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Local COVID-19 testing continues

ESCANABA — Restrictions related to COVID-19 are gradually being lifted in Michigan, but the disease continues to pose a threat to the health of local residents. Fortunately, Public Health, Delta and Menominee Counties (PHDM) Health Officer Michael Snyder said the availability of testing has increased significantly since the pandemic began.

“Obviously, a lot more people have been tested. It’s easier to get tested now,” he said.

As of early May, Michigan’s testing capacity was limited and a priority system was in place for people who wanted to be tested for COVID-19. Now, things have progressed to the point where testing for asymptomatic people is increasingly common in the area.

“A lot of the healthcare providers that do the testing are doing a lot of testing for pre-procedures,” Snyder said, noting not all medical providers have a large enough supply of tests to test people without symptoms.

If these tests come back negative, they are not reportable to Public Health.

According to Snyder, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services was aware of 1,130 COVID-19 tests that had taken place for people in Delta County as of Wednesday.

“This does not mean that there have been 1,130 people tested,” Snyder said, noting some people have been tested multiple times for the disease.

Additionally, 92 serology tests for COVID-19 have been performed for Delta County residents.

Because of these factors, Snyder said it is difficult to determine the percentage of Delta County residents that have been tested for COVID-19.

“We don’t break it down by number of people — it’s the number of tests,” he said.

Snyder encouraged people with symptoms of COVID-19 to have a test done by their medical provider.

“They should go in and get tested,” he said.

He also said the National Guard has preliminary plans to hold pop-up COVID-19 testing for anyone who wants to be tested in parts of the Upper Peninsula this weekend.

“If all the bugs are worked out of the system, I would like to bring that to Delta County,” Snyder said.

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