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covid
By Jerry DeRoche
CRYSTAL FALLS — The Iron County Medical Care Facility reported that as of noon on Oct. 2, there were 28 residents and 23 employees who are currently in isolation or off work with positive COVID-19 tests.
The facility stated in its weekly report that it has had 56 residents and 39 employees (one most likely false positive) with confirmed positive tests results since the beginning of the pandemic last spring. That number stood at 40 on Sept. 28.
Additionally, there have been 13 respiratory outbreaks (defined as three or more residents and employees having respiratory symptoms within 72 hours) since April 28, the last one coming on Sept. 30.
Meanwhile, the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department reported that Iron County now has 231 total COVID-19 cases (225 confirmed, six probable). The Health Department also reported another death due to COVID-19, raising the total of Iron County deaths associated with the virus to six.
Since Sept. 1, the number of confirmed or probable cases in Iron County has risen by nearly 200. With the startling increase in cases across the U.P., Gov. Gretchen Whitmer moved the region back to Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan on Oct. 2. (see separate story).