COVID cases rise, now representing a third of total Washtenaw County cases

ANN ARBOR Cases of COVID-19 have increased at the University of Michigan, which now accounts for 34% of the total cases in Washtenaw County, university officials reported Tuesday.

In the update, officials also said that 11 residences outside the campus are now under quarantine due to positive cases or personal gatherings that took place during the school’s recommendation to stay, which expires on Sunday, February 23, 11:59 p.m. includes undergraduate, graduate and professional students on and off campus.

The recommendation was encouraged by the Washtenaw County Department of Health because several new cases of the new, highly contagious B117 COVID-19 variant have been reported on campus. All the sports at UM have been interrupted since January 23 due to outbreaks of the variant in the department.

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Read: University of Michigan students asked to stay home to fight virus spread

The number of residences placed under quarantine has doubled since Saturday due to new positive cases and possible exposure.

Those in quarantine receive pop-up tests on day five of their 14-day isolation tests, and all students are encouraged to be tested for the virus each week, even if they are symptomatic.

Read: University of Michigan identifies virus outbreaks at off-campus homes

According to UM’s COVID Dashboard, the university reported 438 positive cases in the last 14 days and 36,065 tests were administered in the same period. According to preliminary data, the positivity rate rose to 14.3% this week from 31 January, compared to 1.3% the previous week.

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From February 3, UM will be offering free saliva-based COVID-19 tests to Ann Arbor residents living near campus.

Click here for more information on when and where testing for city residents will take place.

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