MDHHS offering new feature to connect residents with COVID treatments

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is announcing a new tool for Michigan residents and health care providers to help locate COVID-19 treatments across the state.

Users may search to find sites and locations that have therapeutic options available, including monoclonal antibodies, oral antivirals and Evusheld, a preventative treatment for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. The site provides phone numbers, operating hours and information about which therapeutics are available.

“The antiviral medication can help prevent severe illness and hospitalization when taken within five days of the first COVID-19 symptoms,” said Dr. Joshua Meyerson, District Health Department Four Medical Director. “All qualified health care providers can prescribe these therapeutics to patients who are at increased risk for developing severe COVID-19.”

Retail chain pharmacies that have oral antivirals in stock include Meijer, Walgreens, Rite-Aid and CVS, in addition to select independent pharmacy locations. A prescription from a physician or advanced practice clinician is required to pick up medication at the pharmacy.

All individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should talk to their doctor to see if they are eligible to receive one of the COVID therapeutics.

For more information on therapeutics, visit Michigan.gov/CoronavirusResources. For more information on COVID-19, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.

On May 23, there were a total of 14 new COVID-19 cases reported in the District Health Department Four four-county service area. There were two new cases in Alpena County, one new case in Presque Isle County and 11 new cases reported in Cheboygan County. There were no new reported cases in Montmorency County.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a total of 14,743 combined confirmed and probable cases of the virus. A probable case of the virus is where someone who has been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for the virus has developed symptoms of the virus themselves, but has not been tested. Of these almost 15,000 cases, there were 4,924 in Cheboygan County, 5,903 in Alpena County, 1,767 in Montmorency County and 2,149 in Presque Isle. There have also been 327 deaths in the four counties combined, as a result of COVID-19.

In the four county service area, there has been a total of 27,566 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine given by District Health Department Four staff to those who work and live in any of the four counties.

For more information on the local COVID-19 case numbers, visit the District Health Department Four dashboard website at www.dhd4.org/covid19. This dashboard is updated by health department staff on Mondays and Thursdays.

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: MDHHS offering new feature to connect residents with COVID treatments