ESCANABA — Delta County still had no confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Friday afternoon, the county announced in a press release that day. However, Delta County’s government does not intend to underestimate the threats posed by COVID-19.

According to Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo, Public Health, Delta and Menominee Counties has reported that 34 specimens from Delta County had been sent to laboratories for coronavirus testing as of Friday. Of these specimens, 18 had tested negative and results for the other 16 were pending.

As commercial and private labs are now capable of testing for coronavirus, more Delta County

­residents may have pending tests than the county is aware of. Any providers using a private lab for coronavirus tests were encouraged to submit information to Public Health.

Test results continue to be processed, as well, so Delta County’s numbers could change at any time.

In the county’s last press release on coronavirus, which was issued on Tuesday, March 24, it was stated that 24 specimens from the area had been submitted for coronavirus testing.

“I can’t say for certain what that would be attributed to,” DeSalvo said of the increase.

DeSalvo said Delta County has been “lucky” to not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, but that this does not necessarily mean the disease has no presence in the area.

“I don’t want to give … a false sense of security that it’s not here in the community,” she said.

Because of this, the county government and Public Health are continuing to take the coronavirus pandemic very seriously.

Friday’s press release reminded local residents and businesses to comply with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive orders. Under the executive orders, people in Michigan are directed to remain home to the extent possible.

Though she understood how people could be frustrated by the restrictions included in the orders, DeSalvo said it is important to follow them.

“It is for the greater good — for the health of our community,” she said.

Delta County plans to issue press releases with up-to-date information on the coronavirus pandemic every Tuesday and Friday afternoon. For more information on coronavirus in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/coronavirus.