Area health officials urge holiday caution
CMDHD: Fall COVID-19 surge shows no signs of slacking anytime soon
Public health officials are advising caution as the holiday shopping season converts into the holiday gathering season amid a continuing and deadly surge of COVID-19 cases fueled by the Delta variant.
“We are currently in a surge that does not seem to be slowing down,” said Steve Hall, health officer for Central Michigan District Health Department, which serves Isabella, Clare, Roscommon, Gladwin, Arenac and Osceola counties. “Our hospital systems are struggling.
“After dealing with this for a couple of years, we should all be familiar with the preventative measures to take. First and foremost, get vaccinated if you have not already done so. If you are eligible for a booster dose, get it.
“Wear a mask in indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status. Stay home if you are ill. We all need to do our part collectively.
“If we don’t, we face the possibility of not being able to receive needed medical care, whether that’s for a car accident, heart attack or COVID. This isn’t
just about you, it’s about everyone. If we work together, we will get through this.”
The surge in COVID-19 cases in Michigan, which health care officials said started in late July, was attributed to Delta variant.
Unlike last year, when cases plateaued in mid-december and then gradually ebbed, health officials have issued repeated warnings the last three weeks that cases show little sign of easing and that hospitalizations are threatening the ability to render care to patients who need treatment for NON-COVID ailments.
As of Monday, Mclarencentral Michigan reported to the state that it was 53 percent at full capacity of all of its beds, Mymichigan Health-alma was at 73 percent full capacity and Mymichigan Health-clare reported that it was at 27 percent full capacity.
Health officials have repeatedly said that the biggest source of stress on their systems are unvaccinated people seeking care for COVID-19 and that what they report to the state is a momentary snapshot that can change by the hour.
While age continues to be the biggest factor in determining who dies from COVID-19, nearly all local COVID-19 deaths are unvaccinated people.
Hall released information on 10 recent COVID-19 deaths involving Isabella and Clare counties’ people, five from each county.
Eight, four in each county, were unvaccinated. They included four elderly men, three of whom were from Clare County; two middleaged men, one from each county; a middle-aged Isabella County man; and an elderly Isabella County woman.
Both vaccinated deaths involved men, one middleaged and from Clare County and one elderly and from Isabella County.