ANN ARBOR – Washtenaw County’s risk of community COVID spread has shifted to “medium,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The development comes after a rise in new cases, 45% of which are in college-age residents, according to a Washtenaw County Health Department release.
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The Health Department recommends the following mitigation strategies:
- Get vaccinated and stay up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines (https://vaccinefinder.org).
- Seek testing if feeling ill or if you have been exposed.
- Stay away from others if you are feeling ill or recently exposed, waiting for test results, or have tested positive (www.washtenaw.org/covid19whattodo). If you test positive, talk to your doctor right away about treatment options to prevent severe illness.
- Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible.
Health Department officials recommend that residents make sure they have access to high quality masks and at-home tests.
According to the CDC’s website, masking in a “medium” level community is up to individuals to decide. However, the health agency advises that anyone who has a positive test, symptoms or has been exposed to a person with COVID-19 should wear a mask when around others.
Although indicators like weekly case rate, test positivity rate and reported outbreaks are heading in the wrong direction, the Health Department said stable hospitalizations in the county are “encouraging.”
In the period between March 24 and April 6, 16 new hospitalizations and one COVID-related death among Washtenaw County residents were reported.
For more information about COVID-19 in Washtenaw County, visit the Health Department’s website.