COVID activity ends 2021 at multi-month low

The final COVID-19 update for last year from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department brought generally positive news for the area. In the five- county district, there were only 134 cases for the week between December 23rd and December 29th.

The results show a continuing downward trend from pandemic records seen in the fall. Overall cases fell by more than 50 percent throughout the month of December. Michigan recorded a record number of cases, by comparison, buoyed by omicron’s presence in the Detroit Metro Area and other large population centers.

The first omicron case in the United States has been traced back to November, but it is unclear if the variant was active before then. It has shown the ability to infect people who previously had COVID and those vaccinated. Omicron is considered milder but more transmissible. If the Upper Peninsula has yet to be exposed to it, another surge in cases is possible in the coming months.

The full table is available below.

There were two deaths recorded in Houghton County, along with one each in Ontonagon and Baraga Counties.