Allegan County now has endured a total of 243 deaths related to the Covid-19 virus since the pandemic began in March 2020.

This figure represents 20 more than what was reported in mid-November.

The rate of positivity in testing now is 23.5 percent, well above the 3% health officials city as manageable. The daily average of new Covid cases over seven days now is 21.8, a much better statistic than the 143,7 indicated on Nov. 19.

Total hospitalizations since March 2020 are pegged at 391 and there have been 19,115 cases reported since the pandemic began. A total of 14,797 people have been identified officially as recovered.

The Hopkins, Otsego, Plainwell and Hamilton school districts shut down their classrooms just before the Thanksgiving holiday break in an effort to to mitigate the spread of the deadly disease. Plainwell since the break has issued mask mandates for all students indoors.

In Allegan County, an estimated 79.1% of COVID-19 hospitalizations are among unvaccinated individuals.

To prevent transmission, health officials recommended the following:

Vaccinate. If you are unvaccinated, speak with your trusted healthcare provider about the benefits of vaccination. The vaccine is free, safe, and effective, and is available from providers throughout the County. Vaccines are now available for anyone 5 years and older. Boosters are available to anyone 18 who received J&J, they are eligible at least two months after their last dose.

Wear your mask. On Nov. 19, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a Public Health Advisory on the use of face masks. With current COVID-19 transmission levels so high, ACHD is urging all people to wear a mask indoors, at work, school and anywhere in public when gathered around other people, even if they are vaccinated. Masks provide an additional layer of protection from spreading and contracting the viruses that cause COVID-19 and influenza. This is especially important for those who may be infected without symptoms (asymptomatic), or infected but not yet having symptoms (presymptomatic), and who may be unaware of their infectiousness to others.

Stay home if you are sick. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, even minor symptoms, or if you think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, stay home.

Get tested. With the holidays coming up, ACHD recommends getting tested before any planned gatherings to help prevent further transmission. There are testing sites throughout Allegan County this week and next.

Fill out a self-reported form if you test positive for COVID-19. Since public health does not have capacity to complete all case investigations for COVID-19, ACHD prioritizes school age COVID-19 cases and other vulnerable cases for investigations. To help with the timely reporting of cases, ACHD asks community members that test positive to complete the self-reporting information found on the ACHD COVID-19 website.

Notify your close contacts if you test positive for COVID-19. If you are a close contact, follow the recommended quarantine guidance. ACHD allows a shortened quarantine period after day 10 without testing OR after day 7 after receiving a negative test result (test must occur on day 7).