MANISTIQUE — The first positive case of COVD-19 in Schoolcraft County was announced by the LMAS District Health Department Wednesday afternoon.

On April 8, LMAS became aware of the confirmed positive case, which as identified through a private laboratory. The identified person is an adult, Schoolcraft County resident with no history of recent domestic travel. LMAS believes the risk to the public is very low at this time and will not be releasing further information about the infected individual.

The LMAS District Health Department will notify people who have been identified as close contacts of the individual. Those people deemed close contacts will be assessed for symptoms and monitored appropriately.

LMAS will not be releasing press releases for any future cases in Schoolcraft County, as the department is only issuing releases for the first infected individual in each of the four counties it serves — Luce, Mackinac, Alger, and Schoolcraft. The department said it was important for everyone to assume the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19 is present throughout the region and encouraged residents to visit www.michigan.gov/coronavirus for further updates.

LMAS also urged the community to continue to be cooperative with recommendations to ensure personal and community safety, including following the current “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and practicing social distancing.

People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to safely recover at home while other need additional care through hospitalization. COVID-19 symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, people should wash their hands properly, avoid close contact with people not in their immediate household, and disinfect commonly touched surfaces.