In collaboration with the Western U.P. Health Department and Emergency Operation Centers in Baraga County, Gogebic County, Houghton County, Keweenaw County and Ontonagon County, Copper Country Strong Briefs will be shared regularly through the duration of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Currently, they are released on Mondays and Thursdays.
You can receive an email alert when a new briefing is posted. Subscribe here.
UPDATE FROM WESTERN U.P. HEALTH DEPARTMENT
UPDATED NUMBERS FOR FEBRUARY 18
The previous update was Monday, February 15. All numbers below are in comparison to that update.
- TOTAL: 32 more positives, 14 more probable positives, 91 more recoveries and 3 deaths
- BARAGA COUNTY: 2 more positives, 1 more probable positive, 2 more recoveries and 1 death
- GOGEBIC COUNTY: 7 more positives, 3 more probable positives, 21 more recoveries and 1 death
- HOUGHTON COUNTY: 20 more positives, 8 more probable positives and 52 more recoveries
- KEWEENAW COUNTY: 1 more positive, 1 more probable positive and 5 more recoveries
- ONTONAGON COUNTY: 2 more positives, 1 more probable positive, 11 more recoveries and 1 death
Vaccine Updates
Michigan Residents Can Call 2-1-1 for Vaccine Sign-Up
People in Michigan can dial 2-1-1 from any phone to help get information about the COVID-19 vaccine and, if in an eligible group, be placed on a local waiting list to receive a vaccine.
2-1-1 is a free, confidential service that connects residents to local community-based organizations across the state offering thousands of different programs and services for people seeking answers. Seven regional 2‐1‐1 contact centers manage Michigan’s most up‐to‐date and comprehensive database of health and human services with over 7,000 agencies offering over 36,000 services across the state. In the U.P., 2-1-1 is ran by Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress (UPCAP). Learn more about UPCAP at upcap.org.
Beyond scheduling appointments, Michigan Department Health & Human Services (MDHHS) recently announced its partnership with the national education technology company GetSetUp. Through this partnership, the MDHHS Aging & Adult Services Agency is offering a series of sessions to walk older Michiganders through the Michigan COVID-19 vaccine website. The goal is to help older residents who are eligible for the vaccine find their local health department to register online for a vaccine appointment or to be added to the waitlist.
Winter storms causing delays in vaccine shipments
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been notified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that due to ongoing winter storm conditions in Kentucky and Tennessee, vaccine shipments this week continue to be delayed.
“We ask that Michiganders confirm their appointments prior to traveling and to have patience as providers seek to reschedule any appointments,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “Unfortunately, distribution of the vaccine in this circumstance is simply out of our control. Vaccine providers across the state are working hard to get 70% of Michiganders age 16 and older vaccinated with the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as quickly as possible.”
Late yesterday, CDC provided an update about COVID-19 vaccine shipments in light of the ongoing winter storm conditions this week. This challenge is affecting vaccine shipments across the country.
- Pfizer vaccine: Pfizer vaccines were not shipped out on Monday, Feb. 15 due to weather conditions. A limited number of Pfizer vaccine shipments are being processed this week.
- Moderna vaccine: Severe weather impacted the McKesson distribution center in Memphis. Every aspect of distribution was impacted including air and ground transport, as well as work force, including personnel for packing and sorting vaccine. Moderna vaccines were not shipped on Monday, Feb. 15, Tuesday, Feb. 16 or Wednesday, Feb. 17 due to adverse weather conditions. CDC is working with McKesson and their shipping partners to resume operations as soon as the weather abates. They anticipate a significant back log of orders for distribution once operations resume and every effort will be made to catch up as soon as possible while safely delivering the vaccines.
- Last week, a number of Moderna vaccine shipments were pulled back to the McKesson depots because they were unable to be delivered due to weather conditions. A small number of these shipments were repacked and sent out on Sunday for delivery on Monday, Feb. 15. For the remaining shipments, McKesson will be rescheduling vaccine deliveries once weather conditions allow shipments to resume.
At this time, MDHHS does not know if McKesson will ship any Moderna orders today for delivery tomorrow. The department will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information is learned. Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine.
Reminder - Copper Country Strong Vaccine Resource
This week in conjunction with local healthcare providers and the health department, a new page has been added to CopperCountryStrong.com focused on the vaccine distribution in Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties. The page features information on who is eligible to be vaccinated, what vaccine is available locally and how to schedule your appointment.
Visit coppercountrystrong.com/vaccine to learn more.
MDHHS Updates
MDHHS campaign emphasizes the need for mask-wearing even after receiving safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is expanding its statewide paid media campaign to remind all Michiganders, including those who have already received the vaccine, to continue wearing masks as the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is administered throughout the state.
“We are making great progress towards our goal of vaccinating 70% of Michiganders as quickly as possible, but it is important people remain vigilant in preventing spread of COVID-19 even after receiving a vaccine,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “Wear the right mask and wear it properly over your mouth and nose every time you will be around someone outside of your household. Masks, social distancing and washing hands are still very important in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and ending this pandemic.”
The $1 million mask campaign runs through April and includes television, connected TV, radio, audio streaming, digital media, search, print in minority publications and social media. Digital ads with specific messaging and targeting parameters were also developed to connect with minority populations.
MDHHS reminds Michiganders to follow these tips when wearing a mask:
- Make sure your mask fits snugly against your face. Gaps can let air with respiratory droplets leak in and out around the edges of the mask.
- Pick a mask with layers to keep your respiratory droplets in and others’ out. A mask with layers will stop more respiratory droplets getting inside your mask or escaping from your mask if you are sick.
Please see the graphic below, to help make the best choices when selecting a face mask.
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If you have an update you would like included in this daily brief, please contact the appropriate county or the health department. Contact information can be found at coppercountrystrong.com/contact.
An archive of updates can be found at coppercountrystrong.com. The community is invited to view that site and subscribe for email alerts when a new brief is posted. Links will also be shared on the Copper Country Strong Facebook and Twitter pages.
