COLDWATER — COVID-19 infections are still out in the community.
“There is certainly an uptick in COVID cases right now,” health officer Rebecca Burns told the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Heath Agency Board Thursday.
“I don’t know if you’re seeing it in your own home, amongst your friends and others. We are seeing it here,” Burns said, adding several health agency staff were out after testing positive. “We’re learning about new ones every day.”
Five Branch County District Court staff were home with COVID-19 two weeks ago. And Branch County Commissioner Randall Hazelbaker attended meetings last week by ZOOM after a positive COVID-19 test.
Reported cases range from mild to severe, but no hospitalizations.
Wednesday’s weekly statistics reported to the state are low because most who feel ill and take-home tests do not report their cases, health staff said.
Branch County showed only 10 reported cases in the prior seven days.
Statewide hospitalizations on Wednesday were 503, up from less than 100 a week in July.
In the Southwest Michigan eight-county Region Five, which includes Branch County, 144 were in ICU.
Reported COVID-19 deaths continue to drop even though cases are increasing. Statewide, less than two COVID-19 deaths per week were reported in September.
“We will continue to use what is recommended as best practice from the Center for Disease Control," Burns said.
That includes:
- If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least five days and isolate from others in your home.
- You are likely most infectious during these first five days.
- Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.
- Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
- Wear a mask if you must leave home.
- Use a separate bathroom, if possible, and don’t share personal household items like cups, towels, and utensils.
- Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign like trouble breathing, seek emergency medical care immediately.
- You must be fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication, and your symptoms are improving to end isolation.
- If your symptoms are not improving, continue to isolate until you are fever-free.
- If you have no symptoms, you may end isolation after day five.
Burns said free testing kits are now available again by ordering online from the federal government.
The BHSJ Health Agency ordered the commercial new COVID-19 vaccine and is waiting for shipments.
Burns said, “It’s a little bit difficult with Moderna, a little bit easier with Pfizer. But we’re working on getting that in. We do have some of the new vaccine available for children.”
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New vaccines may be available at pharmacies and doctors’ offices.
Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurance will cover them at no cost.
Contact Don Reid: [email protected].
