At least 43 people tested positive for coronavirus after attending a big party in Michigan, health officials said Monday.
Most cases are from people between the ages of 15 and 25 who were in or came into contact with someone who went to a house party between July 2 and 3 in the Saline area, about 10 miles south of Ann Arbor, the Washtenaw County Health Department said in a statement.
Another 66 people, not including family members living with the 44 infected, have been exposed to the virus. These include employees and customers of retail stores, restaurants, canoe liveries, clubs, camps, members of the athletic team, and employees and residents of a retirement community.
People in other counties and in another state have also been exposed because infected people have traveled, according to the Washtenaw County Health Department.
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“Anyone who attended the initial event or who knows they were exposed should be quarantined and monitored for symptoms for 14 days,” the department statement said.
According to health authorities, the youngest people in their 20s, 30s and 40s play an important role in the increase in coronavirus cases across the country. The increases are due in part to more testing, but also to large gatherings.
“This is a very clear example of how fast this virus spreads and how many people can be affected in a very short period of time,” said Jimena Loveluck, the Health Officer for the Washtenaw County Health Department. “We need people of all ages, including youth, to take COVID-19 seriously and follow public health guidelines and instructions.
“That means avoiding large gatherings without physical distancing or covering your face,” said Loveluck. “It also means cooperating with the Health Department to complete case investigation and contact tracing.”
Saline Mayor Brian D. Marl said residents “have the opportunity to work together and with our local health department to contain this as quickly as possible. We know what we have to do, and we certainly can do it.”
“None of us wants to be the reason why someone in our community or county becomes seriously ill or dies,” he said.
