Ottawa County Updates I June 16

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Media Contact: Kristina Wieghmink, OCDPH public information officer
kwieghmink@miottawa.org I mobile/text 616-510-8523

**The Facebook LIVE briefings and bulletin updates are provided every Tuesday, or as needed, until further notice.**

We are saddened to report additional COVID-19 deaths, since our last bulletin update on June 9, 2020. All decedents had underlying health conditions. Our thoughts go out to their family during this difficult time.

• A male in his 60s
• Two females in their 90s

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Click the image to expand. Sources: Michigan Disease Surveillance System, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

Click the image to expand. Source: E.M Resource System

The COVID-19 Pandemic is NOT Over

Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-115 permits the re-opening of most business facilities and other gatherings, with some restrictions, as a part of the Michigan Safe Start Plan. However, we know the risk of being exposed and spreading COVID-19 is still present in our community. We also know that certain factors (like frequency of interactions, length of interactions and proximity to other people) among others can increase one’s risk of exposure to COVID-19. We continue to recommend each person and organization review and follow the mitigation guidance put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce risk.

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Looking for Reopening Guidelines? 

Visit miOttawa.org/miHealth to access the Business Response Center.

As of today, Ottawa County (Region 2) is still in Phase 4 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan. 

Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing Site in Holland

InterCare is now offering drive-thru testing in Ottawa County at 285 James St, Holland, MI 49424 on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am-2pm (hours subject to change). No appointment necessary. Call (855) 869-6900 for more information about InterCare's COVID-19 testing or visit intercare.org/covid-19.

This is why we serve

Public health caring for our community!

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The Ottawa County Food Safety team is reminding everyone that masks are still required under executive orders and are an effective way to limit the spread of COVID-19. Please continue to protect your food service employees, cashiers, custodians and other people in the public that you may come in contact with when you leave your house. Food Service Establishments licensed by Ottawa County have been issued information about reopening requirements. Some important requirements include daily illness screenings, regular disinfecting, mask use, social distancing and written plans for COVID-19 response.

If you are a customer or other member of the public who has concerns about a restaurant’s procedures, please visit www.miottawa.org/food.

Studies about masks:

The role of community-wide wearing of face mask for control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic due to SARS-CoV-2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7177146/

A rapid systematic review of the efficacy of face masks and respirators against coronaviruses and other respiratory transmissible viruses for the community, healthcare workers and sick patients https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7191274/

Surgical mask partition reduces the risk of non-contact transmission in a golden Syrian hamster model for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa644/5848814

Buyer Beware
How to Avoid Scams, Fraud & Rumor During an Emergency

When a disaster or emergency affects a community, it’s normal for the people in that community to come together. Many people go out of their way to care for each other and find ways to get involved. But other people may try to profit off or take advantage of people’s fear and anxiety. The amount of scams has risen since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. Reports to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) show that scams have cost the public millions since the beginning of January. READ MORE

How to protect yourself & others

As scammers and fraudsters get more advanced in their planning and execution, it’s important that everyone be careful. Here are some tips from the Federal Communications Commission to help you protect yourself from scams, including coronavirus scams:

• Protect important paperwork and keep personal information secure. That includes never sharing your personal or financial information through email, text messages, or over the phone.
• Don’t open or respond to calls, texts, or emails from unknown senders. Scammers often spoof phone numbers to trick you into answering or responding. Spoofing makes it appear as if their phone call is coming from a known or trusted phone number or familiar geographic location.
• Be cautious if you’re being pressured to share personal information over email or the phone. Government agencies will never call you to ask for personal information or money.
• Hover over links (hold the mouse cursor) sent to you in an email or text message. If anyone sends you a text or email with a suspicious link and spelling errors, or if the message just seems out of character for the sender (maybe a friend or family member), call them to make sure they weren’t hacked.
• Do your homework: Check to make sure a charity is legitimate by calling them or looking at its actual website before donating.
• Report COVID-19 and other disaster-related scams to the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov.

CDC Media Telebriefing: Update on COVID-19

On Friday, June 12, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided an update to media on the COVID-19 response. Presented by Robert Redfield, M.D., CDC Director and Jay C. Butler, M.D., CDC’s Deputy Director of Infectious Diseases and COVID-19 Response Incident Manager. READ MORE & LISTEN

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Governor Whitmer to Provide Update on State’s Response to COVID-19

WHEN: Wednesday, June 17 at 11 a.m.

WHO: Governor Gretchen Whitmer and MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun

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New Analysis Shows Governor Whitmer’s Aggressive Action Against COVID-19 Saved Lives, Significantly Lowered Cases, Deaths  

Very few states dropped their infection rate as low for as long as Michigan 

A new report released by the Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team shows that the aggressive actions Governor Whitmer took to protect Michigan families from the spread of COVID-19 have significantly lowered the number of cases and deaths that would have occurred had the state done nothing. The data shows that very few states dropped their infection rate as low for as long as Michigan. 

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Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Extending Capacity for Disaster Relief Child Care Services for Essential Workforce 

Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-117, which continues expanded access and capacity for child care services, giving priority to essential workforces. The Executive Order takes effect immediately and continues through July 7, 2020. 

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State of Michigan Launches Online Map of Free Wi-Fi Hotspots  to Help Residents Lacking Access to Broadband Internet 

The State of Michigan, in partnership with the Connected Nation Michigan, released a statewide Wi-Fi hotspot map to assist residents who currently lack internet access at home. The COVID-19 pandemic and transition to remote and distance learning has only increased the need for residents and students to have easy access to broadband services. The Wi-Fi mapping effort, spearheaded by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and Connected Nation Michigan, along with the Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) and the Michigan Department of Education, is an interim step amid the coronavirus pandemic to spotlight publicly available broadband hotspots for households without internet access.   

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MDHHS Issues Order to Protect Nursing Home Residents
and Staff from COVID-19

Order requires testing and reporting; additional efforts address accuracy of nursing facility data, staffing, infection control practices

To help protect residents and staff at nursing facilities from COVID-19, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon issued an Order requiring regular testing and timely and accurate reporting of cases, deaths, personal protective equipment and staffing shortages.  

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COVID-19 In Washtenaw County: A Health Equity Series

There are many health equity concerns that have arisen or worsened under COVID-19. This four-part series will discuss current health equity issues related to the pandemic as well as resources and strategies to address them, particularly in Washtenaw County, MI. While the series will emphasize the Washtenaw County, MI context, content may be of interest to community members and public health or social service practitioners more broadly.

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