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Health Department faces federal funding cuts, low measles vaccination rates

With dangerously low child vaccination rates against measles in this region, federal government funding cuts couldn’t come at a worse time for the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department. The BLDHD learned on April 1 that it would face a funding shortfall of more than $230,000 in the coming fiscal year—much of it related to school health services the department provides to local schools. In Leelanau County, 82 percent of children between ages 6-18 years have received the MMR vaccine, which offers 97 protection against measles, mumps and rubella after the second dose. In Benzie County, the number is 83 percent. “That rate is relatively low. Ideally, we should be at 95 percent,” said BLDHD health officer Dan Thorell. “Very few vaccines are as effective as the measles vaccine.”

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Five years after lockdown, remembering Michigan’s COVID experience

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the date the COVID-19 Coronavirus global pandemic officially arrived in Michigan, prompting a business and social shutdown, political upheaval, and many months of confusion, anxiety and pain. On March 10, 2020, the state’s first two COVID cases were confirmed in metro Detroit, prompting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency in Michigan. Our COVID coverage in the Glen Arbor Sun between March 2020 and Spring-2021 included stories about: essential workers who kept us safe; victims (and survivors) of COVID; businesses and the National Park closing facilities; how public health workers, schools and emergency medical personnel adjusted; our collective reconnection with nature during the lockdown; artistic reactions to the pandemic; how musicians adapted; the pandemic exacerbating educational divides, and frequent updates on vaccination and infection statistics in Leelanau County. Click here to read those stories.

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COVID cases plummet in Benzie-Leelanau; first day without cases since Sept. 5, 2021

According to statistics from the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, 0 new positive cases of COVID-19 were reported yesterday, Feb. 21. That’s the first day without reported cases since last September 5, when the weather was still warm, people still fraternized outdoors, and before the Omicron variant spread. “It is great news that the number of cases is declining in our state and our region,” Lisa Peacock, health officer for the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, said in a press release today. “We want to keep this downward trend continuing and prevent another surge. Therefore, it is still critical that anyone who is eligible get vaccinated and receive their booster shot.”

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Benzie-Leelanau Health Department lifts school mask mandate, February 17

Due to improving conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department announced that the First Amended Order which requires masks to be worn in school settings will be lifted on Thursday, February 17.

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Rising COVID cases prompt Glen Lake to close until Jan. 18

Glen Lake Community Schools reported on Facebook this evening that it will close Thursday, Jan. 13, and Friday, Jan. 14, due to staffing shortages and sickness. The school closure is “due to excessive COVID illness or quarantine.” The positivity rate for COVID tests in Leelanau County remains at an astronomical 20.4%. The Health Department reported 35 COVID-positive cases on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

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Leelanau, Benzie Counties both break single-day COVID records

The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department reported 51 new COVID-19 cases in Leelanau County on Tuesday, Jan. 4. In Benzie County, 31 new cases were reported. Both represent single-day records. The previous high was set on Nov. 12 when Leelanau recorded 37 and Benzie recorded 29 cases.

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Grandfather Color wants the world to get well

You sit down with this wild-bearded, twinkly-eyed man at a table full of colored pencils and ornate coloring sheets that he created. You’re not sure why you’re here, except for feeling nostalgic for simpler times when you were just a worry-free kid. Soon, you’re pouring your heart out to Grandfather Color as you scribble, finding joy and solace through the creativity of color. Grandfather Color, otherwise known as Richard Stocker, is the facilitator behind myriad efforts to heal the world, person by person, by guiding them through their healing process using color. He is also the facilitator of the new “Get Well World” and “Color COVID Away campaigns that are just unrolling across Leelanau, Benzie and Grand Traverse counties.

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Unvaccinated cause strain on hospitals, health systems; unvaccinated represent 86% of COVID cases; Leelanau posts another 31 today

As Michigan continues to record high numbers of COVID-19 cases, new data from the Michigan Health & Hospital Association proves that the majority of Michigan residents severely sick with COVID-19 are unvaccinated. Data from January 15-November 19 demonstrates that unvaccinated people account for 85.8% of COVID cases, 87% of hospitalizations, and 86.4% of deaths. Leelanau County registered another 31 COVID-positive cases today, following 24 on Wednesday, and 36 on Tuesday. Leelanau has topped 30 positive cases per day three times in the past 10 days.

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Leelanau records three COVID deaths during Thanksgiving week; Michigan leads nation in transmission; Omicron variant lurks

The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department recorded three deaths of Leelanau County residents from COVID-19 during Thanksgiving week: one on Wednesday, Nov. 24, and two on Friday, Nov. 26. The Health Department recorded one COVID-associated death in Benzie County on Tuesday, Nov. 23.

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Health Department reports 3 new COVID deaths in Leelanau, 20+ positive cases per day; 80 percent unvaccinated

The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department reports three new COVID-19 associated deaths of Leelanau County residents this week—one per day, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (as well as one death in Benzie County on Thursday). All victims were between ages 70-90; one was fully vaccinated. The pandemic has claimed a total of 24 lives in Leelanau and 38 in Benzie.

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