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Updates I March 27-29, 2020
Latest COVID-19 Update Videos I Public Health | County Operations & Spanish
Media Contact: Kristina Wieghmink, OCDPH public information officer
kwieghmink@miottawa.org I mobile/text 616-510-8523
 Case Counts
As of March 29, 2020, Ottawa County has 26 positive COVID-19 cases. Positive case counts are updated daily by 4 pm at www.miOttawa.org/miHealth. Zip codes were added to the website, indicating where laboratory-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 are located. However, providing the public with information about where an infected person may have been, is not an effective measure of COVID-19 disease prevention. What we know about this new coronavirus, so far, is that it is not like measles where it lingers in the air for several hours making location information an urgent and needed public notice. At this point, the new coronavirus can be viewed similarly to influenza (flu) circulating in the community, which could be anywhere and public health officials wouldn’t have complete information about every location where someone with flu has been.
Since there is evidence of COVID-19 spread throughout our community, every location should be considered a potential risk. People of any age, even those who do not have any symptoms, could be a carrier of the virus. This is why we all must do our part and Stay Home – Stay Safe – Save Lives (EO 2020-21) to slow the spread of the virus. We must follow social distancing and exceptional hygiene to minimize exposure and break the chain of infection.
Learn more about public health outbreak responses in our Annual Report (page 18).
Adults Age 65 and Older
8 out of 10 deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. are adults age 65 and older. Be sure to stay connected with the elderly by calling or using video chat to see how they're doing and if they need anything. Older people are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 which may result in increased stress during a crisis. Fear and anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions.
Resources to support the unique needs of older adults:
Tips for Older Adults I People Who are at Higher Risk
Watch a CDC video: COVID-19: What older adults need to know
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Stress and Coping
The outbreak of COVID-19 may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in.
People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include
- Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19.
- Children and teens.
- People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders.
- People who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use.
Stress & Coping Resources
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include
- Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones.
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
- Worsening of chronic health problems.
- Increased use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.
Need Help? Know Someone Who Does?
If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call 911. People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms.
Taking care of yourself, your friends and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make our community stronger.
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 Prevent COVID-19 - #OttawaStaysHome Challenge
Ottawa County urging people to Stay Home - Stay Safe!
For the next several weeks, residents remain under the state's Stay Home – Stay Safe – Save Lives order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Staying home is difficult, so the Ottawa County Department of Public Health is inviting residents to participate in the #OttawaStaysHome challenge. The challenge asks the community to share on social media why they stay home or show what they are doing to occupy the time.
Use the hashtag #OttawaStaysHome across platforms. The county will share its favorite posts, images and videos. Be creative! Do a distance dance on Tik Tok. Share a picture of a health care hero on Instagram. Boast about a latest DIY project on Facebook. The county's hope is that collectively, these messages will show our community that everyone has to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Although the #OttawaStaysHome challenge might be fun, Ottawa County urges residents to take the Stay Home – Stay Safe – Save Lives order seriously. Since there is no vaccine and no treatment for COVID-19, social distancing is the best defense against the disease. The sooner everyone adheres to the disease control measures as outlined in the executive order, the sooner everyone can resume their lives.
Messages from the Sheriff’s Office
We are encouraging businesses and school to keep lights on (at least in part) so as to deter criminal activity during this time of crisis. For questions or concerns, visit www.miOttawa.org/Sheriff.
OTTAWA COUNTY PARKS
The Stay Home-Stay Safe order (EO 2020-21) allows people to ‘engage in outdoor activity, including walking, hiking, running, cycling or any other recreational activity consistent with remaining at least six feet from people from outside the individual’s household. We want people to use and enjoy the parks and open spaces. It is extremely important that parks are NOT areas of congregation at this time.
If it becomes evident that people continue to disregarding effective social distancing while visiting the Ottawa County parks and open spaces, we will have NO other choice but to close them to protect the health of our community.
EO 2020-21 VIOLATION REPORTING
If you feel you need to report a violation of EO 2020-21, please see the reference links below to see if your questions can be answered. To report violations, send an email to StayHomeStaySafeComplaints@miottawa.org. Include the date/time, business name, address and description of the violation you believe is occurring. Emails submitted will be reviewed by an officer and evaluated to determine appropriate action. 911 is for emergency calls ONLY.
Attorney General's Critical Infrastructure Guide
COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses I FAQs I Factsheet
Stay Home-Stay Safe one-page summaries English I Spanish
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Ottawa County COVID-19 Response Update
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Shannon Behm, VP of Volunteerism and Ottawa County Volunteer Lead: “As volunteer opportunities arise, volunteers are responding quickly and needs are being met. This week we created a team of volunteers who, in pairs, are shopping for seniors who lack other family or community support. These volunteers have been given ID badges; they contact the seniors for their list of needs, shop for food and other supplies and deliver to the seniors’ doors. To sign up to receive this service, dial 2-1-1 from any phone.”
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Lyn Raymond, Director of Lakeshore Housing Alliance, a United Way program: “The social distancing rules that went into effect this week have reduced the capacity in our shelters, and we are working with member agencies to identify available alternate housing for people experiencing homelessness. All member agencies are staying connected to stay abreast of developments at the state and federal levels, and we are planning for the future when evictions are no longer on hold, which as of now is April 17. Ottawa County citizens … who wish to advocate for our neighbors who are homeless or at risk of homelessness … can sign up for advocacy alerts: To do this, text ALERTS to 50503 … that’s A – L – E – R – T – S …to FIVE OH FIVE OH THREE.”
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Liz DeLaLuz, VP of Community Impact and Chair, Emergency Food & Shelter Program: ‘We are in contact with all of our community nonprofits to ascertain their needs for money, goods, and volunteers. With the shelter-in-place rules going into effect this week, the best way to help now when travel is limited is to donate in dollars what you might have spent at the store. Go to www.careottawacounty.com and click 1Donate.’”
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Patrick Moran, GOCUW President and Human Services Response Team (HSRT) Principal: “We are grateful for the generous response of individuals, companies and churches whose monetary donations are helping to sustain all of our human services programs … so that they can meet the community’s increasing needs. This week the Ottawa County COVID-19 response fund received $65,000 from Meijer (which was part of a four million dollar grant to United Ways in Meijer’s midwestern footprint) and $10,000 from Engedi (En GED ee) Church of Holland. Consumers Energy Foundation has committed 250,000 dollars statewide, which is being disbursed to local communities through the Michigan Association of United Ways. Consumers Energy Foundation will also match the donations of local Consumers employees to the response fund. We anticipate the needs in all areas to grow as more people feel the effects of unemployment or underemployment … so, to those who remain employed and able to give, your donation of any amount at www.careottawacounty.com is greatly appreciated. And if you need help, help is a phone call away at 2-1-1.”
 Critical Infrastructure Guide
Many business owners and employees are confused about whether their organization is considered essential. The Department of the Attorney General has expanded on how to apply EO 2020-21. The following guide is a list of categories considered to be critical and essential to protecting the health and safety of our community. Please read through these guides to find answers to your questions before reporting any violations to StayHomeStaySafeComplaints@miottawa.org. Willful violations of the order can result in a $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail for each violation.
Attorney General's Critical Infrastructure Guide
COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses I FAQs I Factsheet
Stay Home-Stay Safe one-page summaries English I Spanish
911 is for emergency calls ONLY.
Subscribe to State Updates
Governor Whitmer I Attorney General
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Learn more at miOttawa.org/miHealth and miOttawa.org/AnnualHealthReports.
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