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

ALPENA — Northeast Michigan counties make up four of the six Michigan counties still considered at high risk for COVID-19 transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC recommends continued mask usage in the four-county Alpena area, as well as in Sanilac and St. Clair counties in the thumb region of the Lower Peninsula.

A week ago, 17 counties were in the high-risk category, according to Bridge Magazine.

The CDC uses three metrics — new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 residents in the past week, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past week — to determine a community’s risk level.

On Thursday, local health officials reported 49 newly infected or probably infected Northeast Michiganders, including 23 Alpena County residents, 6 Presque Isle County residents, 13 Montmorency County residents, and seven Alcona County residents.

The number of reported newly infected or probably infected Northeast Michigan residents has decreased steadily since highs of more than 300 per week in January and early February.

As of one week ago, 10 COVID-19 patients were admitted at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, two of them in intensive care. The hospital was 89% full.

Most Michigan counties are at low risk of COVID-19 transmission, according to CDC data. Residents of those counties may choose to mask but may safely choose not to, the CDC said.

Residents of the 10 counties labeled by the CDC as at medium risk should consult with a medical provider if they are at high risk for severe illness, according to the CDC.

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693, jriddle@thealpenanews.com or on Twitter @jriddleX.