Bart Hawley

(May 7, 2021 9:23 PM) Today, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is launching the Vacc to Normal Milestone Tracker to complement the Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard. This Tracker includes vaccinations of Michiganders received both in-state and out-of-state, allowing the state to provide more comprehensive data on vaccination milestones as they are reached.  “The Vacc to Normal Milestone Tracker provides the most complete estimate of the number of Michigan residents ages 16 and older who have received their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. "The safe and effective vaccine is the most important tool we have to reduce the spread of COVID-19. By getting shots in their arms as soon as possible, Michiganders can protect themselves, their families and their communities and help end this pandemic as quickly as possible."   To date, 4,393,499 Michiganders age 16 and older have received their first dose of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, 54% of the state’s residents.  The tracker uses vaccination counts from the CDC COVID Data Tracker to provide information on the number of Michiganders ages 16 and older who have received their first dose. CDC has access to administration data from providers who are not currently reporting to the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), including federal entities, such as Veteran’s hospitals and Department of Defense Facilities, and out-of-state providers who…

(May 7, 2021 4:11 PM)  The Jackson County Health Department has released its weekly COVID-19 report and it is published here: The number of COVID-19 cases continues to trend down in Michigan and in Jackson County. Please refer to the MI Safe Start Map for additional statewide data.  Notably, the 20-29 year old population exhibits a disparate number of the COVID positive population, meaning that they have a higher than average percent of cases overall in all populations during the timeframe of March 1, 2020 – May 4, 2021.  Concerns associated with potential long-term effects of COVID, also known as “long COVID,” remain in some residents.  These effects include:  fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain, depression, and headache. Effects can be disabling and can last for months, and in some cases, arise without warning in patients who had few or no symptoms at the time they were diagnosed with COVID-19. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued an updated Gatherings and Face Mask Order effective May 6 - May 31, 2021.  This order rescinds and replaces the previous April 19, 2021 order.   Vaccine Information There are three vaccine options offered in Jackson County.  All three are CDC…

(May 7, 2021 3:14 PM) Michigan reported 2,758 coronavirus (COVID-19) positive test cases today, with the state reported total now at 860,808. Michigan is reporting 30 COVID-19-related deaths today with the state total at 18,084.  State Cumulative Total of Recovered COVID-19 Cases (as of 4/30/21): 660,124. This information is updated Monday through Saturday at 3 p.m., with COVID-19 results included as of 10 a.m.  Monday reports include Sunday data.  

(May 7, 2021 2:51 PM) The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has revised its epidemic order for COVID-19 testing in long-term care facilities across the state to reflect current guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.   Under changes to the COVID-19 testing order for skilled nursing facilities, homes for the aged and adult foster care facilities licensed to care for 13 or more individuals, fully vaccinated staff no longer must be routinely tested. This order is effective immediately.  "Getting the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. "The increases we are seeing in Michiganders receiving their vaccine, including among long-term care patients and staff, is allowing us make this change to testing requirements in these facilities.”  Testing continues to be required under the following circumstances:  Initial testing of all new or returning residents to a facility covered by this Order and newly hired staff when the individual is unvaccinated and has not been tested in the 72 hours prior to intake or start date.  Testing any resident or staff member with symptoms of COVID-19 or suspected exposure to COVID-19, regardless of that individual’s vaccination status.   Weekly testing of…