COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Concerns among local health officials about new COVID-19 infections and exposures have become a reality over the last week.
Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Health Officer Rebecca Burns reported to the Board of Health on Thursday that there have been 73 new cases in the jurisdiction between June 17 and 24 with 50 of the cases in St. Joseph County, 17 in Branch County and six in Hillsdale County.
Burns says some of these new infections took place during an in-person meeting and training session that was held in a room in which no one wore a mask. Other new cases were work acquired then transmitted to family.
Burns says she sent an email requesting that community leaders help set the example and spread the word about wearing masks.
She added that if you are inside with other people who are not your immediate family for any period of time, wear a mask and if others are not wearing a mask, consider leaving.
Burns said now is not a good time to bring people together for meetings or training sessions and they should be held by such outlets as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Residents are being asked to not congregate in groups and to continue to practice social distancing.
Personal Health & Disease Prevention Director Kali Nichols says as of June 17th, they have responded to about 2400 Covid-19 confirmed or related cases and that they are currently tracing about 110 people.
Nichols says there has been an increase of Covid-19 cases lately in the Amish community. She said they have been continuing to push education and information out into the Amish community and have also discussed potentially providing some mass testing for this group. Nichols reported the increase has become apparent in those who are drivers for the Amish population as well.
