COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Health Officer Rebecca Burns issued a Public Health Order on Friday which addresses COVID-19 quarantine measures.
Effective immediately and until a further order by Burns, anyone who resides, attends school or is employed within Branch, Hillsdale, and St. Joseph Counties that is notified by the Community Health Agency, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, a local school district, or an agent thereof, that they are a COVID-19 close contact, is required to quarantine for 10 days, or seven days with a negative diagnostic test, as described in guidelines established by the CDC.
Medical Director Doctor Lauren Vogel states, “We are in an evolving health epidemic dealing with a highly contagious infectious disease that places our children at highest risk. While vaccination and masking are important to help control this epidemic, quarantine of those infected is the most important means we currently have to prevent spread. Since many of those exposed and who will become infectious have no symptoms we need to follow the scientific proven practice of separating those potentially infected until it is safe for them to return to the public. The quarantine orders are necessary to enforce those rules for community safety.”
A surge of COVID-19 cases locally began in mid July due in large part to the Delta variant. The Community Health Agency says there have been 75 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Branch County during the past week and nearly 400 cases were reported in the county during the month of August. That brought the total number of Branch County cases since the pandemic began in March of 2020 up to 5,105.
The Community Health Agency statement went on to say the Public Health Order is based upon the most recent facts about the virus and is intended to protect vulnerable individuals and people who are not yet vaccinated. Officials add the goal is to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in schools, workplaces and other locations.
This is very unnecessary! Though sad ppl are dying and are very sick we should not have to give up our right of freedom. It has been proven that being outside, in the sunlight is way better effective than receiving a shot that we don’t know the long term effects of nor the effects on our children.