LANSING — Michigan now has two two confirmed casts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Governor Whitmer said late Tuesday night in a press briefing. Oakland County Health Division, and Wayne County Health Department, announced that two Michigan residents tested presumptive positive for the virus. The governor has declared a state of emergency to maximize efforts and assist local governments and officials to slow the spread of the virus.

Presumptive positive cases are those individuals with at least one respiratory specimen that tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 at a state or local laboratory), and laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases (individuals with at least one respiratory specimen that tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 at a CDC laboratory).

One of the cases is an adult female from Oakland County with recent international travel, and the other is an adult male from Wayne County with recent domestic travel. Clinical specimens were collected and sent to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Bureau of Laboratories where both tested presumptive positive for COVID-19. Specimens will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmatory testing.

In the case of the Wayne County male, the patient is currently under isolation, stated Wayne County Executive Warren Evans. The county’s Public Health Division is working to identify individuals who may have come into close contact with the patient, in order to take the appropriate steps to monitor them closely, and they continue to collaborate with the state health department and recommend residents continue to practice preventative measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.

According to the Governor’s Office, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said Oakland County and its Health Division will investigate the circumstances surrounding the female’s case to learn if there are any potential close contacts involved.

“We must all as individuals and communities continue our prevention and preparedness strategies as we hope for a full recovery for this member of the community.”

“We are taking every step we can to mitigate the spread of the virus and keep Michiganders safe,” said Governor Whitmer. “I have declared a state of emergency to harness all of our resources across state government to slow the spread of the virus and protect families. It’s crucial that all Michiganders continue to take preventative measures to lower their risk, and to share this information with their friends, family, and co-workers.”

The State of Michigan and MDHHS will announce additional recommendations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 Wednesday afternoon, her office stated.