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

ALPENA — Public health officials on today reported nine newly infected Northeast Michiganders, including five Alpena County residents, two Presque Isle County residents, and two Montmorency County residents.

That means that, as of Monday, 1,503 Northeast Michiganders were actively infected, meaning they’d been confirmed infected with COVID-19 but have not recovered or died, and could infect others.

Also Wednesday, Alcona Community Schools Superintendent Dan O’Connor told parents in a letter that students in preschool through eighth grades would resume remote learning the week of Jan. 4, returning for face-to-face instruction on Jan. 11.

O’Connor said officials decided to resume remote learning after discussions with local public health officials.

As of Monday, 11 COVID-19 patients, two of whom were in intensive care, were hospitalized at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena, according to state data. The Alpena hospital was 35% full.

As of Tuesday, 88 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 graphic below shows active infections in Northeast Michigan over time. Story continues below graphic.

Since the pandemic hit Michigan in mid-March, 1,916 Northeast Michiganders have been infected, according to local public health agencies. Of those, 369 have recovered and 44 have died.

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

The last death was reported on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the state announced older adults who have been separated from friends and family because of the pandemic can celebrate the holidays virtually thanks to a partnership program between technology company GetSetUp and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The program is offering a series of holiday-themed social hours this week and next week.

Registration is required. Classes and social hours are offered online and via telephone. To register, visit Getsetup.io/michigan or call 888-559-1614.

Scheduled events:

* Connect with Family and Friends This Holiday Season: noon Thursday

* Social Hour-Christmas Traditions: 11 a.m. Friday

* Social Hour-Seasonal Games: 2 p.m. Saturday

* Social Hour-Holiday Recipe Swap: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday

* Social Hour-Dancing to Music of the 1960s and 1970s: 4:30 p.m. Dec. 31

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

Michigan’s rate of new COVID-19 cases has been dropping for more than 29 days, a state scientist reported Wednesday.

“It will be important during this holiday season, as well, and New Year’s Eve, to ensure we’re maintaining that social distancing. That will be very important,” said Sarah Lyon-Callo, head of the epidemiology bureau.

“We’re going to be watching these data throughout the holiday season to determine if we’re going to see any sort of case resurgence,” Lyon-Callo said.

The state last week reported its lowest weekly new case total, 28,072, since the end of October. The state reported a record total, 50,892, during Nov. 15-21, The Detroit News reported.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer responded with a ban on indoor restaurant dining, in-person high school classes and other business restrictions. The dining ban remains in place through Jan. 15.

“We’re hopeful that Michiganders do what we did over Thanksgiving, didn’t travel as much, didn’t gather as much, didn’t contribute to as much spread,” Whitmer said. “And if that’s the case, we could take more aggressive steps to reengage right after the first of the year.”

Meanwhile, the health department said more than 231,000 doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have been delivered to local health departments and hospitals. More than 120,000 additional doses are expected next week.

News Staff Writer Crystal Nelson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.