​Pontiac, Michigan – A recent increase in community transmission of COVID-19 is prompting Oakland County Health Division to urge residents to continue to get vaccinated along with other prevention measures such as masking indoors or in large crowds outdoors, social distancing, practicing good hand hygiene, and staying home when ill.

Oakland County’s seven-day percent positivity rate for COVID-19 tests has jumped to 12.42%. There were more than 7,400 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 from Nov. 1-14. More than one in four of the new cases were residents 18 years old and younger. Greater than 30 percent of the new cases were ages 20-39 years.

Oakland County Health Division’s epidemiologists reviewed some of the cases and determined that the increase in community transmission is general and broad, not attributable to a particular location or activity.

“The number of COVID-19 cases are surging again because too many people have given up on the things that are proven to work – masks, distancing, and vaccine,” Health Division Medical Director Dr. Russell Faust said. “We know these measures will keep you safe and healthy, reduce transmission, and help end this pandemic.”

From Jan. 15 – Oct. 26, Michiganders who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 89.0 percent of COVID cases, 88.0 percent of hospitalizations, and 88.9 percent of deaths.  About 350,000 eligible Oakland County residents remain unvaccinated, 131,000 of whom are ages 5-19 years old.

The Health Division continues to offer pediatric, first, second, third, and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments remain available and strongly encouraged at OaklandCountyVaccine.com or by contacting the Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533.

Meanwhile, progress is being made on vaccinating Oakland County children. More than 12,000 Oakland County children ages 5-11 years old have already received their first pediatric dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from providers including Oakland County Health Division’s school-based clinics as of Nov. 16.

The following is an update on COVID-19 vaccine coverage for Oakland County residents, according to the State of Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard as of Nov. 16, 2021, which includes the number of pediatric doses administered in the county:

• Total eligible residents 5 – 11 years old (eligible for pediatric dose): 98,739
  • Number of residents 5 – 11 years old who have received first dose: 12,395
  • Number of residents 5 – 11 years old who have received second dose: 0
  • Vaccine coverage for residents 5 – 11 years old: 12.6 percent

• Total eligible residents 12 and older: 1,091,389
  • Number of residents 12 and older who have received first dose: 827,328
  • Number of residents 12 and older who have completed vaccination: 766,183
  • Vaccine coverage for residents 12 and older: 75.8 percent

• Total eligible residents 16 and older: 1,029,737
  • Number of residents 16 and older who have received first dose: 791,212
  • Number of residents 16 and older who have completed vaccination: 732,978
  • Vaccine coverage for residents 16 and older: 76.8 percent

• Total eligible senior residents 65 and older: 217,676
  • Number of senior residents who have received first dose: 197,824
  • Number of senior residents who have completed vaccination: 184,177
  • Vaccine coverage for senior residents: 90.9 percent

• Total primary series doses administered within Oakland County: 1,545,285
• Total third and booster doses administered in Oakland County: 159,132