Grand
Traverse County COVID-19 Community Update For April 20, 2020
Stay
Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives remains the most important message for residents throughout
Northwest Michigan. It is important that people continue to stay home as much
as possible, avoid all non-essential travel and practice social distancing when
they must go out. The Grand Traverse County Health Department has developed a helpful
one-page info-graphic about when it is safe to
leave your home if you have COVID-19 or live with someone who does.
The
Grand Traverse County Health Department is reporting 19 positive cases of
COVID-19 in Grand Traverse County residents. Since yesterday, one additional
person has tested positive for COVID-19, a male in his 60s: a case
investigation is currently underway. To date, 411 individuals have been tested
for COVID-19 in Grand Traverse County, 352 tests were negative and 6 people in
the County who had previously tested positive have completed isolation and are
symptom free. Michigan has reported 31,424 positive cases and
2,391 deaths of COVID-19. Numbers are updated daily.
Additional
data, as well as interactive maps, regarding the impacts of COVID-19 around the
world (including Michigan and Grand Traverse County) can be found at the John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.
Beginning
later this week, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will
begin reporting the number of probable cases for each county along with
confirmed cases and deaths. Probable cases of COVID-19 disease include
individuals who have exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 and/or have been exposed to
someone who has tested positive, but have not tested positive themselves. The
Grand Traverse County Health Department has been tracking probable cases from
the beginning of the pandemic and continues to follow up with individuals
throughout their illness.
Munson
Healthcare is participating in a convalescent plasma trial and is currently
seeking donations from local patients who have recovered from COVID-19. The
convalescent plasma of recovered COVID-19 patients contain viral antibodies
that have treatment potential for severe cases of the disease. Recovered
COVID-19 patients in Northern Michigan interested in participating in the trial
must meet the following criteria:
- Have had a
confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 by a physician and laboratory testing
- Be symptom free for at least 28
days
- Be symptom
free for 14 - 27 days, with a verified negative test
To make a plasma donation, or to learn if you are eligible, please
contact Versiti at 866-702-4673 or email MICplasma@versiti.org. More information can also be found on-line here.
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.
- Statewide: Michigan.gov/Coronavirus
- National: CDC.gov/Coronavirus
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.
