BENTON TOWNSHIP — Berrien County well being officers stated Friday there was some excellent news within the COVID-19 knowledge this week.
“We have been on a trajectory for this to be a very ugly week, and it has slowed down. I’m grateful for that, however we’re nonetheless standing on the sting of the cliff wanting down,” Nicki Britten, well being officer for the Berrien County Well being Division (BCHD), stated in a Fb Dwell occasion.
She stated there may be nonetheless potential for the third wave to maintain going if transmission continues, however it’s nonetheless too quickly to inform with a lower in COVID testing across the state.
“In mild of much less testing, we’re seeing fewer instances. We all know that testing wasn’t driving the rise, so it’s actually exhausting to say what’s occurring,” Britten stated.
Berrien County recorded 742 new COVID-19 instances this week. That’s in comparison with 800 final week, 1,124 the week earlier than and 1,066 the week earlier than that.
The county additionally recorded 648 new recoveries this week. That’s an enormous leap from the 389 recorded final week, and the 295 recorded the week earlier than that. It is a signal that it’s been about 30 days since an enormous spike in instances, as recoveries are outlined as those that are alive 30 days after a COVID prognosis.
Berrien County’s demise pattern did rise this week, with 11 extra deaths being reported. Final week seven deaths have been reported and the week earlier than, 9. That is when a rise in deaths have been anticipated, as deaths lag behind prognosis and hospitalization.
Energetic instances within the county are at about 3,952. That’s in comparison with 3,869 final Friday.
Common COVID hospitalizations at Spectrum Well being Lakeland rose solely barely this week to 65, from 63 final week. There have been 69 sufferers admitted Friday morning. That’s the identical as final Friday.
Dr. Loren Hamel, president of Spectrum Well being Lakeland, stated Friday he’s inspired by this regular pattern and that the hospital has modified its projection for a surge, from as much as 120 sufferers, all the way down to about 90 sufferers.
“I feel that reveals individuals are making an attempt to do their greatest to watch out and that’s paying off,” he stated. “It’s serving to to stop an insupportable surge. However we’re full and hanging on.”
In complete, since March, Berrien County has recorded 7,633 confirmed COVID-19 instances, 3,554 recoveries, 127 deaths and 570 presumed instances. That’s an addition of 29 presumed instances since final Friday.
Vaccine replace
Hamel reported that Spectrum Well being is now poised to obtain about 4,500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine within the first cargo anticipated someday subsequent week.
He stated estimates had been as excessive as about 30,000 and as little as 995.
“A minimum of that’s a great begin on immunizing a few of our most susceptible,” Hamel stated. “Clearly with that comes sending sufficient vaccine three weeks later to present these of us their second dose.”
The BCHD and Lakeland are working carefully on coordinating their efforts.
The county continues to be anticipating to vaccinate well being care employees and residents of long-term care amenities first. This primary part of vaccinations would possibly take by way of February, Britten stated.
Van Buren/Cass
Van Buren County’s COVID-19 case numbers started to drop this week as nicely, although it had one other massive week for deaths.
The county recorded 9 COVID-19 deaths this week, bringing the county’s demise toll to 57. The earlier week the county had recorded eight deaths, and the week earlier than that 10.
Van Buren County recorded 360 new COVID-19 instances this week, in comparison with 423 final week and 444 the week earlier than that. In complete, the county has recorded 3,359 instances.
Cass County recorded 5 deaths this week. The final two weeks it had solely recorded one every week. The county’s demise toll is now at 35.
Cass County recorded 268 COVID-19 instances this week, conserving with its pattern for the final two weeks. Final week it recorded 252 new instances and the week earlier than that 262. In complete, Cass County has recorded 2,484 instances.
The Van Buren Cass District Well being Division has discontinued offering the variety of COVID-19 recoveries it has within the two counties.
For extra info, the well being division’s weekly COVID video replace with its medical director is offered on its web site, vbcassdhd.org/covid-19.