Courtesy Image An illustration of the coronavirus provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ALPENA — Nine area recoveries from coronavirus-caused sickness were reported by Northeast Michigan health departments on Saturday and Sunday, and the state reported only five new deaths on Sunday after weeks of double- and triple-digit daily death counts.

Eight Alpena County residents who had tested positive for COVID-19, the sickness caused by the coronavirus, were reported recovered over the weekend, for a total of 54. One new recovery in a Presque Isle County resident brought that county’s total to nine, with recovery in four Montmorency County residents and two residents of Alcona County previously reported.

Two new Alpena County residents and one new Alcona County resident tested positive, officials reported over the weekend.

A total of 122 cases of COVID-19 have been detected in Northeast Michigan, with positive test counts as follows: Alpena County, 95; Presque Isle County, 11; Alcona County, 11; Montmorency County, five.

No deaths while a patient is infected with COVID-19 have been reported in Northeast Michigan since May 15. Total deaths remain at nine in Alpena County and one in Alcona County.

Only five new deaths were reported statewide on Sunday, for a total of 5,223. Sunday’s 314 new reported cases brings that total to 54,365 for the state. The state has recorded 33,168 recoveries as of May 22.

The state has temporarily suspended its long term care facility reporting as it makes changes to its reporting system.