CMU COVID-19 cases decrease, county cases remain steady


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For the third week in a row, newly reported COVID-19 cases at CMU have decreased with only nine new cases reported by the university between Sept. 14-20.

According to the Fired Up for Fall webpage, there have been a total of 207 cases within the CMU community since June 15. Of these cases, nine are active among a campus population of about 15,500 people. There were 12 new cases last week and 44 the week before that.

Heather Smith, executive director of University Communications, said university officials believe the following factors are reason for the decline:

  • Sustained efforts of students, faculty and staff to protect themselves and others by wearing masks, practicing social distancing and embracing best practices for health and safety.
  • Increasing safety messaging to students.
  • Directing all Greek organizations to suspend in-person activities.
  • Working with landlords and apartment complex managers to enforce limits on gatherings.
  • Implementing on-campus COVID-19 testing. 
  • The Central Michigan District Health Department's public health emergency order limiting attendance to 25 people at outside gatherings — along with the university fining, and even suspending, individuals who host and attend large gatherings.

New cases related to CMU students returning to the Mount Pleasant area reported by the Central Michigan District Health Department remain steady. The department announced 22 confirmed new cases last week and 21 cases the week prior.

This brings the total number of cases related to CMU students' return to 304 and 16 probable cases.

President Bob Davies said in an Aug. 28 email that the university’s number differs from the health department because the department’s count include cases they believe are related to students returning that are not current CMU students, staff and faculty. Those cases are not included in CMU’s count, he said.

According to the department’s website, Isabella County has seen 583 COVID-19 cases as of Sept. 21 since the beginning of the pandemic. Recoveries are at 132 and deaths are currently at 12.

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