ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – As of Wednesday, August 11, the Allegan County Health Department (ACHD) has published its updated version of the 2021-2022 School Year COVID-19 Guidance for schools.
ACHD continues to follow CDC COVID-19 Prevention K-12 School Guidance.
Officials say that with all mitigation tools to prevent COVID-19 strongly recommended for the school settings, vaccination and mask wearing are two important considerations to keep kids in school.
As of August 10, Allegan County’s current vaccination coverage for eligible school age children (12-19 years) for at least one COVID-19 dose is 34.4%, while the vaccination coverage for all eligible individuals in Allegan County is 54.7%.
“Mask wearing and vaccination coverage are two ways parents can help keep kids in school as research shows the safety and effectiveness for both,” ACHD Health Officer Angelique Joynes said in a statement. “When these tools are in place, quarantine is reduced and there is less disruption for students in the classroom.”
Requirements for schools include the following:
- Masking for all on buses per CDC Order. Certain people with disabilities who, because of their disability, cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, are exempted from CDC’s mask-wearing requirement.
- Report suspected and confirmed COVID-19 (and all other reportable diseases, outbreaks, unusual occurrences) to the health department as specified under Michigan Administrative Code R. 325.173(9)
- Post COVID-19 case counts on your website as per MDHHS Epidemic Order, Reporting of Confirmed and Probable Cases of COVID-19 at Schools
- Keep employees sick with or exposed to COVID-19 home as required by Public Act 339
- Exclude children ill with communicable illness (such as COVID-19) from school as specified under Michigan Administrative Code R 325.175 (2):
- Assist LHD with contact tracing as specified under Michigan Administrative Code R. 325.174(2)
Additional updates include modified quarantine qualifications for close contacts within 3 to 6 feet who were wearing a mask during time of exposure.
“We will continue to ensure vaccine opportunities are available throughout the County for students and families,” Joynes said.
Vaccine Clinics offered throughout the month of August include the following:
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Friday, August 12 from 3pm to 6pm at Ladders of Hope, 717 E. Main St., Fennville
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Saturday, August 14 from 9am-12pm at Allegan High School
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Wednesday, August 18 from 10am to 1pm at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts
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Wednesday, August 18 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at Martin High School
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Friday, August 20 from 6pm to 9pm at 1 Riverfront Plaza, Allegan
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Saturday, August 21 from 9am to 12pm at Allegan High School
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Thursday, August 26 from 11am to 2:30pm at Saugatuck High School
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Thursday, August 26 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at the Allegan County Area Technology and Education Center
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Friday, August 27 from 11am to 3pm at Love INC., Pullman
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Saturday, August 28 from 9am to 12pm at Allegan High School
For more COVID-19 information, visit www.allegancounty.org/covid.
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