LAWRENCE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Van Buren/Cass District Health Department confirming on Friday, September 24, the death of a Van Buren County student to COVID-19.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 deaths in Van Buren and Cass Counties to 234 since the pandemic began. The health department has confirmed 192 cases in children ages zero to 19 across both counties.
“Our sympathy goes out to all families who have been affected by this deadly virus. As a community we all want this pandemic to be over, to know our families are safe, and to have the restrictions on our social activities lifted. Unfortunately, we are not there yet. The Delta variant has proven to be more contagious and more serious than previous variants. We have seen a 25-fold increase since one week after school ended on June 25, 2021 until now. Our community transmission data has elevated us to the highest risk category. We have hope in the form of safe and effective vaccines, but only if many more of us who are eligible and able actually take them and only if we slow the spread of this illness through masking, distancing, and quarantine and isolation. We encourage everyone to actively protect themselves and others by following proven mitigation strategies; it will take a cooperative effort from our whole community to effectively mitigate the threat of this virus,” says Dr. Larry Wile, Medical Director, Van Buren/Cass District Health Department.
Health Department Officer Danielle Persky says “The death of a local student is a tragic reminder that the numbers we report every week are also our children, friends and neighbors, and that no one is immune to the virus’ impact.”
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