Health Officer says workers dealing with burn out, threats from the public

COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – As if battling a worldwide pandemic is not bad enough, Health Officer Rebecca Burns told the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Board of Health on Thursday that tired health workers continue to bump up against people who malign their efforts and continue to state their disbelief of the science.

Burns said it is not unusual for their staff to be threatened and to feel unsafe.

Burns is fearful some public health workers will leave the field due to the belligerent attitude some members of the public have.

Burns said they continue to be proud of the efforts of the agency team, their volunteers, the Michigan National Guard and partner agencies.

She said in her report, “Those that are still here do this work because they passionately believe in the value of what they do, but it continues to be harder when they feel their work is not supported.”