Monthly Archives: March 2020

(March 17, 2020 2:37 PM) To mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak, the Unemployment Insurance Agency and Michigan Works! Agencies are strongly urging workers to avoid visiting their statewide offices and utilize user-friendly online resources for unemployment assistance.  Eligible employees should apply for unemployment benefits at Michigan.gov/UIA  or by calling 1-866-500-0017. A factsheet on how to apply for benefits can also be found here. Michigan Works! resources can be found at MichiganWorks.org or by calling 1-800-285-WORKS. UIA and Michigan Works! statewide offices will remain open, but the agencies will be limiting the amount of people within the offices at one time. “In an effort to protect the health and safety of our residents and promote social distancing, Michigan workers needing assistance from the UIA are strongly urged to avoid visiting our offices. The fastest and best method is online at Michigan.gov/UIA.  You can also connect with our agency by calling 1-866-500-0017,” said UIA Director Steve Gray.   UIA online resources include: File a claim for unemployment benefits Chat with a customer service agent (M-F, 8am to 5pm) Send a message to a customer service agent (weekdays after 5pm and before 8am and weekends) Manage your account 24 hours a day, 7 days…

(March 17, 2020 12:16PM) The first patient with a presumptive positive test result for COVID-19 has been confirmed in Jackson County. The patient did not require hospitalization and is not being treated at Henry Ford Allegiance Health.  The current understanding of COVID-19 suggests that most people who become infected will not become seriously ill and will not need hospitalization. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever; a new, dry cough; and shortness of breath. People who may have been exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms should stay home and contact their doctor by phone or by accessing their MyChart account. Individuals who want to be tested are required to call (517) 205-6100 to be screened and schedule an appointment, prior to proceeding to the Drive-Through Screening Station. We are no longer testing for influenza or RSV. Only one person per vehicle is being tested for COVID-19. The community should continue to practice vigorous prevention efforts including: Washing hands frequently with soap and water. Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throwing the tissue in the trash.  Avoid touching face – especially eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.  Stay home if have cold or flu-like symptoms. Avoid close contact with…

Jackson County Health Department wants to encourage the community to continue to remain calm and to practice social distancing when possible.  Frequent handwashing and covering of mouth with tissues or elbow will also help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. (March 17, 2020 12:02 PM) UPDATE:  Headline changed to add "Presumptive". (March 17, 2020 11:23 AM) Last night, Jackson County Health Department and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported Jackson County’s first presumptive positive case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The positive case is a 60 year old female with travel history.  This individual will be closely monitored by the Jackson County Health Department.  This person will be asked to identify close contacts and other lower-risk contacts so they can be notified and receive further instruction regarding isolation and testing if needed. Jackson County is providing additional, public information to inform the community about possible, lower-risk exposures. “We will be closely monitoring all individuals with direct, personal contact with the identified cases, such as household contacts” says Rashmi Travis, MPH, Jackson County Health Officer. “In addition, we want our community to be fully aware of any possible, but lower-risk community exposures.” As a precaution, Jackson County…

(March 17, 2020 11:02 AM)  City of Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today declared a local State of Emergency within the City of Jackson. The Mayor’s statement: “The City of Jackson recognizes the threat to public health caused by the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. The City understands that in the coming weeks it will make difficult but necessary choices to protect the health of all residents and visitors, with special attention to its most vulnerable residents including our elderly, people with pre-existing health conditions, and those that live at or below the poverty line. “Over the past several weeks, city administration has continuously reviewed the City's response plan in relation to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, including the bold, preventative measures announced by the city in the past few days. The City has also engaged with nonprofit leaders in the beginnings of organizing a community response structure. “It has become overwhelmingly obvious that our preparations and response will require a more formal incident command structure to direct the City resources necessary to protect the health and safety of our residents. Local resources will be utilized to the fullest extent possible, but we recognize the extent to which the threat may overwhelm those resources…

Henry Ford Allegiance Health and the MyCare Advice Line are experiencing a large volume of phone calls for COVID-19 screening.Screening is by appointment only and please wait  until noon today to begin calling the Henry Ford MyCare Advice Line (313-874-7500).   (March 17, 2020 10:55 AM) Among the first in the State to open its drive-through COVID-19 screening center, Henry Ford Allegiance Health reports screening 386 individuals in its first three days of operation. “Our team was simply incredible,” said Courtland Keteyian, MD, Vice President of Population Health at Henry Ford Allegiance Health. “We had less than 24 hours to build the screening center from the ground up, and our team members worked around the clock to make the impossible happen.” In a White House news conference on Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump announced retailers like Walmart, Target and CVS would begin opening their own screening centers to test individuals for COVID-19.  “While we welcome large retailers to begin offering testing as a way of easing the burden for health care providers like us, we knew we could not wait to make this crucial screening service available to our patients and community members,” said Paula Autry, President and CEO of Henry…