KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Health officials have confirmed the first death in Kalamazoo County caused by COVID-19.
Officials with the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department say they received a notification on Monday that an individual had died after contracting the illness.
The department said in a statement that the patient was an older adult with underlying medical conditions. No additional personal information regarding the identity or location of the individual has been released.
As of Monday, Kalamazoo County reports 25 county residents have tested positive for COVID-19 on the department’s official coronavirus response webpage. Michigan has 6,498 cases of COVID19, and 184 reported deaths from the illness.
Western Michigan University announced on Sunday that a student had died from complications related to COVID-19. The university released a statement saying that 25-year-old Bassey Offiong passed away after contracting the virus.
Kalamazoo County Public Health Officer Jim Rutherford said that Offiong was not a current county resident.
The health department is continuing to work with city, county, and the state government in monitoring COVID-19 activity. Residents are urged to comply with the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order and take recommended precautions such as staying home, maintaining distance, and washing hands.