November 24, 2021 – Health Department of Northwest Michigan COVID-19 Update
As we enter the holiday season, Health Department of Northwest Michigan officials are warning residents of the current high level of COVID-19 transmission in the community.
“As people begin to gather indoors with family, friends, and others, we anticipate seeing an increase in cases, with hospitalizations and severe illnesses to follow,” said Health Officer Lisa Peacock. Health Department staff are urging everyone to take seriously the spread of COVID-19 and its lasting effect on individuals, school systems, businesses, and the community-at-large.
COVID-19 test positivity is high and the rate of new cases is on pace to meet or exceed any previous high. Currently, Michigan has one of the highest rates in the nation of new cases per population for the past seven days.
On November 19, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a Public Health Advisory for everyone to mask indoors when around people who are not from the same household. This is essentially an amplification of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation for indoor masking in all public places that has been in place since early August.
Current case trends in the health department’s jurisdiction of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties continue to be on the rise. As of November 23, as reported in the MI Safe Start Map:
- Percent positivity from November 16-22. This is the number of positive PCR tests over the last 7 days divided by the total number of PCR tests over the last 7 days:
- Antrim County – 17.4%
- Charlevoix County – 21.7%
- Emmet County – 12.7%
- Otsego County – 25.2%
- Weekly new cases per 100,000 people from November 16-22. This number represents the new COVID infections per week in a particular county. To adjust for population “per 100,000 people” is used:
- Antrim County – 476
- Charlevoix County – 574
- Emmet County – 320
- Otsego County – 673
“It’s about personal responsibility, which is key in fighting this pandemic and protecting our community,” Peacock stated. “It will take everyone – working together – to protect those who cannot be vaccinated or who are at greater risk of serious illness or death.”
Personal responsibility includes:
- Getting vaccinated. If unvaccinated, speak with your healthcare provider about the benefits of vaccination. The vaccine is free, safe, effective, and available at multiple locations throughout the region. Vaccines are now available for children ages five and older. Boosters are available for those 18 and older.
- Wearing a mask indoors, at work, school and anywhere in public when gathered around other people, even if vaccinated.
- Staying home when sick or not feeling well.
- Getting tested if having symptoms, even minor symptoms, or if exposed to someone with COVID. Do not spend time with others outside of your household while awaiting test results. Also seek testing prior to attending indoor gatherings.
For a list of vaccine providers and locations in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties, click here. To schedule an appointment with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan exclusively for children 5 to 11 years old, click here. To schedule an appointment with the health department for anyone 12 and older, click here. A parent/guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18 to a COVID-19 clinic. Please bring an insurance card to the appointment. Anyone with questions or unable to find a time or date that works for them and/or their child may call the health department at 800-432-4121.
To find a test site in the area, visit http://www.nwhealth.org/covid19main.html.
Stay up to date on the latest information in the Health Department of Northwest Michigan jurisdiction by liking and following our Facebook page and visiting our COVID-19 Data Dashboard. To locate a testing facility, visit the Michigan COVID-19 Test Finder website. To track the risk levels of COVID-19 pandemic indicators, visit the MI Safe Start Map website. For more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the MDHHS vaccine website or the CDC vaccine website.
