Berrien County COVID Cases Rising

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medical-safe-2-38

COVID-19 cases have been rising in Berrien County as Thanksgiving approaches. Berrien County Acting Health Officer Guy Miler tells WSJM News the last two weeks have seen some significant movement.

“Two or three weeks ago, we were at a rate of about 220 cases confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases over the past seven days,” Miller said. “Given our numbers today, we’re at about 400.”

Meanwhile, the percent positivity is 19.4%. As for hospitalizations at Spectrum Health Lakeland, those who fare the worst with COVID tend to have something in common.

“Last time I looked, they had between 48 and 50 people in the hospital with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and over 90% of them had been unvaccinated.”

Miller says many local school districts are going back to virtual learning for a while to get outbreaks in their buildings under control. He adds heading into the holidays, avoiding COVID has become about personal responsibility.

“We’re not out of the pandemic yet, but we’re heading that way, and as we have more and more resources available, ideally when we get through this next surge, we can start thinking about what it means to be endemic. But we have to get through this December and January.”

Miller says the 90% of COVID deaths in Berrien County have been in people older than 65. Those with other medical conditions that could make them vulnerable are advised to consider their best course of action for the holidays.