles.
“The virus is too new for us to know all the long-term effects that may be associated with it. This is one of the reasons we continue to urge you to practice social distancing and wear a mask as you go about your daily business for you and your fellow community members,” Haskins said.
In St. Clair County, there were 708 total coronavirus cases as of Monday, July 27. That represents an increase of 52 positive test results in the past week. Of that figure, 566 have recovered and there are 89 active cases.
