The Saline Christmas Party Leads to 43 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19, Showrooms Across the State

SALINA, Mich. – A large home party in Saline over the holiday weekend has resulted in 43 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), 66 exposed close contacts, and various exposure locations in Metro shops, restaurants, businesses, and recreation areas Detroit, in northern Michigan and even out of state.

Washtenaw County Health Department officials said the majority of the 43 new cases are from people ages 15-25. They are connected to a large house party that took place July 2 to 3 in the Saline area, authorities said.

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Since the party, additional events and workplace exposures led to 66 exposed close contacts, not including family members in the immediate homes of people with confirmed cases, according to officials.

Close contacts are defined by health experts as anyone who has had face-to-face contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more.

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“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, a health officer with the Washtenaw County Health Department. “We cannot achieve our goal of containing COVID-19 and preventing additional cases, hospitalizations, and deaths without the full support and cooperation of the community.”

So far, the house party outbreak has been linked to exposures to people in retail stores, restaurants, businesses, canoe liveries, clubs, camps, sports teams and a retirement community, authorities said.

There are “at least several” exposures in other counties, as well as two in northern Michigan and one out of state because people were traveling infected, health officials said.

Contact trackers are working to notify people who may have been exposed and instruct them to quarantine.

Anyone who was at the party or who knows they were exposed should be quarantined and monitored for symptoms for 14 days, health experts said. Seek immediate evidence if unusual symptoms appear, they said. A negative test performed within 14 days does not eliminate the need for self-quarantine.

“We need people of all ages, including youth, to take COVID-19 seriously and follow public health guidelines and instructions,” Loveluck said. “That means avoiding large gatherings without physical distancing or facial covering. It also means cooperating with the health department to complete case investigation and follow-up contacts. “

Health officials are working to reach everyone identified as a close contact. If you haven’t returned a call or haven’t followed the instructions to isolate or quarantine, reconsider and help contain the outbreak.

“None of us wants to be the reason someone in our community or county becomes seriously ill or dies,” said Saline Mayor Brian D. Marl. “We have the opportunity to work together and with our local health department to contain this as quickly as possible. We know what we need to do, and we certainly can do it. “

At this time, any public exposure in these places is considered low risk, which is assumed in any public place because the virus is circulating in the community.

If they are nearby, personal contacts are identified in these or other locations, and people cannot be contacted directly, the health department will name the locations.

To reduce the spread of the coronavirus, everyone should cover their faces, stay six feet away from people who do not live in their home, and wash their hands frequently.

The tests are recommended for anyone who shows up to work in person, anyone with known exposure, or anyone with mild or unusual symptoms. Symptoms can take up to 14 days after exposure to appear, and patients are considered contagious two days before symptoms appear.