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State: 33 infected in Alpena-area nursing homes

News Photo by Julie Riddle A cell phone acts as a speaker as Rogers City resident Missie Karsten visits her mother at MediLodge of Rogers City Friday. Her several-times-a-day visits for a walk and a chat have become frustrating conversations through a window since long-term care facilities were required to turn away visitors to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Because of recent, increased restrictions, Karsten can’t even drop off bags of goodies for her aging mother, who asks her daughter, at every window visit, why she can’t just come inside.

ALPENA — At least 33 residents of Northeast Michigan nursing homes have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus that is especially deadly to the elderly and those with preexisting conditions.

Two Alpena County coronavirus residents have now died, public health officials said Friday.

MediLodge of Alpena, where the first known Alpena County resident to have died of the sickness lived, has 32 cases, according to new data released by the state for the first time on Friday.

One resident of MediLodge of Rogers City has tested positive, the state said.

No COVID-19-positive residents were reported at other long-term care facilities in the four-county Alpena region, including MediLodge of Greenview in Alpena.

Facility totals do not include patients or staff who have recovered or died before Friday’s report was issued, according to the state.

A total of 60 infected Alpena County residents have now been reported, public health officials said Friday. Four infected Alcona County residents, six infected Montmorency County residents, and nine infected Presque Isle County residents also were reported.

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