COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – What has been feared ever since the first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed three weeks ago became a reality Tuesday as the State of Michigan reported the first two coronavirus cases in Branch County outside of the Lakeland Correctional Facility.
Due to the HIPPA law which guards patient privacy, no information on the two Branch County cases is being released by local and state health officials.
Officials for the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency said in their daily press release on Tuesday that they remain “committed to thorough investigation and communication with all individuals affected by COVID-19.” They also said the staff at the C.H.A. “adhere to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for testing and follow best practices for contract tracing and strictly adhere to patient privacy as required by HIPPA.”
Local cases continue to increase as there are now 14 cases in Hillsdale County with one death reported and four cases in Saint Joseph County.
Confirmed Calhoun County cases remained at 17 on Tuesday.
Statewide, the number of cases on Tuesday increased to 7,615 confirmed cases and 259 deaths.
