Large Michigan House Party Infects At Least 43 With COVID-19, Even More Exposed To Virus

A large Michigan house party has been confirmed to be linked to at least 43 cases of the coronavirus and is suspected to have infected even more people, according to the Washtenaw County Health Department.

Attendees of the house party, which was being held on July 2-3, were between the ages of 15 and 25 years old. The party was held in the small town of Saline, which is located roughly 10 miles south of the college town of Ann Arbor and 45 miles west of Detroit.

The health department has identified 43 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, and 66 exposed close contact cases, which does not include family members in the immediate households.

The health department said more coronavirus exposures are expected due to additional events and workplaces that the party attendees went to in the following days.

The health department is urging anyone who attended the event or was exposed to someone from the event to self-quarantine and monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days. If symptoms of COVID-19 develop, immediate testing should be sought.

“This is a very clear example of how quickly this virus spreads and how many people can be impacted in a very short amount of time,” Jimena Loveluck, MSW, health officer with Washtenaw County Health Department, said in a statement. “We cannot hope to accomplish our goal of containing COVID-19 and preventing additional cases, hospitalizations, and deaths without full community support and cooperation.”

“We need people of all ages, including young people, to take COVID-19 seriously and follow public health guidelines and instructions. That means avoiding large gatherings without physical distancing or face coverings. It also means cooperating with the Health Department to complete case investigation and contact tracing,” Loveluck added.

The news of the house party coronavirus contagion comes within days of a large Michigan boat party on Torch Lake Sandbar in Traverse City, where health officials warned of the spread of COVID-19.

The health department said the house party investigation is ongoing, but it expects that exposure also included employees or individuals at retail stores, restaurants, businesses, canoe liveries, clubs, camps, athletic teams, and a retirement community.

Exposures have also expanded to other Michigan counties and out of state locations, the agency said.