The Allegan County Health Department will vaccinate Hopkins Public School faculty and staff Friday, Feb. 5, so K-12 students will have a full day of on-line instruction.
The development is just one of many positive signs the Coronavirus crisis is declining in Michigan. The state Monday announced that more than a million vaccinations now have been executed, the state-wide rate of infection in cases reported is below 5 percent and Hopkins and Wayland schools are taking steps to return to five days per week in-person classroom instruction.
Allegan County Health Department officials, however, reported Friday the milestone of 100 deaths from the virus was reached and Monday the number was 102. As of last September the county had reported just six Coronavirus deaths, the figure steadily rose to 50 just before the Christmas holiday and then continued to rise until the last week of January.
The number of cases reported in the county as of Monday was just shy of 7,000, with 172 hospitalizations. A little more than 5,900 have been reported to have recovered.
Michigan has done better than most of the nation in Covid stats over the past several weeks, and the Allegan County Health Department has begun to relax some of its restrictions. Restaurants opened at 25 percent capacity Monday and some high school, sports, such as bowling and swimming are in full swing.
The seven-day average of new cases has been on a steady decline, Monday resting at 18.3, down from more than 20 last week.
The Health Department said last week it had enough vaccine supply to host three vaccine clinics for those 65 years of age and older, health care workers, first responders, police officers, jail and prison staff, pre-K through 12 teachers and workers in child care centers and protective services.
Those who live or work in Allegan County and are interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine should sign up through the “I Want the COVID-19 Vaccine” form on www.allegancounty.org/covid. Once they are signed up, they will receive an e-mail from ACHD about when they can schedule an appointment.
An ACHD spokesperson said, “Due to the overwhelming response and limited vaccine availability, eligible individuals may not receive an email for three to four weeks. If individuals need confirmation that they are on the registry, please e-mail covidvaccine@allegancounty.org.
