The Allegan County Health Department has reported another death due to Covid-19 within county borders, bringing the total to nine since the pandemic began last March.

The number of deaths had been remarkably stable at seven since last summer, but case numbers have been increasing at an alarming rate, particularly in the last couple of months.

The health department, in a press release issued this morning, noted, “a significant increase in positive cases across our county—mirroring the increase of positive cases across the state and region in recent weeks

“The increase in cases suggests that the mitigation strategies and diligence to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have not been consistently practiced within our community at large.

“If the rate of cases continues to trend upward, the Allegan County Health Department warns that schools may be forced to implement additional protocols and restrictions to prevent the current rate of spread. These safety measures could mean the cancellation of extracurricular activities, including band and athletics, further limiting access to events and, in a worst-case scenario, forcing a shift to fully remote learning across our districts.”

Another Covid milestone was reached Monday when a total of 2,016 cases was reported. The department is monitoring 517 cases and there have been reports of 974 recoveries from the disease.