Health Department records five COVID deaths between Dec. 17-19, all unvaccinated people
From staff reports
The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department recorded five new COVID-19-associated deaths between Friday, Dec. 17, and Sunday, Dec. 19. All five individuals, whose ages ranged between the 50s and 70s, were unvaccinated.
Nine residents of the two counties are currently hospitalized with the Coronavirus. Their ages range from the 30s to the 70s. Seven of the nine are not fully vaccinated.
The highly contagious Omicron virus has not yet been officially detected here.
On Friday, Dec. 17, 16 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Benzie (6) and Leelanau (10), and four new COVID-19 associated deaths in Benzie County (3) and Leelanau County (1); on Saturday, Dec. 18, 17 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Benzie (6) and Leelanau (11); on Sunday, Dec. 19, eight new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Benzie (1) and Leelanau (7), and one new COVID-19 associated death in Leelanau County; on Monday, Dec. 20, 19 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Benzie (12) and Leelanau (7).
The Health Department reported in a media release yesterday that it has been one year since the first COVID-19 vaccine was administered by Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department officials and since then, more than 55,000 doses have been provided to area residents in the two-county jurisdiction by all vaccination providers.
As of Dec. 18, the health department has given 25,437 of those COVID-19 doses across its service area of Benzie and Leelanau counties.
With Christmas just days away and many of us traveling, Dr. Josh Meyerson, Medical Director with the health department, reminds us we are once again seeing high rates of community transmission for COVID-19 that inevitably leads to exposures in our households, social groups, and workplaces.
“Although fully vaccinated individuals are far less likely to be infected than unvaccinated, we are seeing many cases in vaccinated persons. Although these cases tend to be very mild the infected individual can spread the virus to close contacts, especially in their household and to those they spend a lot of time with,” said Meyerson.
“The Delta strain that now predominates has proven to be far more contagious than the previous strains encountered last winter and spring, and the latest variant of concern, Omicron, that will likely soon predominate in our area is even more contagious, even in the vaccinated.”
Vaccination is still the best tool we have to moderate the impact of this pandemic. Vaccines protect us from severe disease. Booster doses have shown to further reduce the risk of disease and reduce infection rates. Everyone is encouraged to get vaccinated, including your booster dose, as soon as you are eligible.
Continue to practice mitigation measures including masking at work/school and indoor public places.
Stay home if you have symptoms such as chills, fever, or mild respiratory/flu-like illness. Get tested and return towork/school/socialization once your test is negative and you’re feeling better.
If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 (i.e., a close contact) take precautions even if you are vaccinatedor otherwise do not need to quarantine. These include self-monitoring for signs of illness, limiting your social gatherings, always wearing a mask while at work and other indoor settings, and getting tested 4-6 days after exposure. Household exposures are the highest risk for infection, followed by those in close contact for prolonged periods while unmasked at work, while eating, or in athletic or other indoor activities where there is close contact. Please be extra cautious to reduce close contact if you are a confirmed close contact as you are at high risk for getting COVID-19.
“All of us must decide what risk is acceptable when choosing activities to attend. With holiday gatherings upon us everyone must consider not only their own health but the health and safety of their friends and relatives, including those they may care for and those they may visit,” Dr. Meyerson said. “We all need to balance the desire to ‘be careful’ with the need for social interaction and time with loved ones,” he said, adding he wishes everyone a warm, healthy, and happy holiday.
Vaccination continues to be our most powerful tool. The health department offers convenient COVID-19 vaccination clinics for all area residents and visitors 12 and older. Parent consent is required for minors. Anyone may call the Michigan COVID-19 hotline at 888-535-6136 if they have questions or are not able to find a time or date that works for them and/or their child. Clinics offer clients a choice of Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J’s Janssen unless otherwise noted.
