Health department warns residents of high level of COVID-19 transmission

Steve Foley, The Petoskey News-Review
·4 min read

As the holiday season is now here, 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 Lisa Peacock, health officer with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan.

Lisa Peacock
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, Peacock noted.

Currently, Michigan has one of the highest rates in the nation of new cases per population for the past seven days.

On Nov. 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 U.S. 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, the following has been reported in the MI Safe Start Map, which tracks pandemic risk indicators:

— Percent positivity from Nov. 16-22. (This is the number of positive PCR tests over the last seven days divided by the total number of PCR tests over the last seven 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 Nov. 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 said. "It will take everyone — working together — to protect those who cannot be vaccinated or who are at greater risk of serious illness or death.”

According to data from the health department, as of Nov. 24 there has been a total of 13,481 cases in the four-county region since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 including 2,774 in Antrim County, 2,977 in Charlevoix County, 3,872 in Emmet County and 3,848 in Otsego County.

Additionally, there have been a total of 205 COVID-19 associated deaths since the start of the pandemic including 42 in Antrim, 42 in Charlevoix, 55 in Emmet and 66 in Otsego County.

Four COVID-19 associated deaths were reported to the health department on Nov. 19 including two in Otsego County and one each in Antrim and Charlevoix County.

Personal responsibility includes the following, according to the health department:

• 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, or to schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine visit www.nwhealth.org.

A parent/guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18 to a COVID-19 clinic. The health department also asks individuals to 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.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Health department warns residents of high level of COVID-19 transmission