BRANCH COUNTY, MI (WTVB) – Branch County is one of seven counties in Michigan where the latest statistics show the percentage of positive new COVID-19 cases is in double digits.
Branch, Alpena, Charlevoix, Huron, Iosco, Kalkaska, and Montmorency Counties are considered to be at a “high” level of community coronavirus transmission according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Another 37 counties in Michigan are at the “substantial” transmission level including the neighboring counties of Hillsdale, St. Joseph and Calhoun.
The C.D.C. recommends masks be worn indoors by everyone in the counties which are at the high or substantial level no matter what their vaccination status is.
The recent surge of cases has been spurred by the highly contagious Delta variant.
After there were some hopeful numbers in recent days, the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency reported 33 new cases on Thursday which brought the county’s total for the week up to 55.
The new cases reported on Thursday were the largest amount in one day since April 19.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March of 2020, there have been 4,734 cases reported in Branch County with 97 deaths attributed to the virus.
St. Joseph County has had the highest death rate of the three counties the agency serves with 103. They also have the highest number of cases with 5,648. Hillsdale County has had 4,110 cases and 95 deaths.
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