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

ALPENA — As of Thursday, 927 Northeast Michiganders were actively infected with COVID-19, while about 57% of Northeast Michiganders 5 and older had been fully vaccinated against the disease.

This week’s active infections — a News estimate based on cumulative infections minus deaths and those who fit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of recovered — is down from 1,371 active infections last week.

Part of the drop happened because District Health Department No. 4 adjusted the number of cumulative Alpena County infection downward from 4,528 on Dec. 9 to 4,363 on Thursday. The Health Department frequently updates numbers upward and downward as data is reviewed.

Meanwhile, among those 5 and older, the state says 55% of Alpena County residents, 63% of Presque Isle County residents, 54% of Montmorency County residents, and 57% of Alcona County residents have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The chart below shows the number of Northeast Michiganders actively infected with COVID-19, a News estimate based on cumulative infections minus recoveries and deaths. The story continues below the graphic.

Public health experts have said we could consider the coronavirus pandemic over once 70% of the population has been vaccinated.

Because public health officials adjusted Alpena County’s infection data downward, official data for the past week indicates a negative number of newly infected or probably infected Northeast Michiganders and the deaths of six Northeast Michiganders who had been infected with COVID-19.

The chart below shows the number of Northeast Michiganders 5 and older fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The story continues below the graphic.

Since February, Northeast Michigan health officials have reported confirmed and probable infections as one number. A person counts as a probable infection if they’d been exposed to a confirmed infected person and are showing symptoms but hadn’t been tested, themselves — such as family members of infected people.

The chart below shows the number of COVID-19 patients admitted at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena. The story continues below the graphic.

As of Monday, 21 COVID-19 patients were admitted at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, two of them in intensive care. The hospital was 42% full. State officials watch hospital occupancy rates closely to decide whether to impose new restrictions meant to slow the spread of infection.

Since the pandemic’s start in mid-March 2020, public health officials have reported 8,776 Northeast Michiganders infected or probably infected, and 220 related deaths.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that 927 Northeast Michiganders were actively infected, down from 1,371 last week, and 57% of Northeast Michiganders 5 and older are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The story also has been updated to reflect that the Health Department reported 4,528 infections on Dec. 9, not Dec. 2. That information was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.