As national health agencies prepare for the likelihood of increased instances of coronavirus in the U. S., local officials are ready to respond should the disease crop up in Monroe County.

As national health agencies prepare for the likelihood of increased instances of coronavirus in the U. S., local officials are ready to respond should the disease crop up in Monroe County.

Earlier this week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is only a matter of time before the new strain of coronavirus, also known as COVID- 19, spreads. It warned communities to have plans in place in the event of an outbreak of transmissions.

No suspected cases have been reported in the region, but Kim Comerzan, director of the Monroe County Health Department, said her team is in daily contact with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services regarding the concerning health trend.

“… if a case occurs here, we will be notified and have protocols in place to monitor and manage the situation,” Comerzan said.

Her department is currently in the process of reviewing the various plans it has developed to respond to a community-wide infectious disease. “ We have been fortunate not to have to put them in place, but we are reviewing and tweaking those plans in the unlikely event that we will need to implement them,” she added.

The respiratory illness, which can cause mild to severe symptoms, has caused widespread concern as new transmissions of the disease are reported across the globe.

Tens of thousands of cases have been confirmed in various countries, with several thousand deaths reported, most of which have occurred in China. The virus’ origin has been linked to a food market in the country.

As of this week, there have been more than a dozen confirmed cases in the U. S. and more than 445 possible cases tested, according to the CDC.

In the event of a widespread health crisis in Monroe County, the local health department would be designated as a public health command center.

All members of the health department’s staff would act as part of a response team, Comerzan said. The department also has a bank of volunteers with medical backgrounds that would be called on to help, Comerzan added.

The department would use its network of community partners to address a widespread health concern. That network, in part, includes the United Way of Monroe County; ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; the Red Cross; the Emergency Management Division; Monroe Community Ambulance; and the Salvation Army.

All area school districts are also considered community partners, according to Comerzan.

Supt. Dr. Stephen McNew of the Monroe County Intermediate School District said the district is sending letters to staff and students’ families that include resources from the health department.

“(We) have no plans to close at this time, but we are educating ourselves and working with our state organization to be prepared,” McNew said.

Maj. Troy Goodnough, head of jail operations for the sheriff’s office, said his office received guidance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Detroit field office.

The county jail currently houses 94 ICE detainees, with two suspected to be Chinese nationals. But the detainees have been housed at the jail since before the outbreak began.

Goodnough said ICE informed the sheriff’s office that the agency has implemented a screening process at ports of entry across the country. Whenever someone is detained or taken into custody, they are screened for coronavirus.

“For the most part, we are confident if we receive an ICE detainee in our facility they have a clean bill of health as it applies to the coronavirus,” he added.

Widespread illnesses such as coronavirus can tax resources, according to Comerzan. The more communicable a disease is, the more likely it is to spread, which strains the availability of medical supplies.

That’s partly why it is so important for people to remember that if they are sick, certain behaviors can lead to further spreading a virus, she added.

“We always recommend that if you are ill, stay home from work, school or any social events where people will be congregating,” Comerzan said.

Additionally, Comerzan advised people to use good respiratory hygiene, which includes covering a cough or sneeze and frequently washing hands.

It’s especially important this time of year, given that it is still flu season, Comerzan said.

“… we are seeing many cases of seasonal influenza and ( the area) is nearing the peak time for the virus,” Comerzan said. “ There is still time to get vaccinated against influenza and following (hygiene) recommendations to decrease the spread of the disease is advisable.”

ABOUT THE VIRUS

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the current strain of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, is likely spread through person-to-person contact. Such transmission can occur between people who are in close contact and by respiratory droplets produced through coughing or sneezing. Those infected with the disease are the most contagious when they exhibit symptoms associated with the disease, according to the CDC.

The respiratory illness’ most common symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. According to the CDC, symptoms are most likely to present themselves in the infected within two to 14 days after exposure. There is no vaccine currently for COVID-19.

To mitigate the possible transmission of the disease, the CDC recommends people avoid close contact with those who are sick; avoiding touching eyes, mouth or nose; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects; use proper hygiene; and stay home when ill. For those that suspect they may have contracted the disease, the CDC recommends seeking immediate medical attention.

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This is among the articles The Monroe News is making available for free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. You can find more news and announcements for Monroe County readers at our coronavirus special section.

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