HOUGHTON COUNTY – The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department (WUPHD) is investigating two unrelated new positive COVID-19 cases in Houghton County. The first person recently traveled from another state to visit family. Local testing reports will list this case as a non-Michigan positive while they recover in the area. The second person recently returned home after wintering in another state. WUPHD is currently conducting case investigations and will inform any close contacts about exposure risk.

“The ability of people to travel more and to gather in groups of 10 or less as we re-open brings increased risk of exposure,” said Kate Beer, Health Officer at WUPHD “We must continue to take safe steps to reduce the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19.”

The following are tips for a safer gathering:

1. Keep it small. A gathering should be under 10 people.

2. Meet outside.

3. Stay at least six feet apart.

4. Wash or sanitize hands often.

5. Wear masks if possible.

6. Do not share food, drinks, or other items. Have everyone bring their own snacks or serve food with single-use serving utensils.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

• Fever

• Chills

• Repeated shaking with chills

• Muscle pain

• Headache

• Sore throat

• New loss of taste or smell

People should seek immediate medical attention if they have trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, or bluish lips or face.

There is a State informational hotline available from 8 AM EST to 5 PM EST seven days per week. That number is 1-888-535-6136. Additional information on COVID-19 can be found on the WUPHD website, the MDHHS website, or the CDC website.

COVID-19 testing numbers for the five-county jurisdiction, as of May 26, 2020:

Baraga: 198 referred for testing, four tests canceled, one positive, no non-Michigan cases, 181 negatives, 12 tests pending, no recoveries, no deaths.

Gogebic: 291 referred for testing, four tests canceled, five positives, one non-Michigan case, 232 negatives, 49 tests pending, three recoveries, one death.

Houghton: 787 referred for testing, 15 tests canceled, three positives, one non-Michigan case, 685 negatives, 83 tests pending, two recoveries, no deaths.

Keweenaw: 72 referred for testing, three tests canceled, no positives, no non-Michigan cases, 62 negatives, seven tests pending, no recoveries, no deaths.

Ontonagon: 101 referred for testing, 2 tests canceled, no positives, no non-Michigan cases, 78 negatives, 21 tests pending, no recoveries, no deaths.

Total: 1449 referred for testing, 28 tests canceled, nine positives, two non-Michigan cases, 1238 negatives, 172 tests pending, five recoveries, one death.

Canceled tests are those that a provider chose not to submit after a different illness was confirmed, or a clinical decision not to test or a patient declined the test after a referral was already assigned.

Recovered are lab confirmed cases that are alive 30 days post-onset. Deaths are also included in the number of positive tests, they are not additional positives.