Grand Traverse County COVID-19 Community Update - April 30, 2020

Grand Traverse County COVID-19 Community Update - April 30, 2020

DAILY NUMBERS

The Grand Traverse County Health Department continues to report 19 positive cases, 6 probable cases, and 5 deaths from COVID-19 in Grand Traverse County residents. These numbers and additional county statistics are available on a new Grand Traverse County Health Department dashboard linked here. Probable cases are individuals that have been directly linked epidemiologically to a confirmed case and have had symptoms consistent with COVID-19, but were not tested. The six probable cases are household contacts of confirmed cases who then developed symptoms. Full case investigations and contact tracing was completed on all confirmed and probable cases. 

Regionally, Munson Healthcare is reporting COVID-19 testing results on its website for each of its hospitals throughout northern Michigan. Numbers are listed by the hospital that provided service and not broken out by county of residence.

Michigan has reported 40,399 positive cases and 3,670 deaths of COVID-19. 8,342 Michiganders have recovered. Numbers are updated daily.

PPE DISTRIBUTION NUMBERS

To date, the Grand Traverse County personal protective equipment (PPE) logistics team has processed: 

• Total number of requests on behalf of Grand Traverse County medical personnel and 1st responders - 229
• Total number of deliveries and logistics handled on behalf of the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) / Healthcare Coalition - 70
• Total number of deliveries of PPE received from the SEOC - 10 (with another scheduled for today)

PPE distributed or on hand to date for medical personnel and first responders:

Surgical Masks - 218,700

N95/KN95/KN90 masks - 63,785

Face Shields - 61,300

Gowns (surgical/disposable) - 4,239

Gloves (nitrile/vinyl/surgical) - 357,000

Disinfectant Wipes - 500 tubs

Hand Sanitizer - 1,068 gallons

Safety glasses / goggles - 400

Cloth masks (actively being donated by Seamstresses for Safety) - 628

Thermometer probe covers (disposable for first responders/ambulances) - 5000

Grand Traverse County is handling PPE requests from Emergency Management Coordinators for Grand Traverse, Antrim, Kalkaska, Roscommon, Missaukee, Wexford, Manistee, Benzie, Leelanau Counties. This model of receiving, inventorying, and distributing PPE is now being duplicated in Cheboygan and Alpena Counties and is effectively getting PPE into the hands of all northern Michigan hospital/medical personnel and first responders. 

The team consists of essential employees from the following departments: Grand Traverse Environmental Health Department, Grand Traverse Facilities, Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office, and the Records Division.

COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

The Traverse City Downtown Development Authority has partnered with Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) to give out 1,000 jump ropes to students on Friday, May 1, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as part of the “Buy Local, Give Local” campaign. The jump ropes were purchased from Toy Harbor and will be distributed via the district’s meal distribution sites and delivery program on Friday, May 1^st from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. They will be available on a first come, first served basis. Meal distribution sites are located at Blair Elementary School (1625 Sawyer Rd.), East Middle School (1776 Three Mile Rd.), Long Lake Elementary School (7600 N. Long Lake Rd.), and Traverse Heights Elementary School (933 Rose St.). The “Buy Local, Give Local” effort, which started with a goal to raise $10,000, is on track to raise more than $50,000 to support downtown businesses, while providing products, foods, and gift cards to the families and community members in need through TCAPS, the Munson Healthcare Foundations, Goodwill Northern Michigan’s Goodwill Inn, and the Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center. Donations may be made on the fundraising platform Patronicity at: patronicity.com/DowntownTC, until 11:45 p.m. on April 30, 2020.

KEY MESSAGES

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. People are required to wear cloth face coverings - homemade masks, scarves, or bandanas - when they enter enclosed public spaces. This past Friday, Governor Whitmer extended the Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order through May 15. The new order allows residents to travel between residences if they own more than one home in Michigan, but strongly discourages people from doing so unless it is absolutely necessary. Residents who travel to other residences are encouraged to avoid local grocery stores and continue practicing social distancing during their visits. 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. 

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.