COVID-19 rates increase in Western U.P.

By ZACHARY MARANO

zmarano@yourdailyglobe.com

HOUGHTON — The COVID-19 case rates in Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties have increased since last week, according to an update from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department on Thursday.

The five counties’ case rates have been more than 100 per 100,000 population since Aug. 26, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers a high risk of transmission. These high rates continued in Thursday’s update. There is a 333.7 case rate per 100,000 population in Baraga, a 164.3 case rate in Gogebic, a 212.8 case rate in Houghton, a 409.5 case rate in Keweenaw and a 142.9 case rate in Ontonagon.

From Sept. 22 to Wednesday, there were 29 new COVID-19 cases in Baraga County, 26 new cases in Gogebic, 78 new cases in Houghton, nine new cases in Keweenaw and nine new cases in Ontonagon for a total of 151 new cases. There were four new deaths in the five-county area, all of them in Houghton County.

Since the Western U.P. Health Department resumed its weekly updates on Aug. 26, there have been a total of 915 new COVID-19 cases and 16 deaths in the five counties.

The Western U.P. Health Department announced on Tuesday that it is has partnered with the Michigan Natural Guard to provide weekly, free community-wide COVID-19 antigen testing and vaccination sites in the health district, which started Wednesday.

A free clinic at Ontonagon Village Fire Hall on 315 River St. in Ontonagon will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. There will also be a clinic at the Memorial Building on 213 S. Marquette St. in Ironwood open on Tuesdays beginning Oct. 5, with hours to be determined.

The Moderna and J&J vaccines will be available at all clinics and the Pfizer vaccine will be available on a limited basis. Pre-registration is not required. Participants do not insurance, a prescription or a doctor’s order to be tested, but they are encouraged to wear masks and bring driver’s licenses or another photo ID.

According to the Iron County Public Heath COVID-19 update on Wednesday, there were 11 new confirmed cases and one probable case since Sept. 22 for a total of 810 cases. The number of new cases has decreased since the last update, when there were 22 new cases and three probable cases.