Local Public Health Response to COVID-19

Tuesday March 17, 2020

As of March 17, 2020 at 11:00 a.m., there are no cases of COVID-19 in Branch, Hillsdale, or St. Joseph counties.

Within the State of Michigan there are 54 cases of COVID-19 and testing continues daily. In Branch, Hillsdale and St. Joseph counties 20 individuals have been approved for testing using state guidelines. Of these 20 tests, 7 are negative for COVID-19, and the remaining 13 are still out for testing at the lab. There are currently no travelers being monitored within the three counties; meaning they have traveled to a Level 3 country.
view CDC after travel precautions

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency (BHSJCHA) and state authorities are making additional recommendations to prevent the spread of illness and slow any progression of a potential COVID-19 outbreak. These are proactive strategies.

BHSJCHA has information on our website at www.bhsj.org where there is a link to the State of Michigan COVID-19 page. We support the strong, preventive measures taken by Governor Whitmer and encourage all residents of Branch, Hillsdale, and St. Joseph counties to take them seriously, limiting gatherings of people and staying home. “I encourage everyone to stay calm and I want to reassure everyone that BHSJCHA, Your Local Health Department, is ready to respond immediately. We can all take measures to protect our family and friends by staying home, rescheduling mass gatherings, and practicing good personal hygiene,” says Rebecca Burns, Health Officer. The situation locally may change quickly. Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is relying on our community to continue practicing good, basic prevention strategies, like handwashing, and referring to official reliable sources of information for updates and guidance.

Response Actions
The BHSJCHA Health Alert Team is meeting regularly and working collaboratively with our county governments, our local schools, and others. If you call one of our main offices, you can select an option to speak with someone about COVID-19. This system is manned 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We know this possibility of local cases may cause concern, and we are working to share timely, accurate information without causing unnecessary alarm.

Prevention
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

Older adults over the age of 60 and people with chronic medical conditions have an increased risk for serious illness from COVID-19. If you are at a higher risk of getting sick from COVID- 19, you should take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others. When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often. The CDC is recommending that higher risk individuals avoid crowds, avoid visiting long-term care facilities, avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel as much as possible.

To help reduce the strain on our healthcare systems:

• If you are mildly sick, stay home instead of going to the doctor

• If you think you might have COVID-19 disease, call ahead to your doctor or clinic so that they can take special precautions

• Only go to the emergency department if you feel very sick, and call first.

All individuals should take the following precautions:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

• Avoid touching your face

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash

• Stay home when you are sick

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is committed to promoting wellness, preventing disease, providing health care, and protecting the environment.