Ypsilanti, MI based Local, State and National News & Views.
By Editor in Chief & Publisher Jeff Brown.
Today I received this beautiful and inspirational anthem recorded by the Ypsilanti Community High School Choir. "New Way" was composed and arranged by Crystal Harding. The video was edited by Skyler Baty. I hope this video performance brightens your day as much as it has brightened mine.
Great job Ypsilanti Community High School Choir!
Click here for the video on mobile.
October 29, 2020
An open letter to our Washtenaw County Community
Dear Washtenaw County community members and visitors,
The days and week ahead include Halloween, a home University of Michigan versus Michigan State football game, and Election Day, as well as countless happenings important to our community, its members, and its institutions. It is an exciting time and an incredibly challenging one. Unfortunately, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 continues to circulate. Little has changed about that. As more activities have resumed, our community is one of many with a significant increase in cases, test positivity and hospitalizations. We must be united in our efforts to reduce the spread of illness and lessen the negative impact of COVID-19 in our community.
We the undersigned – including our elected officials, largest universities, and health authorities – urge everyone to work together to prevent the spread of illness whenever possible. Together we can make sure community events happen in new and safer ways. We can celebrate, compete, and exercise our right to vote as safely as possible. But we must do so together and using the best prevention strategies currently available.
COVID-19 is circulating, and cases are increasing in our community. Everyone should be alert to the possibility of exposure if out in public or in contact with others. The virus is primarily spread through direct, person-to-person contact. Social gatherings or events without precautions account for most local infections or exposures.
Everyone should continue to follow all public health guidance:
If you go out or are in contact with others:
Public health guidance for gatherings and events:
Gameday:
Halloween:
Voting:
We strongly request and hope that all community members comply with local public health orders voluntarily, but these orders will be enforced if necessary. Failure to follow local public health orders are subject to misdemeanor charges, monetary penalties of $500 to $1000, and students may face student conduct violations.
We all wish for the best for our community now and always. We are at our best when we work together and value and protect one another to the best of our collective ability. We appreciate everyone’s support and cooperation – while still celebrating, cheering, and voting as safely as possible.
Most sincerely,
Jimena Loveluck, MSW
Health Officer
Washtenaw County Health Department Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners
Debbie Dingell
United States Congresswoman
Michigan’s 12th District
Mandy Grewal, Ph.D.
Supervisor
Pittsfield Township
Brenda Stumbo
Township Supervisor
Ypsilanti Township
Mark Schlissel MD, PhD
President
University of Michigan
Editor in Chief & Publisher Jeff Brown.
According to a October 28 press release from the Michigan Dept of Health and Human Services, to ensure Michigan voters remain healthy and reduce the spread of COVID-19 during the Nov. 3 general election, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has released recommendations for voters, poll workers and election officials.
According to the statement, “This guidance allows Michiganders to carry out their right to vote while doing it safely during the pandemic,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “I encourage registered voters to consider voting alternatives to limit the number of people they come in contact with and to help reduce the spread of the virus.”
“Michigan citizens can cast their ballots safely and with confidence in this election,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “All election workers are required to wear masks and all voters are strongly encouraged to do so. Voters who already have absentee ballots can drop them off at their city or township clerk’s office or ballot drop box. Voters can also go to their local clerk’s office through Nov. 2 to vote early by requesting and submitting an absentee ballot.”
According to MDHHS, all registered voters may vote early by visiting their city or township clerk’s office through Nov. 2. There they can request, fill out and submit an absentee ballot all in one trip, or take their ballot home to fill out and sign the envelope before returning it to one of their jurisdiction’s ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Nov 3. Election workers, who are required to wear masks, will ask voters to show photo ID.
Eligible citizens who are not yet registered may register, request and submit an absentee ballot at their local clerk’s office through 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, according to the press release.
Remember, when you vote or return your ballot, practice healthy behaviors to protect yourself and slow the spread of the virus. These behaviors include:
So, remember everybody, if you are sick or concerned you have been exposed to COVID-19, seek medical care. If you don’t have an absentee ballot, contact your local election office for guidance about voting options.
# # #
Editor in Chief & Publisher Jeff Brown.
According to the State Emergency Response Center and the Michigan Dept of Health and Human Services, today, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reporting more 3,300 positive test results.
According to Saturday's statement, “The data shows we are continuing to see alarming increases in the incidence of COVID-19 infections in Michigan, “said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “It is now more important than ever that people take this seriously. Wear a mask every time you are going to be around someone outside of your own household. Avoid large gatherings and maintain a safe distance from others. If rates continue like this, we risk overwhelming our hospitals and having many more Michiganders die.”
While the data represents the date that the information was delivered to MDHHS from reporting labs, it does represent more current trends in disease occurrence. More than 96% of the test results being reported today originated from specimens that were collected from individuals in the past five days, according to the press release.
As information is collected by Michigan’s public health community that better describes cases, the state is continuing to see clusters of illness associated with facilities, programs and schools. These cases, along with a large number of community-acquired cases, have been contributing to the elevation in reports of confirmed COVID-19 infection.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly.
Editor in Chief & Publisher Jeff Brown.
According to a Tuesday, October 20 press release, the Washtenaw County Health Department is issuing a public health emergency stay in place order for University of Michigan undergraduate students effective immediately and continuing through November 3, 2020 at 7:00 a.m. The number of COVID-19 cases among U-M students is increasing and represents over 60% of local cases. Stay in place orders are intended to limit socializing among students, slow down new cases, and allow for effective case investigation and contact tracing. Most infections are the result of social events and gatherings.
“The situation locally has become critical, and this order is necessary to reverse the current increase in cases,” says Jimena Loveluck, MSW, health officer for Washtenaw County. “We must continue to do what we can to minimize the impact on the broader community and to ensure we have the public health capacity to fully investigate cases and prevent additional spread of illness.” This according to the statement from WCHD.
According to the press release, under the newly issued stay in place order, undergraduate students must remain in their residence, unless attending class, accessing dining services, or carrying out approved work that cannot be done remotely. Students who wish to return to a primary residence may do so only if they have completed the U-M’s procedures for leaving campus safely.
Under existing state orders, everyone must continue to separate themselves from others not already in their household by at least 6 feet and wear a face covering when out in public or in common areas.
A stay in place order is not the same as quarantine. During the stay in place order, official and essential activities are allowable when carried out using COVID-19 prevention measures including wearing face coverings, social distancing and frequent hand cleaning. While this order allows students to work and participate in official activities with preventive measures in place, it also limits the impact of exposures on local businesses, workers and community members.
According to Tuesday's statement from WCHD, in support of the county order, the university also will take the additional steps out of an abundance of caution and to provide choices for students and instructors, including moving more undergraduate courses to fully remote instruction for the remainder of the fall semester.
“The university has been working closely with the Health Department all along in response to the pandemic and supports this decision to issue this stay at home order,” says Robert Ernst, executive director of U-M’s University Health Service and associate vice president for Student Life. “This action is intended to reduce the strain on our capacities for contact tracing and quarantine and isolation housing. Many individuals and off-campus residences are cooperating fully, and we hope this additional guidance on limiting social activities reverses the trend of increased cases related to social gatherings.”
Violations of the local order are subject to the citations and penalties outlined in the Michigan Public Health Code (MCL 333.2451 and 333.2453).
Washtenaw County has reported a total of 4,229 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Oct 19. More than 600 confirmed and probable cases have been reported in Washtenaw County in the past week (since Oct 12), and 61% of these are connected to University of Michigan students living on or off campus, many in congregate or group settings. As such, the Washtenaw County Health Officer finds it reasonable and necessary to mandate stay in place orders and reinforce existing COVID-19 protective measures in coordination with the university.
All U-M students who have been identified as testing positive or as a close contact as determined through case investigation are offered the opportunity to move into U-M quarantine and isolation housing and utilize other U-M resources. This according to Washtenaw County Health Dept.
The Health Department reminds everyone that COVID-19 continues to circulate in our community and cases are also increasing in non-campus areas. These trends are consistent with trends in other areas of Michigan as well as other states. Risk is present any time individuals are out in public or interacting with others. To reduce the spread of illness, the Health Department recommends wearing a face covering, maintaining 6 feet distance from others not in your household, cleaning hands frequently, and avoiding others if you have any symptoms, according to WCHD.
These prevention strategies are most effective when combined. Using them remains vital to slowing the spread of illness and preventing as many cases of COVID-19 as possible – especially as the weather becomes colder, more activities are indoors, and flu may begin to circulate locally.
According to WCHD, testing is recommended for anyone reporting to work in person, with known exposure or with any mild or unusual symptoms. Symptoms may take up to 14 days after exposure to appear, and individuals are considered contagious two days before symptoms appear. If you are exposed and asymptomatic, please wait 7 to 10 days before testing. A negative test does NOT eliminate the need to quarantine for a full 14 days after exposure. According to the statement from WCHD.
U-M students are encouraged to seek COVID-19 testing at the on-campus University Health Service (uhs.umich.edu).
Local COVID-19 information is available at www.washtenaw.org/covid19. Health Department staff are available to answer questions. Call 734-544-6700 or email L-wchdcontact@washtenaw.org.