Western UP sees 'steady' COVID-19 rates

By ZACHARY MARANO

zmarano@yourdailyglobe.com

HOUGHTON — An update from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department on Thursday shows that Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties remain at high risk of COVID-19 transmission.

“Case rates are down in Gogebic, Houghton and Ontonagon counties, while Baraga and Keweenaw counties saw dramatic jumps. Overall the region’s case rate remained steady,” the update says.

Since the health department’s last update on Sept. 15, the case rate per 100,000 population increased from 264.7 to 368.2 in Baraga County and from 227.5 to 455 in Keweenaw — an 100% increase in the case rate.

The case rates went down from 183.3 to 139 in Gogebic, from 174.6 to 163.7 in Houghton and from 222.3 to 174.7 in Ontonagon. Overall, the case rate in the five counties remains 193.8. A case rate of 193.8 per 100,000 population was also reported in last week’s update.

Although some of the rates went down, all five counties are still above what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers a high risk of transmission.

There were 32 new COVID-19 cases in Baraga County, 22 new cases in Gogebic, 60 new cases in Houghton, 10 new cases in Keweenaw and 11 new cases in Ontonagon. There was one new death in Baraga and two new deaths in Houghton.

The overall percent of all ages with the initial vaccine increased from 55.1% to 55.4%. Twenty-eight percent of ages 12 to 19, 40.6% of ages 20 to 39, 61.1% of ages 40-64 and 77.1% of ages 65 and above have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Information on how to get the vaccine be found at coppercountystrong.com/vaccine.

According to Frontline UPdate’s daily UP COVID-19 Snapshot on Thursday, 42 adult patients were hospitalized for COVID-19 with 14 occupying ICU beds and two on ventilators. This shows 13 more hospitalizations than last Thursday with three more ICU beds filled.

An Iron County COVID-19 update on Wednesday says there were 22 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and three new probable cases since Sept. 15 for a total 798 cases.

The total population who received one dose of the vaccine increased from 57.6% to 58.1% and the total population who completed the series increased from 55.6% to 56.5%.