Second Iron County COVID-19 case confirmed

HURLEY — The second case of COVID-19, or novel coronavirus infection, in Iron County has been confirmed, the Iron County Health Department announced Wednesday night.

Department officials said the person was in isolation at home and declined to release any additional information in the announcement, citing the person’s privacy.

“Public health officials are working to determine how the individual may have become infected and are contacting others with whom the positive cases had close contact with,” a spokesperson said in the announcement.

The health department announced the first confirmed case, which was also the county’s first fatality connected to the pandemic, March 26 — the same day as the announcement of the first case and fatality in Gogebic County.

There are likely other unidentified cases in the community due to the lack of available testing in the area, according to health department officials, and many people who have the virus may not show symptoms.

“Public health officials are using the term social or physical distancing. Currently, it is the only effective means of decreasing the spread of the infection,” the spokesperson said. “Iron County Health Department continues to urge the public to limit their contacts overall. People need to be in contact with as few people as possible. … Any type of gathering can increase a risk of exposure.”

Along with staying home as much as possible, residents are also encouraged to practice other proper hygiene techniques such as washing hands, disinfecting surfaces and avoiding touching faces to help prevent the spread of the illness.

—Richard Jenkins