(Sunday - December 06, 2020) - It was another deadly week for Covid sufferers in Dickinson County, with the death toll climbing too 46 confirmed and another ten awaiting confirmation.  The deaths currently being reported in Dickinson County represent nearly 20% of all of the deaths in the Upper Peninsula. The fact that Dickinson County experienced relatively low Covid activity for the first five to six months may have led to a sense of complacency, which is now spurring the spread of the disease. In neighboring Florence County, the Covid risk factor has been rated SEVERE OUTBREAK  -  with the County reporting nearly six new infections each day during the past week.  This is an extremely high per-capita rate, since Florence County has a population of under 4,300.   Residents are urged to take all possible precautions to avoid exposure. State-wide, Michigan is currently reporting a total of 395,036 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus resulting in 9,854 deaths.   During the past week the number of cases has increased by 45,015, while an additional 818 Michiganders have died of the effects of the disease. The total number of infections in Wisconsin continues to climb at a higher rate than Michigan, with 33,549 new cases being reported during the past week.  Wisconsin is now reporting a total of 409,386 confirmed cases, resulting in 3,702 deaths.  While the Wisconsin death rate had been holding at a relatively low level, that is now beginning to change, with an additional 417 deaths being reported during the past week.  Keep in mind that Wisconsin has slightly less than 60% of Michigan's population. Here are the latest figures for the Upper Peninsula: THIS WEEK LAST WEEK County Status Cases Deaths Alger Confirmed 167 1 Baraga Confirmed 424 24 Chippewa Confirmed 404 6 Delta Confirmed 2303 52 Dickinson Confirmed 1768 46 Gogebic Confirmed 620 11 Houghton Confirmed 1371 14 Iron Confirmed 715 31 Keweenaw Confirmed 62 1 Luce Confirmed 122 0 Mackinac Confirmed 231 1 Marquette Confirmed 2784 33 Menominee Confirmed 1260 19 Ontonagon Confirmed 264 14 Schoolcraft Confirmed 178 1 TOTAL Confirmed 12673 254         Alger Probable 81 1 Baraga Probable 80 0 Chippewa Probable 537 1 Delta Probable 323 12 Dickinson Probable 116 10 Gogebic Probable 246 13 Houghton Probable 311 3 Iron Probable 37 5 Keweenaw Probable 13 1 Luce Probable 55 0 Mackinac Probable 93 0 Marquette Probable 331 1 Menominee Probable 150 0 Ontonagon Probable 28 1 Schoolcraft Probable 10 1 TOTAL Probable 2411 49 County Statues Cases Deaths Alger Confirmed 158 1 Baraga Confirmed 406 15 Chippewa Confirmed 360 5 Delta Confirmed 2188 48 Dickinson Confirmed 1621 40 Gogebic Confirmed 567 11 Houghton Confirmed 1255 11 Iron Confirmed 680 29 Keweenaw Confirmed 56 1 Luce Confirmed 118 0 Mackinac Confirmed 210 0 Marquette Confirmed 2536 30 Menominee Confirmed 1169 17 Ontonagon Confirmed 249 13 Schoolcraft Confirmed 163 1 TOTAL   11,736 222         Alger Probable 75 1 Baraga Probable 60 0 Chippewa Probable 475 0 Delta Probable 249 10 Dickinson Probable 90 6 Gogebic Probable 203 12 Houghton Probable 264 2 Iron Probable 36 4 Keweenaw Probable 12 1 Luce Probable 49 0 Mackinac Probable 71 0 Marquette Probable 305 1 Menominee Probable 129 0 Ontonagon Probable 26 1 Schoolcraft Probable 10 1 TOTAL   2054 39

Here are the figures for neighboring Wisconsin counties: Florence County: Total cases - 364, an increase of 36 Total deaths - 12, an increase of 1. Forest County: Total cases - 794, an increase of 29. Total deaths - 19, an increase of 0. Marinette County: Total cases - 3,318, an increase of 159. Total deaths - 30, an increase of 2.