 Encouraging Signs for Ottawa County's Omicron Surge
Although we are still seeing an elevated number of COVID-19 cases at just over 3,000 last week, test positivity remains high at over 30%, and hospitalization numbers for COVID-19 are still elevated, we are cautiously optimistic about the decreases we are beginning to see in case rates, test positivity and adult COVID-19 hospitalizations in Ottawa County. Weekly case counts decreased 25% last week. All of these factors may be early signs that the Omicron surge may have peaked in the community. Although case counts in children decreased 27% last week, we are still concerned about the number of children hospitalized for COVID-19.
While we are hopeful that these decreases may mean the Omicron surge is beginning to decline, please continue to do what you can to protect yourself and others – wear a mask in public, stay home if you are sick and consider vaccination or a booster, if you are eligible.
Thank you for continuing to help others in our communities!
See our weekly COVID-19 epidemiology report here.
MIS-C Cases in Ottawa County Kids are Rising
Although we have highlighted the condition Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children (MIS-C) in a recent bulletin, we are doing so again due to new developments involving Ottawa County kids.
A total of 11 MIS-C cases have been reported in Ottawa County since the beginning of the pandemic. Six of these 11 cases were reported since November, all in children who were unvaccinated or ineligible for vaccination due to their young age. All 11 cases were hospitalized, and six were in the intensive care unit, but thankfully, no Ottawa County children have died as a result of this rare, but serious condition.
Although these numbers may seem small compared to the overall number cases of COVID-19 in children, it is important to remember that before the pandemic, OCDPH had not seen any cases of MIS-C. The increase in MIS-C cases tends to occur during COVID-19 case surges and times of high COVID-19 community transmission levels, as is occurring right now.
New research, published on January 14, studied the effectiveness of two doses of the Pfizer vaccine in children ages 12 to 18, and found that the vaccine was 91% effective in preventing MIS-C. You can read the study report here.
MIS-C is a condition in which different parts of the body become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. MIS-C can be serious, even deadly, though most children who are diagnosed with this condition get better with medical care. If your child has recovered from COVID-19, even if they didn't have symptoms or had mild symptoms, and they exhibit symptoms of MIS-C, call your pediatrician or healthcare provider right away.
 
Vaccine Clinics Offered in February
OCDPH is hosting family COVID-19 vaccination clinics throughout the month of February. Kids ages 5-17 and adults ages 18 and older can receive first and second vaccinations, or booster doses, which are recommended for anyone 12 and older. For more information on who is eligible for boosters, visit https://bit.ly/3uboj3T.
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Tuesday, February 15 | 7:00 am - 9:00 am | 12251 James Street in Holland
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Thursday, February 17 | 1:00 pm – 6:15 pm | 12251 James Street in Holland
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Friday, February 18 | 7:00 am - 9:00 am and 3:30 pm - 7:00 pm | 1207 South Beechtree Street in Grand Haven
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Monday, February 21 | 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm | 12251 James Street in Holland
You may walk in or schedule an appointment. Walk-ins will stop 15 minutes before the end of the clinic. Remember to bring your vaccination card with you if you are receiving a second dose or a booster. Appointment registration will be available on Thursday, February 10 at vaccinatewestmi.com/clinics.
How To Care For Your KN95 or N95 Respirator
As more and more people make the switch from cloth masks to N95 or KN95 respirators, it is important to remember the recommendations for respirator use and care.
It is acceptable to reuse your N95 or KN95 respirator, depending on the circumstances where you use it. You can contain your used respirator in a brown paper bag for at least five days in between uses, which should be enough time for the virus to become inactive. If you have used your respirator in a situation with high exposure, such as around a COVID-19 infected person, it is best to throw your respirator away. More information on how to safely store and reuse your respirator can be found here.
Stay Up-to-Date With Your Vaccines
As you may have heard, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's language has changed from using the phrase "fully vaccinated" to "staying up-to-date with your vaccines" to describe when an individual has received the vaccination series which provides the highest level of protection against COVID-19 and its variants. Staying up-to-date means receiving all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster doses when eligible. Find the current vaccine recommendations for each age group at CDC.gov.
Need Additional Assistance with Ordering Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests?
On January 14, the White House announced a new initiative to help ensure Americans have COVID-19 tests on hand in case they are needed. The website to order at-home testing kits, at no cost, has been live for a few weeks and is still accepting orders. Each household can receive four free test kits.
Some individuals may not have internet access or may need assistance with the ordering process. Those needing help with ordering can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
The Eldercare Locator and the Disability Information and Assistance Line (DIAL) can also assist older adults and people with disabilities with placing orders, connect people to accessible instructions, and help with administering the tests. Both phone lines are staffed Monday through Friday from 9:00 am - 8:00 pm (EST).
- Older adults can call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 Monday - Friday, or visit the website to chat live or browse resources.
- People with disabilities can contact DIAL by calling 1-888-677-1199 or by emailing DIAL@usaginganddisability.org. The DIAL information specialists are trained to work with people of various communications abilities, and will spend as much time as is needed to understand callers. Deaf and hard-of-hearing people can reach DIAL using the 711/Video Relay Service (VRS). To use this free service, simply dial 711 to be connected via text with a communications assistant. (For people who do not communicate through speech, sign language or VRS, email is the best option to communicate with DIAL.)
Two important notes:
- There are enough kits to fill orders for every residential address in the country.
- Orders began shipping at the end of January, for both people who placed their orders online or over the phone.
READ MORE
Ottawa County Family Enters Unique Sled into Popular Grand Haven Winterfest Event
Amy Sheele, OCDPH Health Educator, and her family had some fun and raised awareness of the importance of vaccination recently at the popular Cardboard Sled Race during Grand Haven's Winterfest in late January.
The Sheele's sled was built to look like a Pfizer syringe. The family sat underneath in their trek down the hill.
“We love participating in the Cardboard Sledrace and this was a great opportunity to promote the COVID-19 vaccine and have some fun,” said Dr. Kyle Kramer, Family Physician at Mercy Health.
Myths and Facts
Myth: The COVID-19 vaccines can have a negative impact on fertility.
Fact: There is currently no evidence that suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine, or any other vaccine, causes fertility issues in men or women. However, the CDC points out that "although the overall risks are low, people who are pregnant or recently pregnant are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. People who have COVID-19 during pregnancy are also at increased risk for preterm birth (delivering the baby earlier than 37 weeks) and stillbirth and might be at increased risk for other pregnancy complications." (Learn more here.) The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for people who are trying to get pregnant now or might become pregnant in the future, as well as for their partners. More information on vaccine safety and pregnancy can be found here.
Ottawa County Data Hub
Ottawa County publishes recent COVID-19 data relating to community transmission, counts, descriptive statistics and test positivity. The data hub is updated every weekday from Monday - Friday by 4:00 pm. View Data Hub
Weekly COVID-19 Data Reports can be found on our COVID page.
Ottawa County Case Rates
 As of February 3, 263 new cases of COVID-19 were reported each day on average over the last 7 days, down from the 538 daily reported cases over the previous 7-day period. Despite the early signs of improvement, case counts, incidence rates and test positivity are currently still high. Because these reports do not include results in people tested with antigen test kits at home, true case counts may be underreported.
COVID-19 Vaccinations in Ottawa County
 Coverage: 66.9% of all Ottawa County residents aged 5 years or older have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of February 4, 2022. More vaccine data from MDHHS can be found here.
Michigan Vaccination Rates
 Coverage: 64.6% of all Michigan residents aged 5 years or older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, as of February 4, 2022. More vaccine data from MDHHS can be found here.
Progress is based on the CDC data tracker, which includes Michigan residents vaccinated by providers not currently reporting to the state dashboard below: Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Bureau of Prisons, and most out-of-state providers. Data provided in the Michigan COVID-19 Dashboard slightly undercounts the true number of doses administered to Michigan residents. LEARN MORE
COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States
Where to Find COVID-19 Vaccines
The OCDPH is listing all of its COVID-19 vaccination clinics on VaccinateWestMi.com. Click on the calendar to find scheduling and walk-in opportunities in Ottawa County and the surrounding area.
- The Pfizer two-dose vaccine is available for individuals aged 5 years or older.
- The Moderna two-dose vaccine is available for individuals aged 18 years or older.
- The Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine is available for individuals aged 18 years or older.
- Boosters are now recommended for anyone 12 years or older.
- Proof of date of birth is required (driver’s license, state ID or birth certificate). Parental consent is required for minors. Find more details and requirements on each clinic's page.
- Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens.
 The Macatawa Area Express (MAX) and Allegan County Transportation are offering free rides for residents to vaccination appointments. To schedule a trip, call MAX at 616-355-1010. LEARN MORE - Kent County Vaccine Transportation Access Information HERE.
COVID-19 Testing
Need Testing? No-Cost Community Sites. Rapid antigen testing for anyone with or without symptoms (parental consent required for minors). Samples are taken by nasal swab. Results within 15-30 min. No appointment needed • No doctor’s order needed • No insurance needed • No fee • Please bring a form of ID • No pets allowed • Wear a face covering. Find locations, dates and times at www.miOttawa.org/covid19
MDHHS Resources
Vaccine Information I MI Vaccine Locations I FAQs
More COVID-19 Vaccine Information Resources
VaccinateWestMi.com FAQs I Deaf & Hard of Hearing FAQ Videos
CDC COVID-19 FAQs Flyer I CDC FAQ Website
Alternative Languages: Arabic | Spanish | Korean | Russian | Simplified Chinese | Tagalog | Traditional Chinese | Vietnamese
Click to learn more from the CDC's COVID-19 Webinars and Partner Calls Videos
The Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) sent this weekly update to those who signed up for vaccine notifications or COVID-19 updates. You may also sign up to receive information about other news topics from Ottawa County Parks, Sheriff’s Office and more. See the end of this email to make any changes to your subscription preferences.
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