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

ALPENA — Alpena Community College has dropped its facemask mandate as the rate of new COVID-19 infections in Northeast Michigan fell for the third week in a row.

The college said it will not mandate masks on campus, though students and staff still could wear masks and instructors could still mandate masks in their classrooms.

“These new policies have been put in place after careful consideration and judgement based on the most recent information and recommendations from District Health Department (No. 4),” the college said in a statement. “ACC will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation, work with local health officials, and will continue to make appropriate changes if necessary.”

That news came as the local health departments reported 23 new infections across Northeast Michigan over the past week, compared to 49 new infections last week, 75 the week before that, and 94 the week before that.

The health departments reported the deaths of two Northeast Michiganders in the past week who had been infected with the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, among those 5 and older, the state says about 59% of Northeast Michiganders are fully vaccinated against the disease.

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 2021, 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, one COVID-19 patients was admitted at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena. The hospital was 67% full.

That compares to 10 COVID-19 patients a week ago.

Since the pandemic’s start in mid-March 2020, public health officials have reported 11,089 Northeast Michiganders infected or probably infected and 277 related deaths.