To avoid loss of funds under SB 68, BHSJCHA quarantine order rescinded

COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Health Officer Rebecca Burns announced during a special meeting of the Health Board Thursday afternoon that the quarantine order issued on September 22 is being rescinded at midnight tonight.

This comes after the budget signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer includes Senate Bill 68 that would take funding away from local health departments that issues an emergency COVID-19 order. The Community Health Agency said they faced a loss of approximately $1 million in state budget funding.

Gov. Whitmer says SB 68 was “unconstitutional.” But legal counsel for the BHSJCHA said the order stands until ruled otherwise in a court of law.

Burns said they did not want to take any chances with their state funding.

She went on to say their essential health programs were to important to the communities they serve.

Under the September 22 order, a parent of a student could opt for the 10 day quarantine, a seven day quarantine with a negative test, or if their student wears a mask there are options to stay in school by wearing a mask and participating in daily testing.

The statement from the agency went on to say, “Although local health departments are unable to enact public health orders to protect against COVID-19 without jeopardizing funding, businesses, educational institutions, and individuals can institute mitigation factors that help to prevent transmission of COVID-19 including quarantining individuals that have had a close contact, requiring masks be worn indoors, keeping sick people at home and getting vaccinated when eligible.” Burns stated, “I am particularly concerned about those children that remain unprotected against COVID-19 because they are not yet eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Local health departments in Michigan are having to choose between safeguarding individuals from the threat of COVID-19 and the future funding of essential local public health programs. We make these decisions with grave concern over the health of our communities.”