Meredith Spelbring, Detroit Free Press
Published 11:44 a.m. ET July 13, 2020 | Updated 12:37 p.m. ET July 13, 2020
More than 40 coronavirus cases in Saline are linked to a Fourth of July party.
The Washtenaw County Health Department has 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 in people 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.
“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.”
More:
13 coronavirus cases linked to Playhouse strip club in Romulus
2 more coronavirus positive cases linked to Royal Oak sports bar
The Saline Fourth of July outbreak isn’t the only recent outbreak tied to a large gathering.
The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is advising attendees of a large Fourth of July celebration at Torch Lake Sandbar to monitor themselves for symptoms after several people have tested positive.
The department asks anyone who attended the party to monitor themselves for symptoms and seek testing if symptoms develop and self-quarantine for 14 days.
An outbreak at an East Lansing bar made national news after more than 150 people got sick.
Harper’s Restaurant and Brew Pub has led to 158 confirmed coronavirus cases as of July 2. Of the 158 reported, 131 reported they went to the bar at some point between June 12-June 30.
The outbreak at the bar led to cases reported across the state in Ingham, Wayne, Oakland, Clinton, St. Clair, Isabella, Macomb, Livingston, Ottawa, Eaton, Shiawassee, Kalamazoo, Manistee, Berrien, and Calhoun counties.
Meredith Spelbring is a news intern with the Detroit Free Press. Reach her at mspelbring@freepress.com or on Twitter @mere0415.
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