GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (AP/WOOD) — Jury trials have been paused in Kent and Ottawa counties due to a surge in coronavirus cases.

Court officials said Monday that the Ottawa County Probate Court and the 20th Judicial Circuit Court, based in Grand Haven, will not summon the public to courthouses to serve as jurors.

Ottawa courts expect to resume trials Feb. 1. Any trial scheduled to begin before that date will be set for new dates. Circuit Court Administrator Susan Franklin said judges don’t want to bring large numbers of people into the courthouses.

The Kent County 17th Circuit Court has also adjourned all jury trials until March 7 due to surging COVID-19 numbers in the county.

Michigan health officials said last week that the state’s record-high COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations could peak in late January or early February, and they urged the public to take steps to help control the spread.

Kent and Ottawa counties are not the only in West Michigan to pause recently. The COVID-19 surge has also prompted Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties to again suspend jury trials.