Delta County on Wednesday declared a new COVID-19 Local State of Emergency because of rising cases in the county. The first State of Emergency was declared in March of 2020 and was rescinded in June of this year.
Here is the press release from County Board Chairman Patrick Johnson:
Dear Community Members of Delta County:
On March 17, 2020, the County of Delta declared a Local State of Emergency due to the on-going health emergency involving the COVID-19 Coronavirus which was beginning to aggressively spread throughout the State of Michigan and the United States.
Delta County rescinded its State of Emergency in June of 2021 as case numbers improved and local assets were able to adequately address the COVID-19 response. The County is now again faced with climbing COVID-19 numbers due to the Delta variant of the virus. As a result of this situation, the following conditions exist:
• In the past 2 weeks there have been 222 confirmed and 41 probably cases with 128 confirmed and 23 probably in the last week. Case counts continue to exceed CDC risk thresholds for high level of community spread and positivity rates.
• For the week of 9-2-2021 through 9-8-2021 Delta County had 290.6 weekly cases per 100,000 population and 13.4 percent positivity rate. The CDC risk thresholds for the high category are greater than 100 weekly cases per 100,000 population and greater than 10 percent positivity rates.
• Response and recovery elements of the Delta County Emergency Action Guidelines have been activated, and local resources are being utilized to their fullest possible extent. Despite these efforts, local resources are limited and not sufficient to manage the situation.
Due to the increase in cases in Delta County, a local State of Emergency has been declared by the County Board of Commissioner Chair, Patrick Johnson. This will allow the community to continue governmental business in a safe and effective manner, as well as continue to create opportunities for the community to receive the proper resources it needs to effectively slow the spread of COVID-19.
Community mitigation strategies are crucial to slowing the transmission of COVID-19. When used in a layered approach, the following strategies are proven effective to slowing the spread:
• Receive your COVID-19 vaccine when made available to you
• Follow CDC guidelines on all masking recommendations
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer;
• Improve ventilation in your Home
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing;
• Avoid handshakes;
• Avoid contact with people who are sick;
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Follow all mandated Quarantine Guidelines
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued Recommendations for COVID-19 Community Mitigation Strategies and the most up-to-date guidance on these and other mitigation strategies, which are available at www.Michigan.gov/coronavirus. A part of those strategies includes:
• limiting community contact, when possible, by utilizing online or telephonic options to conduct business;
• follow all restrictions and guidelines of local hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities;
• be cautious of supplies and community availability.
The County would like to remind the community that in order to combat these increasing numbers, we need everyone to work together. Respecting all community members’ mitigating strategies will only help everyone involved.
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