HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Ottawa County health officials continue reporting the number of people with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, and have added another category: the number of people with probable cases, and those who have recovered: 12, as of Friday, April 17, 2020.
Recovery is defined by state officials as someone who is alive 30 days after they were tested or evaluated for symptoms. As of April 10, state officials report 433 people recovered from the virus. Recovery numbers are updated each Saturday by state officials.
Across Michigan, 2.227 people have died from the virus, five of those were Ottawa County residents. Statewide, 30,023 people have been diagnosed with the virus.
Health officials are looking at reporting probable cases, which means using a person’s symptoms to determine whether or not they’ve been infected. Doing so serves two purposed. The first is getting past the limited number of tests available — and ongoing problem. The second is to give residents a better idea of just how pervasive this virus can be. COVID-19 can give people mild or no symptoms or aggressive upper-respiratory symptoms that can be fatal.
As the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) begins providing probable numbers, Ottawa County will include those numbers in a separate category from lab-confirmed cases.
Those test kits are limited, Ottawa County in the last week alone has completed more than 800, according to spokeswoman Kristina Weighmink.
Allegan County health officials have not yet seen 300 tests completed over the last month, but so far 30 people have lab-confirmed COVID-1. Nine people are waiting to find out and 54 are being monitored for symptoms.
Ottawa County Health officials are offering a variety of tips on coping — or helping others — during this pandemic. Here’s one list:
How to help older relatives and friends
The elderly are more vulnerable to complications from COVID-19. Many people are keeping their distance from their older relatives, friends and neighbors to keep them safe. Help minimize the loneliness that social distancing can cause with these tips:
- Call older adults — family members, friends and retired neighbors– and make sure they are doing well. A friendly voice can help reduce anxieties during this time.
- Grocery shop for them, delivering the groceries curbside, or help set up a grocery delivery service.
- Assist them access telehealth for urgent healthcare needs. Help them get prescriptions and medications.
- Provide older adults with guidance on using a new cell phone feature. This could be text messaging, video chats, social media, emails, the internet and photo sharing. Share links to videos, music, concerts, new clips, hobbies and more. Find Pure Michigan virtual tours here.
- Visit CareOttawaCounty.com and offer to volunteer for a senior program.
