KENT COUNTY, MI -- New COVID-19 cases in Kent County have leaped into new territory, well surpassing 100 cases and setting a new daily record.

The number of new cases for Wednesday, April 22 was at 131. The previous record came a day earlier with 76 new cases.

In total, the county now has 757 cases and 25 deaths. The deaths remained unchanged from Tuesday.

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Kent County Health Department Director Adam London recently said he expected the number of COVID-19 cases to rise in Kent County because of increased testing and because the infections seemed to be finally reaching West Michigan in a more pronounced manner. The majority of cases and deaths are still in Southeast Michigan.

“The availability of tests has expanded dramatically in the past two weeks,” London said in a Wednesday video post to the health department’s Facebook page.

London also said that health department staff has conducted 251 targeted tests in the last two days at places for the “most vulnerable, high-risk, congregate” populations. Of the 251 tests, 69 were positive for COVID-19.

London did not specify the targeted testing locations, but mentioned homeless shelters as one location where high-risk populations might live.

Of the 757 cases, 604 are in the urban area of greater Grand Rapids and 55 percent are male and 45 percent female.

With 999 new confirmed coronavirus cases, Michigan nears 34,000

The latest hospital data shows that Mercy Health St. Mary’s Hospital has 53 people in the hospital, with 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 29 people with pending tests.

A Spectrum Health “dashboard” for COVID-19 numbers had not been updated as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The numbers showed 93 patients -- inpatients, held for observation or emergency department patients -- with 56 confirmed cases and 37 pending tests.

In Ottawa County, new coronavirus cases climbed by 11 cases to 150. Deaths remained unchanged at seven.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

Read more Michigan coronavirus coverage here

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