Update – Health Department of Northwest Michigan

November 25, 2020 – Public Health Statement

Lisa Peacock, Health Officer
Health Department of Northwest Michigan and Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department

Locally, we have experienced up to 10-fold increases in cases across northern Michigan over the past 2 months. In fact, HDNW has gotten over 1200 of our 2200+ cases and BLDHD has gotten over 300 of our 600+ cases since November 1.  Our hospital systems are reporting they are reaching critical capacity limits for both beds and staffing. The deaths and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in our region have reached the highest they have ever been and the COVID-19 risk level for all our counties is now considered highest risk, signifying widespread community transmission.

Therefore, many local health departments have issued Public Health Advisories to provide heightened guidance for our residents to best protect themselves and others. These Public Health Advisories:

HDNW: http://www.nwhealth.org/newsreleases/NR%20201123%20HDNW%20Public%20Health%20Advisory.pdf

BLDHD: https://link.zixcentral.com/u/06da8ceb/jn9Du2ku6xGARcah5F7kRg?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bldhd.org%2Flocal%2Fupload%2Ffile%2F11_23_20%2520BLDHD%2520Public%2520Health%2520Advisory%281%29.pdf

These will remain in effect until lifted and will replace all previously issued Public Health Advisories. The cooperation of all businesses and residents in following best practices and safety precautions is needed to prevent an unmanageable surge on our local healthcare systems, to protect the health and safety of citizens, as well as to prevent additional restrictions and closures.

Our local health departments continue to urge everyone to wear a facial covering in public places, practice social distancing, and exercise good hand hygiene and to comply with the public health orders issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). We are particularly concerned about the potential for increased gathering with others, travel, and movement in and about local business establishments during the upcoming holiday celebrations which presents additional risk to our hospitals, business, and community members.

It is easy to ‘let our guard down’ in what has always been deemed our safe places, our homes and those of our good friends and relatives. Unfortunately, viral transmission is most common, and infection rates are increased, with prolonged exposure times indoors especially when in close proximity to others, which describes typical gatherings with family and close friends.  In order to protect our residents, visitors, and employees, local health departments are urging individuals and businesses to abide by several guidelines outlined in the public health advisories, including limiting personal exposure opportunities through strict guidelines for travel and allowable gatherings as well as instructions about testing, isolation, and quarantine intended to empower individuals and businesses to immediately take these steps when necessary.

The advisories acknowledge that while indoor spaces present increased risk for coronavirus transmission, schools and businesses currently allowed to remain open should strictly adhere to state and local guidance to maintain lower risk environments. Customers are encouraged to continue to support local businesses but are advised to opt for pickup and delivery whenever possible. Time spent shopping or otherwise inside indoor public spaces should be minimized. Schools are encouraged to continue following their school board approved COVID-19 preparedness and response plans, in addition to utilizing state and local guidance as needed. All residents and businesses are urged to follow all these safety precautions. Failure to do so will perpetuate the spread of COVID-19 and cause prolonged harm to people and businesses. Our hope is that by following these simple guidelines, the risk for spreading COVID-19 lowers significantly, protecting everyone who lives, works, and plays in beautiful northern Michigan. 

In closing, we acknowledge that this Thanksgiving is going to be very different and very difficult for many people.  However, our hope is that through dedication and compliance to the safety precautions designed to protect us all, we will begin to see stabilization and perhaps reversal of the recent disturbing upward trends of pandemic risk indicators.  It is our hope that we can approach the anticipated vaccine distribution with the strength of a hopeful and united community.