The Allegan County Health Department Friday reported one more death as a result of the Coronavirus, bringing the total to six over the last week and 124 since the pandemic began 13 months ago.

The death toll in the county stood at 118 for a long time before two were added a week ago.

The number of cases have been pegged at 9,530 since the Covid-19 pandemic began in March 2020. Deaths had totaled at fewer than 10 until last fall when a second surge of the virus was announced. The most recent surge has resulted in soaring number of cases, this time largely in younger people.

A total of 210 county residents have been reported to have been hospitalized with Covid, 12 within the last two weeks, but 7,676 have recovered from the disease. The seven-day daily average number of new cases has skyrocketed from 7.7 on Feb. 21 to 72.9 as of Friday, April 16. That figure was 73.1 on April 15.

Positivity rates in testing has been reported at 16.7 percent over the past two weeks, with 26,153 tests conducted in more than a year.

Michigan remains the No. 1 hot spot for Covid in the nation and health officials believe the highly contagious variant from the United Kingdom is playing a role in the surge.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Friday morning, April 9, asked, but did not order, schools to go to all-virtual learning and pause spring sports activities. Wayland, Hopkins and Martin all declined to follow the recommendations and continue in-person learning and athletics.

Wayland Union Schools have reported 23 new cases this week and Martin disclosed two new cases Thursday.