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October 30, 2020
Media Contact: Kristina Wieghmink, public information officer
kwieghmink@miottawa.org I mobile/text 616-510-8523
This order is made pursuant to Section 2251 of the Michigan Public Health Code, MCL 333.2433 and MCL 333.2453; effective October 31, 2020 at 12:00 a.m. and remains in effect until November 14, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. If rates of infection among facility residents continue to rise, this order may be extended beyond November 14, 2020 or more restrictive measures may be required.
COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Ottawa County. As of October 29, 2020, there were 5,410 cases of COVID-19; and 1,870 (34.6%) of which were reported in October alone. Ottawa County has now been moved to the highest risk level (E) according to the MI Safe Start Map.
Since March 15, 2020, more than 25 Long-term Care Facilities (LTCF) in Ottawa County have experienced a COVID-19 outbreak, and 11 facilities are currently in outbreak status. Among the 132 COVID-19 cases who were residents of a LTCF, 41 have died, for a case-fatality rate of 31%; nearly 18 times higher than the overall Ottawa County COVID-19 case-fatality rate of 1.7%.
"Epidemiological evidence indicates widespread transmission of COVID-19 in Ottawa County, affecting most demographics and geographic areas," said Administrative Health Officer Lisa Stefanovsky. "Public health officials are requiring all medical and congregate care personnel to implement the order's mitigation strategies to protect vulnerable populations at long-term care facilities."
(includes adult care facilities, assisted living facilities, home for the aged, residential care facilities and long-term care facilities)
Read More of the Full Order
Visitation
a. Except as otherwise provided in this or any subsequent orders, facilities must prohibit visitors from entering their facilities. For purposes of this order, visitation includes indoor and outdoor visitation unless otherwise specified.
b. Visitation restrictions do not apply to:
- Window visits when a barrier is maintained between the resident and visitor. Accommodations shall be made for residents without access to ground floor window or window that does not open to an area accessible to the visitor. Accommodations may include utilizing a visitation room or space with a window or door access to visitor.
- A parent, foster parent, or guardian of a resident who is 21 years of age or under.
- Visits that support Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) or visits that are necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with hearing, vision or speech impairments Facilities with residents that had ADL arrangements prior to this order, or residents that have had a change of condition that could be improved with ADL arrangements, must attempt to contact the resident’s next of kin or an individual identified by the resident in partnership with the local ombudsman to establish arrangements. Except in circumstances where the visitor tests positive for COVID-19, facilities that deny visitation under this section must provide written notice to the visitor with an explanation of why visitation is being denied. The denial notice must also be sent to MDHHS and the local LTC ombudsman.
- Visits that occur when a resident is in serious or critical condition or in hospice care. Except in circumstances where the visitor tests positive for COVID-19, facilities that deny visitation under this section must provide written notice to the visitor with an explanation of why visitation is being denied. The denial notice must also be sent to MDHHS and the local LTC ombudsman.
- Medical service providers such as hospice providers, podiatrists, dentists, durable medical equipment providers, social workers and other behavioral health providers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other health care providers. These services must be provided outdoors or in a well-ventilated area whenever possible. If services must be provided indoors, the facility must restrict movement within the facility to the greatest extent possible to reduce the risk of infection.
- Non-medical service providers, such as hairdressers, nail salon technicians, cosmetologists, and providers of religious or spiritual services, when it is determined by a qualified medical professional that there will be an actual or potential negative impact on the resident when the service is not provided, and the resident will not benefit from remote service delivery. These services may be provided to residents who have never been diagnosed with COVID-19, or who are no longer in the infectious period for COVID-19 per CDC guidance. These services must be provided outdoors or in a well-ventilated area whenever possible. If services must be provided indoors, the facility must restrict movement within the facility to the greatest extent possible to reduce the risk of infection.
- Resident physicians or other clinical students.
- Volunteers who have been trained in infection control measures and are supporting visitation (e.g. scheduling visits, conducting screening of visitors, escorting visitors or residents to visitation location, and/or monitoring visits for infection control compliance).
The Ottawa County residential care order expounds on the MDHHS emergency order for residential care visitations.
This order is effective on October 26, and remains in effect until lifted. Ottawa County is in risk level E according to the MI Safe Start Map.
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