Social distancing is working, Health Department of Northwest Michigan says

By Jacob Wheeler

Sun editor

Social distancing in northwest Michigan during the coronavirus pandemic appears to be working, Lisa Peacock, health officer with the Benzie Leelanau District Health Department and the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, told community health partners and journalists during a conference call on Wednesday, April 1.

Citizens in the region who have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days have only had contact with 1-2 other people, the Health Department has found. By contrast, two weeks ago, when the first positive cases began turning up in northwest Michigan, those citizens had contact with as many as 25-30 other people.

“So people have been doing a better job at self- isolation and social distancing,” said Peacock. “It is critical that essential businesses continue to screen employees and follow social distancing.”

Without a proven treatment for coronavirus, and without a vaccine, public health officials say that social distancing is the only way to slow or stop the spread of the pandemic, which has infected dozens in northwest Michigan and killed at least two, infected more than 10,000 statewide and killed more than 400, and infected nearly 250,000 and killed more than 6,000 nationwide.

During the April 1 briefing, Peacock addressed the arrival in northwest Michigan of people from outside the region, how to enforce social distancing, the status of testing and available ventilators at Munson Medical Center, the need for homemade masks, a projection of when businesses may be able to open again, and other topics.

A synopsis of her responses to questions asked during the call are pasted below:

What is the Health Department doing about the arrival of people coming from areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases either from out of state or in-state?

This has been a concern of all the health departments across the northern region. The Northern Michigan Public Health Alliance has created a consistent message urging people returning to their summer homes to self- quarantine for 14 days. The message also includes information about the potential strain on the health care systems within our region if they do not quarantine and then get sick. There are community resources available to returning residents to help them stay in their homes. We just need to get the message out there.

What can the Health Department due to encourage the Governor to strengthen the restrictions rather than “suggesting” to self-quarantine?

People can contact the Attorney General and/or the Governor’s office for interpretation of the Executive Order. There is also a way to email the Governor and Attorney General with concerns not answered from the States website for COVID-19; www.michigan.gov/coronavirus and follow the link to Executive Orders, Directives & FAQs. The Attorney General’s website is www.michigan.gov/ag/ or email the Attorney General at miag@michigan.gov.

What should we do if we know someone is allowing short-term vacation rentals?

If the short-term vacation rental does not fall in the Governor’s Executive Order, people should contact the Attorney General’s office or they can let the Health Department know.

What is the recommended screening process going forward? Testing?

The only businesses that should be open right now are those listed as essential services. These businesses should be screening their employees for symptoms. There is an Essential Worker tool kit available on the Health Department’s website: www.bldhd.org/coronavirus-covid-19 that can be used by businesses to aid in employee screening. Testing for COVID-19 has been a challenge as there is a shortage of supplies and labs to perform the testing. The Center Disease Control (CDC) has approved some alternative testing procedures that should improve testing progress. The Health Department will be creating a survey for providers about testing and what they need to perform tests.

Are we anticipating simple screening procedures for home use or in schools?

The Essential Worker toolkit found at www.bldhd.org/coronavirus-covid-19 can be used as a screening tool. The Health Department is also reaching out to those entities who are involved with the people like the migrant population. Making sure these entities have the educational materials needed to screen for COVID-19 and to help prepare them if they do have a positive case.

Is the Health Department collecting data on those in hospitals?

Munson is reporting that information every day for their system facilities across the region. What we do know is that about 80% of people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, about 15% are hospitalized and about 5% are in critical condition.

Is there an estimate of how many people have COVID-19 in the community?

We are limited because of testing capabilities. We can assume additional cases of COVID-19 are in the community that are not reported due to the testing.

How is Munson is preparing for this outbreak?

The hospitals have developed their own critical plan, which include maximizing staff and looking at options to set up alternate care sites. The Health Department works with the hospitals by meeting with them on several different levels.

What community resources are available?

Benzie County has a resource directory that has been put together by community partners in which anyone can go in the document and update information. Document can be found at: https://bit.ly/BNZMutualAid One of the approaches the Health Department is taking during this pandemic is to continue with community partners on making sure other service needs are being met; newborns, immunizations, WIC, maternal-infant health services. The Health Department has a Community Connections team making calls to reach those who are vulnerable. This team is also available to assist anyone in the community in connecting with resources.

How many ventilators are available at Munson and how many across the region?

This question is best answered by Munson. We do know that Munson has designated certain hospitals for COVID-19 treatment.

Do you have advice for people who want to make homemade masks?

Michigan 211 is taking the lead on getting information out about homemade mask patterns and drop off sites. https://www.mi211.org. Additional information can be found at the websites below:
https://www.makevictorymasks.org/
https://www.munsonhealthcare.org/munson-healthcare-foundations/ways-to-give/covid-19-how-you- can-help

Are we able to project COVID-19 in our region?

The State is working on predictive modeling. Testing is very important as well as contact tracing when there is a positive test. Dr. Khaldun feels that we are still a couple weeks away from the peak of the pandemic. The website https://covidactnow.org does have some projective modeling on their website.

How are we doing on social distancing? Is it effective?

In the health departments that Lisa Peacock works for, it has been noticed that with the new positive cases there are fewer contacts. So people have been doing a better job at self- isolation and social distancing. It is critical that essential businesses continue to screen employees and follow social distancing.

Who determines who are essential businesses?

Overseen by the Governor and Attorney General offices.

Are private labs expected to follow testing priorities?

Yes.

How is the Health Department monitoring and coordinating those who are vulnerable population with critical needs?

We continue to work with community partners through Community Connections. Health Department will then reach out to those needing assistance.

Is there data about the ages of people hospitalized? Concern with younger people’s attitude that this does not impact them.

Not known if Munson publishes that data. There is an issue in sharing too much information in a small area that would cause HIPAA violations. The State report does share data on the age group.

Are there hotels or other facilities that could be potential quarantine facilities?

Yes. The Health Department has identified potential sites. The bigger concern in our area is more about staffing vs. beds.

Is there any reason to stay inside or is outside exercise safe?

Getting outside to exercise has been encouraged by the Governor. The only caution would be congregating with groups of people. Keep at least a six-foot distance as COVID-19 is spread through droplets.

Estimation on when do you think that businesses may open again?

There is no known knowledge of when that will be. Based on Dr. Khaldun’s estimation that we are two weeks from our peak, it could be a while.

Stay Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives in Northwest Michigan

Lisa Peacock, health officer with the Benzie Leelanau District Health Department and the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, also submitted the following op-ed to the Glen Arbor Sun:

In the world of public health, so many of our days are spent working behind the scenes — preventing disease, protecting health and the environment, preparing for disasters — that we often say the best public health outcome is one that is invisible. But who could have imagined this? We’ve seen a pandemic before, we’ve seen natural disasters, we’ve seen terrorist attacks, but in our life time we have not seen a virus literally stop the world in its tracks like Coronavirus.

Our public health work has never been more important. Hospitals are worried about their inpatient and critical care capacity, employers are worried about their employees, local government is managing critical functions, and the public wants to know what they can do to protect themselves and their loved ones. Now, instead of behind the scenes activity, public health is front-and-center, the subject of almost every conversation across Northern Michigan, and everyone asks, “What can we do?”.

Without a cure and without a vaccine, the most important things we can do are to practice the age-old public health principle of social distancing and abide by the Governor’s order to stay home whenever possible. It seems simple, right? Almost too simple – probably the reason many people find it hard to believe these measures are necessary. What we hope for is that silent public health victory we barely notice – the spread slows down, the hospitals are able to manage patient care, medical supply production catches up and people wonder what the big deal was. The alternative is too terrible to imagine. The thought of our local hospitals prioritizing who gets ventilators and ICU beds is almost unthinkable, and front-line healthcare workers – our friends, family and neighbors going to work without the protective equipment they need to do their job safely – that sounds like a developing country. And to prevent this, all most people need to do is wash their hands (a lot!) stay home and have patience.

The data that supports a “stay at home” order is extremely compelling. We have approximately 25,000 acute care beds in Michigan. Our healthcare system will be completely overwhelmed within a couple of weeks if we continue only social distancing without a strong shelter-in-place strategy. Without it, many more people will become ill with COVID-19 and our hospitals won’t have the capacity to care for them all. A strong shelter-in-place strategy with voluntary compliance from citizens who stay at home is needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Otherwise, our family, neighbors and friends who need emergency services and treatment for serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease or cancer will be unnecessarily endangered because there will be no hospital beds available for anything except Coronavirus patients.

The Benzie Leelanau District Health Department is working to protect the public by sharing information to ensure that people know what to do and how to do it; partnering with the healthcare systems and providers to ensure those who need testing or care can get it; identifying the ill and exposed and working with them to determine who else might spread the disease further and contain it; and continuing to maintain critical services for the vulnerable people that we can’t forget. Our Incident Command Team has shifted out of their normal responsibilities to focus on the emergency response to COVID-19 and is meeting daily to ensure all of these complex needs are being met through the teams of staff who are all working within familiar and some unfamiliar roles!

The narrative surrounding this situation is changing daily, sometimes hourly, as this virus moves quickly through our state, and that can present communication challenges. Though we are becoming better at quickly releasing information and updating it, we need the entire community’s help. Here’s what we all can do:

• Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives One of the best things we can do is practice social distancing and abide by the Governor’s orders to stay home whenever possible. This is our most powerful tool in public health right now. If you are unable to stay home, practice social distancing (keeping 6 feet in between yourself and coworkers, other individuals at grocery stores, etc.), wash your hands frequently, and wipe down high-touch surfaces.  
• Share accurate, up-to-date information: The Benzie Leelanau District Health Department website is updated on a regular basis – sometimes hourly – and you can stay abreast of the evolving COVID-19 situation at Michigan.gov/coronavirus.  We are grateful for those of you who continue to share our messaging on your websites and social media channels. Please continue to share information to help protect the health of our families, neighbors and communities! 
• Care for each other.  Call to check on neighbors, friends, and family.  Be aware of and share important community resources such as 211 and Community Connections HUB’s, who partner together to link residents to needed resources.  It is imperative that those who are most fragile are able to avoid leaving their homes.
• Businesses who are open to provide essential services can use our toolkit to help properly safeguard their employees as well as the public they are serving. 
• Check our website, www.bldhd.org and like/follow our Facebook page for information and resources that are updated daily with new resources. 

As we observe the rise in cases across the state, we are also seeing changes every day here in northern Michigan. We remain laser-focused on our goal of “flattening the curve”. Our strategies are aimed toward buying time, reducing transmission, and keeping people out of the hospital. 

Right now is our opportunity to drastically slow the spread of COVID-19. We can reduce the burden on our health care system to a manageable level and help keep our all Northwest Michigan communities safe and healthy, but it will take a commitment from all of us to work together, wash our hands, Stay Home, Stay Safe and Save Lives.