 What COVID-19 prevention
strategies should I consider now?
You may be wondering what COVID-19 prevention strategies you should consider now that CDC COVID-19 Community Levels vary across the state and the country, and now that the summer travel season is upon us. Currently, Ottawa County remains in the 'Low' category, but you may be planning to visit somewhere in the 'Medium' or 'High' categories. Here are some prevention strategies you can consider.
If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease:
- Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions, like getting tested for COVID-19. Free adult KN95 masks are available for pick up at OCDPH's office located at 12251 James Street in Holland.
- Have a plan for testing. This includes having at-home tests available or accessing community testing. Free at-home test kits are still available at covid.gov and OCDPH continues to offer free community testing at all of our locations. Dates and times for testing clinics are available here.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments if you do become infected. Have a plan to make sure you can get treated as soon as possible.
If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease:
- Consider at-home testing to identify if you are infected before spending time with them.
- Consider wearing a mask when indoors with them.
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. The CDC has strengthened its guidance to recommending that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a second booster dose at least 4 months after their first.
Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible.
Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.
Learn more about CDC COVID-19 Community Levels, and individual, household and community prevention tips here.
 Following FDA authorization and CDC recommendations last week, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster doses are now available for kids ages 5-11. CDC recommendations now state that kids in this age group should receive a booster shot 5 months after their second dose of the initial two-dose vaccine series. Find more information about vaccine eligibility here. Booster doses are available by appointment at OCDPH, or at our walk-in clinic from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on Mondays. Other vaccine clinics near you can be found at www.vaccinatewestmi.com. As always, if you have questions about whether your child should receive a vaccine or booster, please contact your pediatrician or health care provider.
What is COVID-19 rebound?
The CDC recently issued an advisory alerting the public to the potential for recurrence of COVID-19 infection or “COVID-19 rebound” after use of Paxlovid. Paxlovid continues to be recommended for early-stage treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 for persons at high risk for progression to severe disease. Paxlovid treatment helps prevent hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. COVID-19 rebound has been reported to occur in people who have COVID-19, who take Paxlovid and seem to recover, but then 2 to 8 days later, begin to experience returning COVID-19 symptoms or test positive again after testing negative. A brief return of symptoms may be part of the natural course of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection in some people, regardless of whether they have been treated with Paxlovid, and regardless of their vaccination status. Limited information currently available from case reports suggests that in people treated with Paxlovid who experience COVID-19 rebound, the symptoms have been mild; there are no reports of severe disease. At this time, there is no recommendation for additional treatment with Paxlovid or other anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapies in cases where COVID-19 rebound is suspected.
Regardless of whether you or someone you know has been treated with an antiviral medication, risk of transmission during COVID-19 rebound can be managed by following CDC’s guidance on isolation, including taking other precautions such as masking.
Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination lowers the risk of getting COVID-19 and helps prevent serious outcomes of COVID-19, such as severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
- You may be experiencing COVID-19 rebound if you have been diagnosed in the past 2 weeks and have recovered from COVID-19 and then experience returning COVID-19 symptoms or develop newly positive test results after recovery and/or testing negative.
- If you experience COVID-19 rebound, you should follow CDC’s isolation guidance. Isolate again and restart the recommended 5-day isolation period at the time of recurrence of symptoms or a new positive COVID-19 test result. You can end re-isolation after 5 days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your symptoms are improving. You should also wear a mask for 10 days from the beginning of your COVID-19 rebound symptoms.
- Contact a healthcare provider if your COVID-19 rebound symptoms persist or worsen.
- Consult with your health care provider if you have additional questions about your treatment.
- You are encouraged to report a possible case of COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment to Pfizer using the following online tool: Pfizer Safety Reporting.
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How wastewater surveillance is helping
detect COVID-19 in Ottawa County
Wastewater surveillance, also referred to as wastewater-based epidemiology, has been around since the 1940s, but has recently gained attention for its use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wastewater surveillance is a non-invasive, quick, cost-effective and anonymous surveillance approach that can detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (ribonucleic acid, the genetic material of the virus) within a population through fecal matter found in sewage. This method of surveillance can detect SARS-CoV-2 in the community earlier than diagnostic testing, such as PCR tests or at-home tests, since the virus is shed from the body regardless of whether an individual is showing symptoms. Wastewater surveillance can be used in combination with testing to help identify when there is more or less COVID-19 in the community, allowing early detection to prevent the spread of disease.
Field teams collect samples using varying techniques depending on whether the sample is being collected from sewage pipes or wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Samples are then taken to a laboratory to test for the amount of SARS-CoV-2 RNA genetic material present. Some samples are also tested for COVID-19 variants. Locally, wastewater sampling and testing is coordinated by Hope College and Grand Valley State University. Samples are being collected at WWTPs in the Holland-Zeeland and Grand Haven-Spring Lake areas, as well as in Allendale. OCDPH is monitoring local wastewater data, along with case counts, reported test positivity and hospitalizations to make informed public health decisions and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
You can find more information on local wastewater surveillance in Ottawa County’s Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiology reports, or through other resources offered by the State of Michigan.
 Wastewater collection by Hope College. Photo credit: Jon Lundstrom.
 Wastewater testing by Grand Valley State University. Photo credit: GVSU-AWRI.
FDA limits use of Janssen's COVID-19
vaccine to certain individuals
On May 5th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limited the authorized use of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine to individuals 18 years of age and older for whom other authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate, and to individuals 18 years of age and older who elect to receive the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine because they would otherwise not receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Based on its investigation, the FDA has determined that the risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) warrants limiting the authorized use of the vaccine. TTS is a syndrome of rare and potentially life-threatening blood clots in combination with low levels of blood platelets. TTS linked with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has most frequently presented within 10 days to two weeks following vaccine administration. If you received a Janssen COVID-19 vaccine more than two weeks ago and have not developed any symptoms of TTS, you do not need to worry that you will develop TTS as a result of vaccination.
You can read more about the FDA's decision here.
Q&A
Is the COVID-19 vaccine linked to the recent increase of hepatitis in children?
Recently, false claims have surfaced promoting a link between the COVID-19 vaccine and the recent increase in cases of hepatitis in children. We want to assure you that there is no evidence of a link between these increases and the vaccine. In fact, according to the CDC and the World Health Organization, many of the children with hepatitis were either too young to be eligible for vaccination or had not been vaccinated at all. Preliminary data suggests that adenovirus may be a factor in some of these cases of hepatitis, though more information is needed.
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Is it safe to be vaccinated while breastfeeding?
Another recent false claim circulating on social media states that breastfeeding after vaccination is not advised. This information appears to cite a 2020 document from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, a United Kingdom government organization, which stated that at the time of the document’s release, there was not sufficient evidence to determine if breastfeeding was safe after vaccination. The document has since been updated to reflect the current data, which shows that breastfeeding after vaccination is safe for mother and infant.
Although the overall risks are low, if you are pregnant or were recently pregnant, you are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. Recent studies show that receiving COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy and breastfeeding is safe for both the mother and the baby and it can protect you from getting sick with COVID-19.
LEARN MORE
 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 June 1, 48 new cases of COVID-19 were reported each day on average over the last 7 days, a decrease from the 61 daily reported cases over the previous 7-day period. Test positivity may be starting to decrease, with 23.5% of tests positive for SARS Co-V-2 as of May 28, lower than 23.8% reported the week prior. Trends in COVID-19 wastewater data from Holland and Zeeland are showing a downtrend. Because these reports do not include results in people tested with antigen test kits at home, true case counts may be underreported.
CDC COVID-19 Community Levels
 Ottawa County is currently in the low COVID-19 Community Level.
Where to Find COVID-19 Vaccines
The OCDPH lists 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 eligible individuals aged 18 years or older.
- 1st boosters are recommended for anyone 5 years or older.
- 2nd boosters are now available for adults age 50 and older and some immunocompromised individuals.
- 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.
- Bring your vaccination card with you if you're receiving a second dose or booster.
- 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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