Local health departments all over the world are a frontline defense against the novel coronavirus during the current pandemic. Unlike hospitals, they don’t treat patients. Instead, they track the virus, help sick people find treatment, safe places to quarantine, and even food when needed, and do all they can to keep COVID-19 from spreading.

The Washtenaw County Health Department (Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan are in Washtenaw county) is no exception. We wanted to take a look at the Department’s day-to-day battle against the virus, and find out more about what the pandemic has looked like in the county since the very beginning.