MICHIGAN, USA — State and local health officials are urging people to get tested for COVID-19 after returning from spring break.
“Brighter days are ahead with vaccinations being available to all Michiganders as of April 5, however, there are still critical efforts we must take to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Whitmer.
Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Michigan is leading the U.S. in new cases of COVID-19 per population. Friday, the state of Michigan reported 5,498 new cases making the total 683,793; 5,498 Michiganders have died from the virus.
In Kent County, daily case counts have quadrupled.
"It is extremely exciting to have this much vaccine coming into Kent County, we're able to get so many people vaccinated, but we are seeing numbers rise in a way that is scary," said Dr. Nirali Bora, medical director for the Kent County Health Department.
Bora said the county's numbers currently mirror those of last fall ahead of a surge that led to hundreds of lives lost.
"We don't want to get there again especially when hope is so close," Bora said. "I mean we can see the end of this. We're in such a better place than we were before."
Bora advised that people avoid indoor gatherings over spring break, including eating inside restaurants, and if unvaccinated people choose to travel she advised to quarantine and get tested after.
She said outdoor gatherings continue to be a lower risk way to see friends and family.
"I really want people that take this time to enjoy, but we're also at a time when we're seeing increasing cases, we're seeing increasing hospitalizations, we're seeing more people in the ICU, than we had just a few weeks ago, so this is also a time to just maintain our vigilance," Bora said.
The state health department said people should also get tested one to three days before traveling.
Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services is offering 37 pop-up sites located at school districts throughout Michigan as part of a way to slow the spread upon return from spring break.
Grand Rapids Public Schools and Kent County Health Department are also recommending that all unvaccinated students and staff who travel out of state during spring break be tested before returning to school or quarantine for one week before returning to school.
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