GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Michiganders are likely to wear masks until Easter, says Metro Health chief medical officer.
The comment came Friday, Aug. 14, during a virtual press conference on the Kent County: Back to Work Safely program, a public health surveillance tool used in Kent County to screen employees for COVID-19.
Dr. Ron Grifka is the Chief Medical Officer for Metro Health, a subsidiary of the University of Michigan Health based near Grand Rapids. Grifka was one of many Kent County health experts and officials who met nearly Friday morning to discuss the number of infections in Kent County and beyond.
Besibbe: Kent County Public Health Surveillance Tool Works to Slow Down Coronavirus Spread, Officials Say
“As much as I hate to say it, we’ll probably be wearing masks until maybe Easter,” Grifka said. “By that time, we will see the end of the respiratory season from winter to spring of next year.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday that she will distribute 4 million free face masks to Michigan residents.
The partnership “MI Mask Aid” will provide masks to low-income residents, seniors, schools and homeless shelters. Donations include 2.5 million masks from FEMA and 1.5 million from Ford.
At a news conference Friday, Whitmer said Michigan business numbers were plateau, but she would like to see them decline. They encourage Michiganders to wear masks and stay alert.
“This virus will not go away just because we are tired of attacking it. “The only way we can stop this pandemic, an end to this pandemic, is to take it seriously,” Whitmer said.
The community has done a great job with hygiene, social distance and wearing masks, Grifka said.
“It has not been easy, it has not been fun,” Grifka said. “It really helped flatten the curve.”
Grifka said he hopes not to see a second wave of the virus hit Michigan, but instead believes the state will “see two or three wrinkles.”
“We saw a slight increase after Memorial Day, the slight increase after the fourth of July,” Grifka said. “Probably we will see a slight increase after Labor Day, but again, as people have mentioned, that wrinkle has not been that big and again the community has done a great job.”
Grifka said by spring next year, doctors are hoping they have a vaccine. Analysts believe that about 50% to 60% of people will participate in the vaccine, and educating the population will be important going forward, he said.
Grifka said another point of good news was that increased social distance and wearing masks to prevent COVID-19 will also keep flu rates low, which will further help health care systems.
The health experts on the virtual call discussed the lower rate of infection in Kent County compared to other parts of Michigan and tools such as the screening program that helps employees get back to work.
Participating employers use the employee screening test to check for symptoms or recent exposure to COVID-19 each day before people start work.
The confidential data will be sent to the Kent County Department of Health so that COVID-19 personnel can address hot spots that appear in various zip codes as well as economic sectors.
The program was modeled after the screening of the employee that Meijer does at 250 locations.
As of Thursday, August 13, there are a total of 6,987 positive cases of coronavirus in Kent County, said Kent London Department of Health Director Adam London. The province reports a 2.2% mortality rate, which London said was “remarkable” compared to the statewide rate of 7%.
London said the screening test for workers helps keep rates low, as those in the business sector ’embrace this message, embrace this tool and do everything you can to make your jobs as safe as possible. ”
He said Kent County tests as many as larger counties in the eastern part of Michigan, although Kent has had fewer positive cases. Positive things are happening in the eastern part of Michigan, which London described as a “red flag.”
Michigan reported 1,121 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the highest number since May 14. Increased tests are attributed to the higher number of cases. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Michigan has recovered 90,392 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The community must continue to work together to combat the pandemic, London said.
“We can not explain the victory,” London said.
Also on MLive:
Friday, August 14 coronavirus data by Michigan county: 12 counties now in the ‘green’ zone
4 million free masks to distribute to Michiganders
Re-opening of Coronavirus school to take center stage in weekend legislative session: Here’s what legislators might be doing
