COLDWATER, MI. – (WTVB) – The number of COVID-19 positive cases in Branch County outside of the Lakeland Correctional Facility stood at six as reported by the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency as of 3:00 p.m. Friday afternoon.
In addition, there were 19 confirmed cases at the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, 10 cases in St. Joseph County and 26 cases in Hillsdale County with two deaths.
The first Calhoun County death of the pandemic was reported on Friday. The number of positive Calhoun County cases has gone up to 31.
From the data compiled on Friday by the M.D.H.H.S., there have been 12,744 cases with 479 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the State of Michigan.
Some have been wondering about the wearing of masks. Medical Director Lauren Vogel says “the data from infectious disease experts, and it is well referenced, does not recommend requiring the general public who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 like illness to routinely wear cloth or surgical masks because there is no scientific evidence that they are effective in reducing the risk of virus transmission. Also, we need to preserve the supply of surgical masks for at-risk healthcare workers”. Dr. Vogel adds, “it remains that social distancing and good hygiene are the best means of reducing COVID-19 spread.”
Individuals with supplies of masks or other personal protection equipment are encouraged to donate those items to the county Emergency Management office so that they can be distributed to healthcare workers who are working to help people sickened by this disease.
