COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency reported the first local COVID-19 death Saturday night.
They say the individual who past away was an elderly Hillsdale County man with underlying health conditions.
The age of the man as well as his name were not released. The C.H.A. says he was hospitalized at Hillsdale Hospital.
Health Officer Rebecca Burns said the agency wishes to express their heartfelt sympathies and prayers to the man’s family. She adds the first local death “reminds us to all do what we can to stay home, stay healthy and protect ourselves and those around us so we can stop the spread of this virus.”
The latest figures from the C.H.A. released Saturday night shows there have been eight positive cases of COVID-19 in Hillsdale County and seven cases at the Lakeland Correctional Facility. There are no reported cases in Branch County outside of the prison and there are still no confirmed COVID-19 cases in St. Joseph County.
Meanwhile, the Calhoun County Health Department reported on Saturday there have been 11 positive results in their county of COVID-19 out of 149 tests conducted. There have been 57 negative tests and 81 test results are pending.
The State of Michigan reported 993 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday bringing the total number of cases reported since March 10th to 4,650. In addition, 19 new deaths were reported on Saturday in Michigan bringing the total number of deaths to 111.