Several visited a sandbar party and tested positive for COVID-19. COVID-19 (new coronavirus infectious disease) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when first appearing

Rapid City—Health officials have confirmed weekend torch lake sandbar parties and local casino periods are potential exposure sites for pandemic illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

Northwest Michigan’s Department of Health officials on Friday said that “several” people who tested positive for COVID-19 attended a torch lake sandbar party on an Independence Day holiday weekend. Announced.

However, the victims were not able to identify all the people with whom they were in close contact as part of an incident investigation, officials said.

“This situation reminds us how important it is to take precautionary measures, such as avoiding the largest possible gatherings, especially without social distance or masking,” said the ministry’s health official. Said Lisa Peacock.

Possible exposure periods at the Torch Lake Sandbar are weekend weekend periods. People who attend the festival there may be monitored for COVID-19 symptoms and tested.

Antrim County Sheriff Dumbile said three law enforcement agencies are wary of the party, making it impossible to force a social distance that draws thousands of people at the annual party.

“What do you think would happen if there were so many people?” said Beer. “People have been working together for a long time, and individuals are willing to accept the opportunity, whether or not they get sick.”

The existence of a nearly certain virus was the reason Beer said that the police officers that the beer department roamed the sandbars had no guards as in the past few years.

Brandon Nichols, owner of Torch Lake’s Dockside Bar and Restaurant, said his business reopened that day after it was shut down from violence for extensive cleaning.

But because he said his staff made an effort to sanitize the restaurant’s capacity and go beyond what they had done by this summer, especially on Saturdays, to limit the restaurant’s capacity. , It came with changes.

“As far as the sandbar is concerned, we were worried it would be summer,” Nichols said. “There really is no way to stop so many people going there.”

In addition, the Grand Traverse County Department of Health has announced that it may be exposed to COVID-19 at Turtle Creek Casino over the last weekend.

Anyone at the Blackjack table in a Williamsburg casino between 8 and 9:15 pm on July 5 will monitor COVID-19 symptoms and, if they do, both test and quarantine. is needed.

Casino security workers confirmed that guests who tested positive for the disease had their body temperature tested at the door and were wearing masks during the visit.

“Our mask and plexishield precautions, social distance, continuous deep cleaning, and a maximized ventilation system limit employee and guest exposure, but let citizens know as soon as possible. We want to keep everyone safe,” said Michael Schroeder, Casino CEO, in a statement released.

He said casino workers are working with health department officials to track contacts.

With numbers

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has announced 612 new cases of COVID-19. This is the highest number in the state since May 20. On Wednesday, 610 cases were announced.

MDHHS has not reported a second final day death in one week. The 15 dead reported were due to a process of reviewing important records.

Only 35 deaths were announced this week, the lowest on a seven-day average for a pandemic, with the exception of significant record reviews.

Regionally, 11 cases were announced. Four cases were reported in Grand Traverse County, two cases in Emmet County, and one case in Crawford, Manistee, Missouri, Montmorency, and Roscommon.

Whitmer repeats mask delegation

The same day the Ministry of Health announced a site for community exposure at a sandbar party, the governor signed an executive order on Friday and put on a mask in a closed public space to limit the spread of COVID-19. Repeated the previous instruction that there was a need. It also added the need to wear masks in crowded outdoor areas.

A business open to the public to deny entry or service to those who refuse to wear face covers, with limited exceptions. Companies now need to post signs at all entrances and instruct their customers to legally oblige to cover their face inside.

Similar orders have been issued by several city, county and state governments across the country.

Governor faced questions from reporters at a state press conference on Thursday and criticized the state’s earlier enforcement of the mask order.

“We actually do penalties under the law. Of course the problem is making sure we enforce and comply,” Whitmer said. “It relies on support at the local level, and I think as we continue to grow our numbers will be more active in helping locals in this regard.”

Nichols said that when the first authority came into force, there was a backlash in the restaurant and he thought he needed to wear a mask until the patrons reached the table.

He said not.

“It’s really cool because everyone’s just playing their part,” Nichols said. “Everyone has made a little call to wake up. We are like in a deserted land, everyone is okay, that’s true. We need to be safe, ourselves Need to protect, we protect other people.”

The Presidential Decree will come into effect on Monday, 13 July at 12:01 AM.

Sheri McWhirter contributed to this report