WUPHD reports first Keweenaw County COVID death

By RICHARD JENKINS

rjenkins@yourdailyglobe.com

HANCOCK — The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department reported Keweenaw County had its first COVID-19 death last week, meaning every county in the region has now lost someone related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The resident was a patient at a local hospital at the time of their death, the health department said Thursday in the announcement.

The death comes less than a week after Ontonagon County had its first death since the pandemic began in late March.

“Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers go out to the family and friends who have lost their loved ones,” WUPHD health officer Kate Beer said in Thursday’s announcement of the death. “COVID-19 continues to pose a serious threat to our friends and families. We are seeing increased cases throughout our district and we must come together as a community to mitigate the spread of this virus.”

As of Saturday, the region of Gogebic, Ontonagon, Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties that the health department serves has seen a total of 2,070 cases and 31 deaths related to the pandemic, according to data on Michigan’s coronavirus website.

This includes 393 positive cases, another 150 probable cases and 16 deaths in Gogebic County; 178 positive cases, 20 probables and one death in Ontonagon County; 162 cases, 28 probables and four deaths in Baraga County; 925 positives, 188 probables and nine deaths in Houghton County; and 25 positives, one probable and one death in Keweenaw County.

Michigan has had a total of 207,794 confirmed cases and 7,578 deaths through Saturday.

In Wisconsin, Bayfield County also announced its third COVID-related death Thursday, which health officials there said followed a record high of new cases in the county with 61 cases since Monday and a handful of local outbreaks. Bayfield County has had 366 individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to health officials, with 28% of people tested last week being positive.

Wisconsin’s COVID-19 website showed Iron County has had 259 confirmed cases, 49 probable cases and six deaths through Sunday.

The state data shows Ashland County has had 394 confirmed cases, 11 probables and five deaths; Price County has had 486 confirmed cases, 22 probables and three deaths; and Vilas County has had 819 confirmed cases, 22 probables and eight deaths.

There have been a total of 267,410 confirmed cases, 14,500 probables and 2,392 deaths across Wisconsin over the course of the pandemic.

Health officials in both states continue to urge people to take steps to stop the spread of the virus, including wearing masks, staying home as much as possible, practicing social distancing and frequently washing hands.