COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Health Officer Rebecca Burns reported to the Board of Health on Thursday what steps will be taken as the State of Michigan is now moving into what is considered to be the Recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Case rates have dropped over the last month as the Omicron surge sputters to an end. The latest statistics show Branch County is just barely above the thresholds of having a high risk for the virus to spread.
As of Tuesday, the seven day positive rate was down to 10-point-9 percent after being as high as about 42 percent a month ago.
Also down significantly was the metric for weekly cases per 100,000. It has been reduced to 108 after it was up to nearly 1,800 in late January.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has withdrawn its Public Health Advisory on Masking in Indoor Public Settings. That includes school settings.
Burns said the Recovery phase is characterized by a decrease in cases with no immediate resurgence of the virus predicted. She reported, “It is a time of relaxing mitigation strategies when situations make it safe to do so. For example, now is a good time to have a birthday party bringing people together, but when we visit a loved one who lives in congregate care we wear a mask to protect them. In this phase public health will monitor conditions watching for conditions which could lead to a future surge.”
As Burns presented a graph which showed the steps that need to be taken as we move from a pandemic state to an endemic state with COVID-19.
Get vaccinated if you are not or ensure that you are up-to-date on all recommended doses.
While supplies are free and available, take advantage of the opportunity to obtain free over-the counter test kits to keep at home.
Free KN95 and N95 masks are currently available at no cost in Michigan, get some for your family while they are available.
When you are sick with COVID symptoms, stay home and get tested.
When visiting individuals that are immune compromised or at high risk for severe COVID disease, continue to use mitigation strategies which includes wearing a mask.
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