This story appeared in The Petoskey News-Review. Read more here.
Until last fall, Brianna Worthington led an active lifestyle typical of a young adult in Northern Michigan.
The 25-year-old Traverse City resident was vaccinated against COVID-19 when she suffered a breakthrough infection.
“I went from being able to run and hike and doing all of the things I love to struggling to lock my mailbox,” she said Tuesday at a Munson Healthcare press conference.
When she got the virus, Worthington experienced the usual symptoms associated with the disease: shortness of breath and weakness.
Although some may compare a case of COVID-19 with the flu, Worthington said her encounter was more intense.
“My experience with COVID-19 was that was the most sick I have ever been in my life,” she said. “I’ve had the flu before and it didn’t touch what I experienced with the infection. I was afraid that I would feel like that forever. COVID-19 doesn’t care if you are young or old or healthy or unhealthy.”
Worthington said she has recovered from her bout with the disease but noted that it took months to be able to walk up and down stairs and get back to her active lifestyle.
“I am grateful for my decision to get vaccinated because I didn’t get as sick as others,” she said.
Meanwhile, Munson Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christine Nefcy said the 14-day positivity rate in the state and region was declining slightly or staying flat. The state had a positivity rate of 28.8% while the Munson region reported a rate of 27.6%, the same as last week.
Nefcy said Munson had 83 patients hospitalized with the virus, including 35 who were vaccinated along with seven who had received booster shots, compared to 48 that were unvaccinated.
Munson had 24 patients in intensive care units (ICUs) and five of those were vaccinated while 19 were unvaccinated.
Free masks
The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is now distributing free KN95 masks to community members at its office locations in the department’s four-county jurisdiction of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties.
Masks will be available in packs of two, first come first served while supplies last between 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. All offices are closed from noon until 1 p.m. for lunch. The Gaylord office is located at 95 Livingston Blvd. Other office locations include Bellaire, Charlevoix, Harbor Springs/Petoskey and Mancelona.
In addition to the health department office locations, the health department has distributed KN95 masks to partners to distribute free, including local libraries, emergency management services, food pantries and some churches.
With the continuing surge of COVID-19, health department staff recommends staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine and upgrading your mask to a high filtration respirator like a KN95.
“Wearing masks in addition to vaccination are our best tools against COVID-19,” said Lisa Peacock, health officer with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan.
Last week, the Michigan health department announced they would be giving out 10 million free KN95 masks to residents in the state to help protect themselves from the coronavirus and the highly transmissible omicron variant.
Case counts
As of Feb. 1, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan reported Otsego County had 5,292 COVID-19 cases and 90 deaths to date from the coronavirus.
As of Jan. 25, Otsego County had 5,092 cases and 88 deaths from the disease.
Antrim County was reporting 4,055 cases and 51 deaths while Charlevoix County had 4,708 cases and 55 deaths. Emmet County had 6,089 cases and 70 deaths.
Antrim County reported 3,897 cases and 51 deaths on Jan. 25 while Charlevoix County had 4,541 cases and 54 deaths. Emmet County reported 5,847 cases and 65 deaths.
Statewide, Michigan had 1,999,416 cases and 30,170 deaths as of Wednesday, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The state was reporting 1,933,062 cases and 29,605 deaths on Jan. 26.
The first two confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan were reported March 10, 2020 and the first death was reported on March 19, 2020.