KALAMAZOO, MI -- Mitigating coronavirus in schools is the next chapter in slowing the spread of the virus, Kalamazoo County Health Officer Jim Rutherford told county commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Rutherford presented local coronavirus data and recommendations communicated to all the area schools, colleges and universities. He emphasized that the virus predominantly affects older adults or those with underlying health conditions.
As of Tuesday, Kalamazoo County had 1,808 cases and 88 deaths related to COVID-19.
In Kalamazoo County only 10% of cases are among those younger than 19, and no deaths reported within the county are among that age group. The health department advised local schools to consider their staff and students who may be more vulnerable to COVID-19.
“When we talk about the risk in school settings, it’s important to really look at these vulnerable populations,” Rutherford told county leaders Tuesday.
Still, it is inevitable the virus will make its way into the school system, he said.
“We don’t want to pretend like this is just going to be without incident, because we’re going to have positive cases,” Rutherford said.
The health department developed a flow chart for schools, instructing them to create isolation areas for symptomatic students to wait until they are picked up from school. The family of the student would be advised to take them to the doctor, and staff at the school is then advised to contact the health department.
The health department will conduct contract tracing after a positive test result is determined. It is important that families get their students to a doctor immediately and receive rapid testing, when applicable, so contact tracing can be most effective, Rutherford said.
The overlap of COVID-19 symptoms and the common cold or flu symptoms will pose an added challenge, Rutherford said.
“It adds another level of complexity, but it’s part of what we need to be diligent about,” he said. “People need to stay home when they’re sick.”
The basic advice from the health department has not changed over the last seven months. Wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing remain a top priority, Rutherford said. He compared these strategies to basic safety measures taken to avoid being injured in a car crash, such as using a seat belt, not speeding and not texting while driving.
“We’re putting forth strategies to reduce the severity, the seriousness, the painfulness of something,” he said. “When we talk about these public health recommendations, they’re pretty simple.”
Human behavior remains the hardest obstacle, Rutherford said. Commissioners asked if the county was ready for an influx of cases as college students return to campus. Most Western Michigan University students returned to campus last weekend, and the first day of classes is Wednesday, Sept. 2.
Rutherford said the county is working with WMU’s Sindecuse Health Center to assist with testing and contact tracing. Still, the responsibility will be with students to adhere to guidelines, commit to quarantining and participate in contact tracing.
“The downside to the fact that zero to 20-year-olds haven’t really been significantly impacted, from a health perspective, is that they don’t take it as seriously as somebody that is really in more of those vulnerable groups,” Rutherford said.
As it stands, Rutherford, said the health department is not planning any reduced-capacity mandate of 25 people in a group because it does not seem realistic to manage. Rutherford said citations for capacity or mask noncompliance would be difficult as law enforcement spends time “chasing down parties” to disperse crowds.
In addition to strong communication with law enforcement, relationships with local businesses have become crucial as students move backed to school, Rutherford said.
The health department has visited all the restaurants and bars in the area in preparation of students going back to school and the possibility of super spreader events.
“The bottom line for them is, if the colleges and the schools close it’s not good for their business,” he said.
Related: Where are Michigan’s latest coronavirus outbreaks? State now offering new data
The Kalamazoo region — which includes Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties — remains in the medium-high risk category based on data from Aug. 28, according to the state health department’s MI Safe Start Map.
There were eight new outbreaks in the Kalamazoo region, according to the state’s new online outbreak tracker. The data set lists the outbreaks by region, but does not offer specific locations or additional details, such as number of cases.
The tracker was updated Monday, Aug. 31, with information collected for the seven days ending Thursday, Aug. 27.
State data did not record any outbreaks in the Kalamazoo region at K-12 schools or college and universities during that seven day period.
On Friday, Aug. 28, Western Michigan University reported 16 new confirmed coronavirus cases, stemming from testing at the campus health center over a two-week period beginning Aug. 9.
Related: Western Michigan University reports coronavirus cases as students return to campus
An outbreak is generally defined as an instance in which two or more cases are linked by a place and time, indicating a shared exposure outside of a household.
The outbreaks are primarily at long-term care facilities and agricultural/food processing/migrant camps, according to state data.
The Kalamazoo region had three new outbreaks in both long-term care facilities and agricultural businesses.
The region also has nine ongoing outbreaks in long-term care facilities, and 12 more in agricultural businesses.
In total, the region reported 34 ongoing outbreaks in categories such as childcare or youth programs, manufacturing or construction, an office setting, retail employees, religious service and social gatherings.
Ongoing outbreaks are those that had already been identified in previous weeks but have had at least one new associated case reported to the local health department in the last two weeks.
In total, the state of Michigan reported 93 new outbreaks and 199 ongoing outbreaks.
More on MLive:
Western Michigan students protest, share concerns with university’s reopening plan
Western Michigan University freshmen ‘rolling with the punches’ as they move in during a pandemic
Michigan reports 8 coronavirus outbreaks at K-12 schools and 6 on college campuses
Portage elementary students welcomed back to school amid coronavirus pandemic
Online school start delayed for some Kalamazoo students amid software changes
These 100 Michigan schools will start the year with remote learning
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