CALHOUN COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Three more Calhoun County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to Five.
The county’s website reported that as of Tuesday, three more individuals have confirmed cases of novel coronavirus.
Calhoun County Health Department deputy health officer Brigette Reichenbaugh says that two of the three new patients are at home and self-isolating for 14 days. She also said that the new cases posed a minimal risk of spreading.
According to current findings, Reichenbaugh says she does not believe the currently confirmed cases are related. “They are still doing the contact investigation, but I do not believe that there was any contact between any of the four with each other,” said Reichenbaugh.
Overall 77 people have been approved for testing by county health officials, considered persons under investigation.
31 county residents have tested negative for the illness, while 41 more test samples are still pending official results.
The first coronavirus case in Calhoun County was announced around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 21st and was identified by testing done through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The next day on Sunday, the county notified residents of a second reported case in the community.
The first positive case was an adult Calhoun County resident with travel history only inside of Southwest Michigan. County officials said in a release that they are currently self-isolated inside their home and were last reported in stable condition.
A second confirmed patient has been identified as a resident of Advantage Living Center in Battle Creek, and was treated for the respiratory illness at Kalamazoo’s Bronson Hospital.
County health officials say that both of those individuals are currently doing okay and are in stable condition.
“In the three cases, other than the one at Bronson, they are self-isolating for 14 days and they have followed all of our recommendations, CDC recommendations,” said Reichenbaugh. “They have been very cooperative in telling us all of the information we need for our case investigation.”
Public health employees are reaching out to people who have been in close contact with the patients and are asking that they self-monitor any potential symptoms.
For privacy reasons, Calhoun County does not name the personal identity, location, or age of individuals with confirmed cases.
The county reports most recently confirmed COVID-19 cases and testing numbers two times a day at 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The Calhoun County Health Department’s official COVID-19 webpage advises that residents take the following precautions to prevent the illness:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and then throw the tissue in the trash
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care
