Parties, ‘prom-like’ events lead to COVID-19 surge among Michigan teens, officials say

Coronavirus cases among teenagers have spiked tremendously in a three-county area in Michigan, and parties may be to blame.

Large indoor and outdoor parties, including graduation and prom-like events, have been linked to more than 150 COVID-19 cases among individuals ages 15-19, according to the Oakland County Health Division.

“We need parents and young people in our community to recognize the risk they take to their own health and that of their family and friends when attending gatherings without taking precautions” Leigh-Anne Stafford, health officer for the health division said in an Aug. 4 news release. “We can work together across our communities to contain the spread and I urge parents to be aware of activities your kids attend.”

The surge involved teenagers in Oakland, Livingston and Genesee counties. The bordering counties are located north of Detroit.

The town of South Lyon in Oakland County had three coronavirus cases involving people ages 15-19 from late June to mid-July, according to communications officer Bill Mullan. From mid-July to early August, the town had 42 cases.

Genesee County had a similar spike. From late June to mid-July, the county had 19 cases in that age group, but it had 94 cases from mid-July to early August, Mullan said.

Cases in Livingston County in that age range moved from three to 19, he said. The health departments are working to determine if more individuals were exposed.

Six parties that may have contributed to the spread, held between July 19 and July 26, took place in Fenton and South Lyon, according to the Oakland Press.

There were reports that parents in South Lyon organized an unofficial “prom” on July 23, according to the Detroit Free Press.

John McKellar, health officer in Genesee County, said it’s imperative individuals cooperate with contact tracing officials.

“No one wants to be the one who spreads COVID-19 to someone who becomes very ill or dies,” he said in a release.

Michigan has 84,050 confirmed coronavirus cases and 6,471 deaths as of Aug. 4, according to the state health department.

This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 4:18 PM with the headline "Parties, ‘prom-like’ events lead to COVID-19 surge among Michigan teens, officials say."