TRI-CITY AREA — Concerns over the latest jump in COVID-19 cases continue to rise among local health care officials.
Kathy Haskins, Lapeer County Health Department Director, said that community transmission is now considered to be “high,” the top category for measuring the virus’s spread.
As of Friday, August 6, Lapeer County had 135.8 cases per 100,000 population and 13.9 percent of tests were positive. High community transmission is anything above 100 cases per 100K population or more than 10 percent of positive tests.
Between August 7-13, Lapeer County confirmed 80 new cases, double that of the 40 reported the week prior. There was one additional death in the past week too, along with 13 probable cases. The virus death was the first Lapeer County’s reported since late June.
In St. Clair County, 122 cases were confirmed between August 7-13 as compared to 85 the week prior. There were no additional deaths.
Haskins and other health officials are encouraging Michigan residents to use multiple forms of protection against the virus—vaccination, masks, physical distancing, improving ventilation, staying home when sick and getting tested, handwashing, cleaning and disinfecting, contract tracing and quarantining for close contacts.
“Prevention strategies all provide some level of protection. Using more ‘layers’ provides the greatest protection,” Haskins said.
The Lapeer County Health Department will host another drive-through vaccination clinic on Monday, August 23 at the Imlay City High School from 3-7 p.m.
As of August 13, 44.6 percent of Lapeer County residents and 48.1 percent of St. Clair County residents were fully vaccinated.
