GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Kent County Health Department leaders are issuing a public health warning as they say COVID-19 infection rates in the county have reached “dangerous levels.”
Health department officials say infection rates have increased to the point that they cannot effectively conduct case investigation and contact tracing.
Further, health officials say that area hospitals are reporting the number of COVID-19 patients being admitted are “severely threatening their ability to provide services essential for the public’s health.”
The daily average of new COVID-19 cases in the county is 689, and the daily average number of new deaths is more than six, according to the health department.
These are the highest daily averages since the pandemic began. The daily average of new cases has increased more than 10-fold over the past eight weeks.
With the upcoming holiday season, the health department is warning residents against gathering indoors with people from multiple households.
“Our local infection rates have reached dangerous levels,” said Kent County Health Director Adam London. “We need to take decisive, community-wide action to protect the health of our residents and to alleviate the pressure on our hospitals, frontline healthcare workers and public health case investigators and contact tracers.”
The public health warning comes with a set of new and stronger recommendations for curbing the spread of the virus, as well as guidance for businesses and those with symptoms.
It will remain in effect until the two-week total of new cases averages around 165 a day and the seven-day moving average positivity rate of new tests trends downward.
In addition to social distancing, good hygiene and wearing masks in public, the health department recommends that:
- Any person with symptoms broadly associated with COVID-19 isolate themselves and make arrangements to be tested. The person should not go to work, school or any group gathering under any circumstances. Those in the same household should wear face coverings.
- People over 65 or with underlying health conditions need to avoid or at least limit time in public places and gatherings.
- Customers are advised to opt for pickup and delivery when possible. Time spent shopping indoors should be minimized. Customers and employees should follow the precautions of social distancing, mask wearing and good hygiene.
- Elementary and middle schools are recommended to remain in-person so long as social distancing, mask wearing and daily symptom screening takes place. Middle schools are recommended to reduce the number of students physically present via remote or hybrid learning.
- High schools are recommended to remain virtual through Jan. 15, 2021, as outbreaks more frequently happen in high school grades. In-person high school classes are not allowed by the state until Dec. 8. Elementary and middle school classes were not impacted by the recent order.
- Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to prevent children from gathering in groups anytime outside of a school setting.
- Churches, houses of worship and faith communities are strongly encouraged to discontinue large gatherings, such as in-person services, weddings and meetings of more than five people. If that is not possible, faith leaders should at least strive to relax in-person attendance obligations and communicate the importance of avoiding all physical contact with others outside of one’s household.
- Sports and recreational activities that require physical contact and/or proximity within 6 feet are not recommended. Many sports and activities were halted until Dec. 8 by the state health department’s recent order.
Because case investigation and contact tracing are “severely challenged” by the rising number of new cases, the department is recommending residents take the following steps:
- Those with a positive COVID-19 test should isolate for not less than 10 days after the onset of symptoms or the test date. People testing positive should be free of fever, without the use of medication, for at least 24 before leaving isolation. Other symptoms must be improving as well.
- Those who test positive should contact everyone they were in close proximity to starting two days before they began experiencing symptoms or tested positive. Close proximity means within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes and/or physical contact.
- Anyone who has had close contact with someone who is positive must quarantine for 14 days from the date of their last contact with that person. Even if the person quarantining because of close contact tests negative, they should continue to quarantine for 14 days because of the virus incubation period. Once a person quarantines for two weeks, hasn’t tested positive and has no COVID-19 symptoms, they can end quarantine and return to work.
- Employers should not require their employees to show proof of two negative tests or a “release from isolation” letter from the county health department before allowing the employee to return to work. Those requirements delay the employee’s return date, according to the health department, and studies have shown that some people continue to test positive even after they aren’t contagious.
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