GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — West Michigan has its first presumptive positive cases of coronavirus.
The State of Michigan announced Thursday night that the state’s total of COVID-19 cases jumped from three to 12, including Kent and Montcalm counties.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the cases are in Kent, Ingham, Montcalm, Oakland, St. Clair, and Washtenaw counties.
There are three cases in Kent County: two adult women and an adult man with a history of international travel.
All Kent County cases are people in their 60s. Two have been in quarantine and another has had minimal human contact. Officials said all are recovering at home and aren't showing severe symptoms.
Health officials say they have an idea of where the three people traveled to but declined to share that information due to confidentiality reasons.
Montcalm County’s case involves an adult female who has also traveled internationally.
The tests will be sent to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation testing.
Earlier Thursday, the Kent County Health Department and Kent County Intermediate School District had said all schools would remain open despite the outbreak. However, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the closure of all schools in Michigan starting Monday, March 16, until April 6.
"This is not a decision that I make lightly," Whitmer said in her COVID-19 emergency address around 9:30 p.m., Thursday.
She said she is working to ensure teachers, parents and students are supported during this time as the most recent tests are being sent to the CDC.