BRANCH COUNTY, MI (WTVB) – It was two years ago Thursday that our lives were turned upside down when the first two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the State of Michigan.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer made the late-night announcement just a few hours after the polls for the presidential primary were closed.
The first two COVID-19 cases in Branch County outside of the Lakeland Correctional Facility were reported three weeks later.
By that time, the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order was in effect as residents were told to stay home to avoid the risk of spreading the virus.
Schools, restaurants and non-essential businesses were closed and sporting events including the M.H.S.A.A. basketball tournaments were called off.
People were also told they had to start wearing a mask.
Statistics from the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency show that there have been 9,899 cases of COVID-19 reported in Branch County over the last two years with 172 deaths being blamed on the virus.
The agency has had over 31,000 cases in the three counties they serve with 565 deaths.
Statewide, over two million persons have tested positive for the virus with over 32,000 deaths.
Recent statistics from the State of Michigan have shown a sharp decrease in new COVID-19 cases as the omicron variant fades.
Branch County’s seven-day positive test rate between March 2 and 8 had dropped to four-point-two percent while 55 new cases were reported for that same time period.
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