Health officials in both Washtenaw and Livingston counties say that CDC’s classifications this week that indicate they are at high-risk of COVID transmission is incorrect.
Earlier this week, the CDC said that data indicated the two counties exceeded the threshold between between medium and high risk.
However, officials say the statistics being used were inflated due to the addition of a backlog of cases from the past four months, which inflated the weekly case rate.
“CDC is reporting that Livingston County is at a High community level,” read a statement on the website for the Livingston County Health Department. “However, according to our hospitalization rate/current cases we should be at a Medium level. A number of backlogged COVID-19 cases from 2022 were added to our case count this week. The CDC system received this information and counted these as new cases. We recommend residents proceed as though we have remained at a Medium level.”
The same appears to be true for Washtenaw County, which also posted a notice on its website.
“The CDC is reporting that Washtenaw County is at a High community level. However, according to our hospitalization rate/current cases we should be at a Medium level. A number of old/backlogged COVID-19 cases were added this week from 2-4 months ago. The CDC system is currently seeing the old cases as new cases. We recommend proceeding as though we remained at a Medium level this week.”
At medium level, CDC guidance doesn’t require recommendations that masks be worn by the public while inside crowded public spaces, although people with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
