UNIVERSITY CENTER – As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to climb across the state of Michigan, Bay County has reported an additional positive test as of this morning.
In a press conference today, public health official Joel Strasz announced that the countywide total now stands at four.
The county’s coronavirus web page says that, out of 120 tests submitted as of Thursday, March 25, 57 are pending and 59 came back negative.
WXYZ-TV reported on March 25 that Michigan recently received an “A” grade for social distancing from data and analytics firm Unilast “due to an approximate 45 percent change in average distance traveled.”
However, even with social distancing measures put in place via Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s “stay at home” order, county executive Jim Barcia says the county expects the number of confirmed cases to continue to rise for the foreseeable future.
“This is not going to be over in a matter of days,” Barcia said at the press conference. “It is hard to tell at this point the level of severity or the length of its severity. […] So I ask that all Bay County residents come together to fight the virus.”
Barcia assured citizens that the county government is doing everything it can to mobilize staff and resources to fight the coronavirus, and ensure citizens’ health and safety.
Strasz added that anybody who disobeys the “stay at home” order and participates in public gatherings with other people and disobeys social distancing puts themselves and others at risk of getting COVID-19.
Up-to-date information on the coronavirus outbreak is available for Bay County residents at the county government’s COVID-19 webpage.
