Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department declares emergency order
From staff reports
The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department is declaring Emergency Order 2020-1 requiring screening and social distancing measures at open businesses and operations subject to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-21. The emergency order goes into effect today, Monday, April 6 at noon.
Health officer Lisa Peacock shared “given that COVID-19 presents a serious threat to public health, our local health departments have been working to ensure the health and safety of critical infrastructure workers. As the threat of COVID-19 increases, I now feel it necessary to take additional steps to protect critical infrastructure workers and the general public.”
In an email interview today with the Glen Arbor Sun, Peacock elaborated on the practical implications of the emergency order.
“It may not be something that is outwardly visible [to workers, grocery shoppers, and those picking up meals curbside] but what we want to see happening behind the scenes is that any critical infrastructure worker who is reporting to work anywhere besides their own residence has been screened by their employer and that screening documented as outlined in the Public Health Emergency Order 2020-1 so that we can minimize risk of exposure to the virus,” wrote Peacock. “Although it hasn’t been required by order, we also encourage the Governor’s recommendation that anyone leaving their home for any reason wear a homemade mask to prevent asymptomatic spread.”
As to enforcement of the emergency order, Peacock wrote the Health Department will initially investigate any questions or complaints, and if found to be significant enough to seek charges, will enlist the assistance of law enforcement and County Prosecutors.
Peacock also elaborated on the reasons behind issuing the order today.
“With the continued rise in cases across Michigan as well as evidence of community spread in surrounding areas of northern Michigan, we are concerned about anyone who has to leave their home to either provide or receive essential services,” she wrote. “Those having contact with people outside of their household are at an increased risk to either get or spread the virus. The interactions between people who aren’t household contacts increase the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Screening of critical infrastructure employees and implementing social distancing measures can’t completely eliminate the risk but can reduce the risk by requiring consistency in these practices. We are still seeing many people out in public and can’t stress enough the importance of staying home, leaving home ONLY for urgent or essential needs. Stay Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives.”
Matters concerning the public health of the residents of Benzie and Leelanau Counties have been brought to the attention of the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department Local Health Officer. The Local Health Officer has determined that controls are necessary to reduce transmission of COVID-19 to protect the public’s health of Benzie and Leelanau Counties based on the following facts:
• A State of Emergency was declared March 10 with an Executive Order expanding the emergency declaration and declaring a State of Disaster on April 1 by Governor Whitmer and Michigan is under threat of a pandemic virus that has reached epidemic status in Michigan.
• On April 2, an Emergency Order regarding the Governor’s Executive Orders was issued by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director, Robert Gordon, which declared COVID-19 an epidemic in the State of Michigan.
• All Emergency Orders (also called “Executive Orders”) of the Governor related to the Coronavirus and the Emergency Order of the MDHHS Director are incorporated herein by reference.
• COVID-19 and its effects have been detected within the jurisdiction and the surrounding area of the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department.
• Coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, is a communicable disease and can be transmitted from person to person.
• The Coronavirus transmission is possible even though the infected person has no symptoms and is unaware of the infection.
• In order to control and limit the spread of this communicable disease, it is necessary to prevent infected people from coming into contact with uninfected people. It is also imperative that critical infrastructure workers (hereafter, call “worker” or “workers”) be protected.
• Although healthcare workers and their employers are exempt from compliance with Part 1, Section b., Item ii in this Emergency Order, it is recommended that these parties reference the guidance issued in the memorandum dated March 20 as well as any subsequent guidance from Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Chief Medical Executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
