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

ALPENA — Two more Northeast Michigan residents have died and six more have been infected with COVID-19, local public health officials said today.

Meanwhile, Michigan residents who receive food assistance from the state can use their benefits at restaurants, officials said today. That could give a boost to those businesses, which are prohibited from offering indoor dining because of coronavirus restrictions imposed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration.

And water shutoffs will be banned through March under legislation signed into law today by Whitmer, part of the state’s efforts to help those who’ve lost their job or are otherwise struggling because of the pandemic.

Local public health officials said today an Alpena County resident and an Alcona County resident died after being infected with the coronavirus, meaning 44 Northeast Michiganders have died since the pandemic began in the spring.

The interactive graphic below shows active infections in Northeast Michigan over time. Story continues below graphic.

Officials reported six newly infected Northeast Michiganders, but lowered by two the cumulative number of infected Montmorency County residents, bringing to four the net number of new infections.

Devin Spivey, epidemiologist with District Health Departments No. 2 and No. 4, said the decrease happened because some incorrect zip codes were entered at the state level.

Reported infected today were three Alpena County residents, two Presque Isle County residents, and one Alcona County resident.

That means that, as of today, 1,494 Northeast Michiganders were actively infected, meaning they’d been confirmed infected with COVID-19 but have not recovered or died, and could infect others.

As of today, 92 people were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection across the state-designated, 18-county health care region that includes Alpena, Presque Isle, and Montmorency counties, according to state data.

The interactive chart below shows cumulative infections, recoveries and deaths in Northeast Michigan over time. Story continues below graphic.

Since the pandemic hit Michigan in mid-March, 1,907 Northeast Michiganders have been infected, according to local public health agencies. Of those, 369 have recovered and 44 have died.

More than 300,000 people will soon be able to use their Bridge Card to buy discounted meals at restaurants, including 1,200 people who are experiencing homelessness, the state health department said.

Those eligible include people older than 60 and people with a disability.

Restaurants first must enroll with the department, which will publish an online list.

“No Michigander should worry about how to put food on the table for themselves and their families, especially during a pandemic,” Whitmer said. “This partnership with our restaurants will ensure people across the state have the support they need this winter.”

And people behind on their water bills will still have working taps.

Flip through the interactive timeline below to see how the coronavirus spread through Northeast Michigan. Story continues below the timeline.

Whitmer had issued an executive order earlier this year that protected people from having their water turned off for non-payment. But the protection was thrown out when the Michigan Supreme Court said the governor had used an unconstitutional law as the foundation for dozens of her coronavirus orders.

“Every Michigander deserves access to clean water, especially during a global pandemic,” Whitmer said in a written statement. “My administration will continue working to ensure clean water for all Michiganders, and I look forward to partnering with everyone who wants to get this done.”

The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, pushed for the legislation to allow a “human right” of water despite economic hardships that have hit Michigan during the pandemic. Detroit announced in early December that it would halt water shutoffs through 2022.

“So many Michigan families are struggling, and with COVID-19 still raging, we need to ensure that we are protecting Michigan families’ health and economic security,” Chang said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.