Photo from Aspirus Health / Susan Schneider, MD, Aspirus System Senior System Physician Executive of Primary Care, discusses increased COVID rates during an interview for a Nov. 17 Aspirus Health press release.

HOUGHTON — Two Copper Country counties reached new peaks in average COVID numbers this week, as Michigan issued a statewide indoors mask recommendation Friday in an attempt to blunt the state’s fourth wave of cases.

On Friday, Houghton County reported 905.2 weekly cases per 100,000 people, a high for the pandemic and more than nine times the level needed to exceed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of a high risk threshold. Test positivity had dropped slightly to 21.8%, marking the 19th day in a row the rate has been above 20%. The CDC considers anything above 10% to be high risk.

Keweenaw County climbed as high as 1,560 weekly cases per 100,000 on Nov. 14, falling to 1,465.7 on Friday (31 weekly cases). Test positivity was at 35.2% Thursday, marking five days above 30%. The county last dropped below 10% on Sept. 30.

Numbers in Baraga County had trended down over the past week, though they remained at an elevated rate. As of Friday, the county was at 609.1 weekly cases per 100,000 (50 weekly cases), after having gone as high as 950 on Nov. 9. Test positivity was at 10.2%, though reported rates had been volatile, bouncing from 0.5% on Oct. 26 to 30.9% on Nov. 5.

Ontonagon County was at 419.6 weekly cases per 100,000 (24 weekly cases) as of Friday. Test positivity was at 9.4%.

In the five-county area, 53.8% of all eligible residents have received an initial dose of vaccine, the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department said Friday. Ontonagon County has the highest rate at 62.7%. Baraga County is lowest at 47.3%.

Across the Upper Peninsula, 70 patients have been hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID cases, including 22 in intensive care units.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a face mask public health advisory, citing the rising number of flu and COVID-19 cases in the state. People are advised to wear a face mask inside, regardless of vaccination status. Public establishments are requested to implement masking policies and encourage compliance. People who are immunocompromised or not fully vaccinated are encouraged to avoid large crowds and indoor gatherings.

Michigan now accounts for one in 10 cases of COVID nationally. The state recorded 666.6 weekly cases per 100,000 as of Friday, a new record for the pandemic.

The FDA and CDC on Friday announced all adults would be allowed to get third doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines six months after they had become fully vaccinated. Several states had already begun recommending the third doses prior to approval.

“Booster shots have demonstrated the ability to safely increase people’s protection against infection and severe outcomes and are an important public health tool to strengthen our defenses against the virus as we enter the winter holidays,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. “Based on the compelling evidence, all adults over 18 should now have equitable access to a COVID-19 booster dose.”