3 counties in Michigan's thumb have Covid test positivity rates greater than 30%

[Siwsan]

(This is a VERY rural part of Michigan, and generally a pretty heavily red section of the state. I think if you added in people who are asymptomatic and NOT getting tested, the actual rate is terrifying.)

According to the State Health Department’s Safe Start Dashboard, more-than 30% of the people tested in Tuscola County have COVID-19.

That number is even higher in Huron County: 1 in three people tested there have had the virus in the last week.

Sanilac County has the highest positivity rate in that area with 34.5% of people testing positive for COVID.

https://www.abc12.com/2021/04/17/covid-19-trends-in-michigans-thumb-causing-concern-for-medical-director/

[LisaL]

1. What's their vaccination rate?

My guess would be very low, and not because they can't find vaccines.

[Kaleva]

2. 37.73% for Huron County,

29.01% for Tuscola County and 27.59% for Sanilac County

2 near state average of 29.6% and 1 above it.

https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_103214_103272-547150--,00.html

[Siwsan]

3. I wonder how that coincides with political party identification

Genesee County is at 29.6% which is lower than I expected. It would be interesting to see the city/township breakdown. I live in a VERY Blue district where I never see people, in stores, not wearing a mask. I know areas outside of Flint and Flint Township are much more pink to red. People I've talked to who live in those areas say they often see unmasked shoppers.

[Botany]

4. FYI "I wonder how that coincides with political party identification."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215345203

[Siwsan]

5. Thanks

As deeply as I'm suffering from 'cabin fever', I'm sticking close to home, for the foreseeable future.

[Botany]

9. If you have got the vaccine and you pay attention to simple stuff there is no reason you need ...

... to be housebound. Go outside and enjoy yourself.

[Siwsan]

10. I'm vaccinated but not risking anything because the variants are going crazy, here in Michigan.

I go out to do what needs to be done. still masked, still hand sanitizing.

I have NO comfort level in meeting people at restaurants. I'd love to drive down to NC to see my great niece but her parents are anti-vaxxers. Bit by bit the rest of my family is getting vaccinated, but my niece, who is one jab in with Moderna, was exposed to Covid at her work place and is now in quarantine.

No, I'm just going to stay in this holding pattern, for a while.

On the bright side, I've added to my skill sets by learning how to change the oil in my rider mower. And, today, my fully vaccinated brother is coming by with some steak. We'll open some nice red wine, pull out the Weber and do some grilling. I consider that to be one step slightly closer to almost approaching something resembling near normalcy.

[Botany]

12. Off topic. Weber Charcoal Grills are the best! Get the grill hot 1st

Sear each side for 30 seconds before grilling it. This seals in the juices and it will not stick as much.
Then grill 3 to 5 minutes per side. I like grilling some Bay's English Muffins at the same time too
and then melting a little garlic butter on them. A can of baked bean on the grill doesn't hurt.

So far the all the variants have been covered by all the vaccines. But sadly the anti-vaxxer dumb
asses are giving the variants nice "new homes" in which to live and then the disease can spread.

[Kaleva]

7. Trump got 62% of the vote where I live and the vaccination rate is 40.31%

[Siwsan]

8. Surprisingly, my trump* loving cousin said he would take the first opportunity to get vaccinated.

He has grandchildren in North Carolina that he wants to fly out to see. I didn't care about the reason. I'm just glad he found any motivation.

[Kaleva]

11. Most Trumpsters I know have either been fully vaccinated or have had their 1st shot.

Mask compliance is pretty close to 100% from what I observe.

[Elessar Zappa]

13. 42% of Trumpers say they won't get vaccine.

Darwin at work.

[Kaleva]

14. Must depend on the region.

The vaccination rate in the part of Trump Country where I live is pretty good.

with 70% vaccination rate being the target for herd immunity, 60% of Trumpsters getting the shot will likely help achieve that. Especially when one factors in that only about 25% of the country voted for Trump in 2020.

[LisaL]

15. I am surprised by that.

Usually Trumpers who are anti maskers are also anti vaxxers.

[dem4decades]

6. Owning the libs, one death at a time.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

16. In the rural red county where I live, the percentage of voters

who voted for President Biden, 35%, is almost the same as the percentage of people vaccinated, 36%.

The county is 90% white.

[Kaleva]

17. In my county, the # of fully vaccinated is close to the number who voted for Trump

and well above the # who voted for Biden.

[Sogo]

18. Well, we all know what the former guy's attitude was

when he thought it was only affecting "blue" areas....

Should this be handled in the same way?

[liberal_mama]

19. In my county in New York, it's easy to get a vaccine now. They have walk-in no appointment clinics

Our County Executive went to one of those clinics and was outside, trying to encourage people on the street to come in and get vaccinated. One of these clinics had 500 doses, and only 150 of them were used. I worry that most of the people in my area who wanted a vaccine have already gotten them. Meanwhile, my county has the highest rates of Covid in New York State.