The first case of COVID-19 has been detected in St. Joseph County. The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency announced Sunday afternoon they were notified of the first positive case in St. Joseph County. The individual is a man and he has been self-isolating at home.
While the CHA has not released the name of anyone who has been detected with COVID-19, Sturgis Director of Public Safety Geoffrey Smith announced through Instagram that he did obtain a positive COVID-19 test result which was administered two weeks ago.

He said the symptoms subsided after 3 days and he has been symptom free for 11 days. Smith says he followed all CDC and Health Department guidelines.
In addition, the CHA says the first local death from COVID-19 happened in Hillsdale County. The victim is an elderly man with underlying health conditions who was hospitalized at Hillsdale Hospital.

Rebecca Burns, CHA Health Officer says their heartfelt sympathies and prayers go out to the family who lost their loved one. She says this first death in the tri-county area reminds us all to do what we can to stay home, stay healthy and protect ourselves and those around us so that we can stop the spread of this virus.

Locally, Branch County has 8 cases of COVID-19, all from the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater. Hillsdale County now has 11 cases while Cass County has 4 cases, Calhoun County has 15 cases and Kalamazoo County 19 cases.

Also on Sunday, total numbers were released by the State of Michigan. Overall, there are 5,486 coronavirus cases in Michigan with 132 deaths.
Health officials continue to remind everyone to wash their hands frequently with soap and water; disinfect commonly touched surfaces and practice social distancing to help slow down the spread of COVID-19.