Low COVID-19 levels continue in western U.P.

By ZACHARY MARANO

zmarano@yourdailyglobe.com

HOUGHTON — Low COVID-19 community levels continued in Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties, according to an update from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department on Thursday.

In all, just 44 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the five counties in the seven days since March 23, including four in Baraga County, five in Gogebic, 28 in Houghton, four in Keweenaw and three in Ontonagon. There were, however, two deaths – one in Gogebic and one in Houghton.

The county with the highest COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 population is still Keweenaw, where it increased from 136.5 last week to 182 on Thursday. If the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the past seven day reaches 200 or more, Keweenaw will be back in the yellow with a medium COVID-19 community level by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention measurements.

If the case rate is 200 or more and the total of new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population are greater than 10 or the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients are greater than 10%, the scales will be tipped into the red for Keweenaw.

The other counties are relatively safe in the green, with 46 cases per 100,000 population in Baraga County, 31.6 in Gogebic, 76.4 in Houghton and 47.6 in Ontonagon, for a total of 63.2 cases per 100,000 population in the western U.P.

However, the CDC says that people should protect themselves and others by staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and getting tested if they have symptoms, even when their community level is low.

The Iron County Public Health Department reported five new confirmed cases in Iron County, Wisconsin, since their last update on March 9 on Thursday. According to the COVID-19 by county tracker on cdc.gov, Iron County is also at a low community level.