Grand Traverse County COVID-19 Community Update - April 16, 2020
As of this morning, the Grand Traverse County Health Department
continues to report 17 positive cases of COVID-19 in Grand Traverse County
residents. To date, 329 individuals have been tested for COVID-19 in Grand
Traverse County. Michigan has reported
28,059 cases of COVID-19, with 1,921 deaths.
433 individuals have recovered from COVID-19.
There is a new Testing Site Look-Up tool to help citizens who are symptomatic locate the nearest
testing site. New testing sites are opening throughout the state, so please
look to this site for testing site updates. As testing sites expand, we will
likely see an increase in the number of cases reported throughout the state,
but it will provide valuable information for this pandemic.
Stay Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives remains the most important message for
residents throughout northwest Michigan. It is essential that people continue
to stay home, avoid all non-essential travel, and practice social distancing
when they must go out.
In addition to the Stay Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives message, Grand
Traverse County residents are reminded to Stay Alert. As stimulus
checks, federal emergency grants and other resources related to the COVID-19
pandemic begin to enter our communities, unfortunately, so do scammers.
Residents are advised to be alert to avoid phone, email, website, and social
media scams that request money or personal information. Further, the IRS warns
that retirees and seniors are potential targets for such scams.
The IRS reminds
taxpayers that scammers may:
· Emphasize the words
"Stimulus Check" or "Stimulus Payment." The official term
is economic impact payment.
· Ask the taxpayer to sign
over their economic impact payment check to them.
· Ask by phone, email, text or
social media for verification of personal and/or banking information saying
that the information is needed to receive or speed up their economic impact
payment.
· Suggest that they can get a
tax refund or economic impact payment faster by working on the taxpayer's
behalf. This scam could be conducted by social media or even in person.
· Mail the taxpayer a bogus
check, perhaps in an odd amount, then tell the taxpayer to call a number or
verify information online in order to cash it.
TRUSTED INFORMATION SOURCES
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. Please
direct your neighbors to these information resources for the most current,
factual information:
· Grand Traverse County: For
Grand Traverse County COVID-19 updates, visit the official gtcountycovid19.com website and Facebook page. Residents can also
call the hotline at 231-642-3548, view daily updates on Cable Access Channels
189 and 191, or sign up to receive daily updates via email. All critical health
updates come from the Grand
Traverse County Health Department and Munson Healthcare, and are immediately
posted throughout the day along with other updates from the Joint Operations Center
(JOC).
· Munson Healthcare: COVID-19 testing results are reported daily for each
Munson Healthcare hospital in northern Michigan.
ABOUT THE JOC
Grand Traverse County’s Joint Operations Center has been meeting
daily to coordinate efforts and communication on the COVID-19 pandemic since
Friday, March 13. Members include key community partners from health,
government, first responders, education, social service, and business
sectors.
BASIC PREVENTION MEASURES
The best prevention for viruses like COVID-19, influenza, and the
common cold is to:
· Wash your hands often with
soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
· Avoid touching your eyes,
nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
· Cover your mouth and nose
with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
· Avoid contact with people
who are sick.
· If you are sick, stay home,
and avoid contact with others.
· Stay at least six feet away
from others when in a public setting.
· Replace handshakes with a
friendly wave from 6 feet away.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has assembled
a FAQ on
protecting yourself from COVID-19. If you suspect
that you may have contracted the virus, call your healthcare provider or the
Michigan COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136, seven days a week from 8 am - 5 pm.
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