DETROIT – Michigan health officials are calling for attendees of two Fourth of July parties to monitor themselves for symptoms after partygoers tested positive for COVID-19.
Several attendees of a Fourth of July party at Torch Lake Sandbar in northern Michigan tested positive for COVID-19, while more than 40 cases in Saline, Michigan, are linked to a holiday house party.
The state health department is asking anyone who attended the party at Torch Lake to monitor themselves and seek testing if symptoms develop and self-quarantine.
Because those who tested positive could not identify all potential contacts for exposure, the health department went public to alert those who attended the event.
Anyone who attended a Fourth of July party at Torch Lake Sandbar over the holiday weekend is being asked to monitor themselves for symptoms after several attendees tested positive.
“This situation reminds us of how important it is to take precautions such as avoiding large gatherings whenever possible especially without social distancing and masking,” Michigan health officer Lisa Peacock said in a statement.
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Anyone who attended a Fourth of July party at Torch Lake Sandbar over the holiday weekend is being asked to monitor themselves for symptoms after several attendees tested positive.43 cases tied to one party
The Washtenaw County Health Department identified 43 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 66 exposed contacts from a house party July 2-3 in the Saline area, according to a news release. The exposed contacts do not count immediate family members from the same household.
Most of the confirmed cases are ages 15-25, according to the health department.
The health department is asking anyone who attended the gathering or knows they were exposed to self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor themselves for symptoms.
An investigation into the outbreak is ongoing, according to the health department. The gathering has led to exposure at retail stores, restaurants, businesses, canoe liveries, clubs, camps, athletic teams and a retirement community.
There are also at least two northern Michigan exposures, an out-of-state exposure and one neighboring county exposure, according to the health department. However, public exposures outside the initial gathering are currently considered low-risk exposures.
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“This is a very clear example of how quickly this virus spreads and how many people can be impacted in a very short amount of time,” Jimena Loveluck, health officer with Washtenaw County Health Department, said in a news release. “We cannot hope to accomplish our goal of containing COVID-19 and preventing additional cases, hospitalizations and deaths without full community support and cooperation.”
An outbreak at an East Lansing bar also made national news in the past month when it led to cases reported across the state.
There were 158 confirmed coronavirus cases linked to Harper’s Restaurant and Brew Pub as of July 2. Of those, 131 people reported they went to the bar at some point from June 12-June 30.
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Contributing: Jay Cannon, USA TODAY
Follow reporter Meredith Spelbring on Twitter @mere0415.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: COVID-19 outbreak at July 4th party at Michigan’s Torch Lake
