COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency Health Officer Rebecca Burns has updated the quarantine order she issued on September 3 so that that agency can align with new K-12 quarantine guidance issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Burns says in her report for Thursday’s Board of Health meeting that the update provides mask wearing students with a close contact exposure the opportunity to stay in school.
She said, “It is our hope that more students will be able to stay in school but we also feel it is important to give parents the opportunity to decide the best quarantine option for their student.”
Under the updated order, a parent can 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.
Burns added they have also reversed their decision about home tests for release from quarantine and are now accepting those results.
On other COVID-19 related matters, Burns says they are still waiting for information on booster doses and if those will be authorized. They also expect the Pfizer vaccine to receive Emergency Use Authorization for children between the ages of five and 11 sometime in mid to late October.
The Community Health Agency continues to offer COVID-19 testing at their facility in Coldwater on Thursdays and on Fridays in Three Rivers and Hillsdale.
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