COVID-19 cases may drop soon; experts advise caution to keep that streak

MICHIGAN — Only six people are currently hospitalized for COVID–19 at MyMichigan in Alpena.

That’s a good, hopeful number, but the hard part is keeping it that low. Even with the possibility of a COVID–19 downturn, many medical workers stress that keeping good habits is important. After all, hospitalization isn’t the only measure of a pandemic.

Brad Uren, an emergency physician with the University of Michigan, said community spread remains high. That means more chances for the virus to mutate again, or to make infect immuno-compromised people.

“Wear a mask if you’re around these people, and make sure that they’re wearing a mask when they’re around so you can protect them, because those people are still at high risk, even with a potentially milder form of infection, we still have concerns about severe covid in those individuals and we want to protect them.”

Vaccines remain free and widely available in Northeast Michigan, and multiple stores and government offices offer free masks.