It was something that has been feared ever since the first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed three weeks ago became a reality Tuesday as the State of Michigan reported the first two coronavirus cases in Branch County outside of the Lakeland Correctional Facility. No information on the two Branch County cases is being released by local and state health officials due to privacy laws.

The Michigan Department of Corrections reported on Tuesday there were still eight prisoners at Lakeland who have tested positive.

Local cases continue to increase as there are now 14 cases in Hillsdale County with one death reported, four cases in Saint Joseph County, with the number of cases statewide on Tuesday increasing to 7,615 confirmed cases and 184 deaths.