Author: Doug Donnelly

Due to public health concerns surrounding COVID-19 in Michigan, State Rep. Bronna Kahle has announced the suspension of her remaining March office hours, which were scheduled to take place March 28 at Schultz-Holmes Memorial Library in Blissfield.
Anyone desiring information regarding Michigan’s ongoing efforts to combat COVID-19 or to discuss other issues of concern is welcome to contact Rep. Kahle’s office at (517) 373-1706 orBronnaKahle@house.mi.gov.

The Lenawee County Health Department has compiled the following coronavirus/COVID-19 position paper for local residents:

CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19)
The Lenawee County Health Department is working to provide you important information regarding Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Prevention Measures:
• Wash hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and then throw the tissue away.
Or you may cough or sneeze into your elbow.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Forego handshakes
• Stay at least 6 feet away from others when in a public setting.
• If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others.
• Avoid cruise travel
• Carefully consider non-essential travel. Consult the CDC website
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html for guidance.
301 N. Main Street Adrian, MI 49221 Lenawee.MI.US
Symptoms Include:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Emergency Warning Signs Include:
Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion or inability to arouse Bluish lips or face
This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Testing:
• Individuals who do not have symptoms do not need to be tested.
• Individuals with mild symptoms should isolate at home and call their medical provider if symptoms
worsen.
• Individuals who have developed symptoms within 14 days of either close contact with a lab confirmed COVID-19 patient or recent travel to an area with widespread COVID-19 transmission or are concerned about current symptoms, may call the:
— Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: (888) 535-6136
Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
— Lenawee County Health Department: (517) 264-5226 option 5
Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ProMedica 24/7 Screening Hotline: (419) 291-5355

Individuals should not show up at their medical provider’s office, health department or emergency department asking to be tested. The health department does not conduct testing for COVID-19. Individuals without a medical provider may contact the Family Medical Center at 517-263-1800.

Questions:
Public health experts are available to answer your questions about COVID-19:
— Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: (888) 535-6136
Open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
— Lenawee County Health Department: (517)264-5226 option 5
Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30p.m.
Additional information is available: www.lenaweehealthdepartment.org.

The Bliss-Liewert Center along with all Lenawee County Senior Centers closed March 16 until further notice in response to the coronavirus outbreak that has yet to be detected in Lenawee County. The senior centers are run through the Lenawee County Department on Aging.
Other services have also been affected including the following:
• Meals provided by Len-awee Department on Aging will Instead be offered through curbside services for all participants to have access to nutritious meals. Meals that were normally eaten at the senior center will be available at the back door of the Bliss-Liewert Center. Participants should call ahead to the Bliss-Liewert Center a day before they wish to obtain a meal. They may also let staff know when they pick up their order if they will be using the service in the days following.
• Home-delivered meals will continue to be delivered with some additional protocols in place to protect volunteer drivers and clients.
• Daybreak Adult Day Services will be closed until further notice.
• Home services including homemaker service,personal care and in-home respite are suspended until further notice.
• Volunteer Transportation to non-emergency medical appointments is suspended until further notice
• Dept. on Aging will continue with assessments with some phone interviews being exchanged for face-to-face contact on a case-by-case situation.
To contact the Lenawee County Department on Aging call 517-264-5280. To contact the Bliss-Liewert Center call 486-2397.

THE MARCH 18, 2020, EDITION OF THE ADVANCE IS FILLED WITH INFO ON HOW THE CORONAVIRUS THREAT IS AFFECTING THE BLISSFIELD/EAST LENAWEE AREA

Main Street/DDA suspends meetings
The Blissfield Main Street/Downtown Development Authority has suspended all committee meetings until further notice.

WHITEFORD TOWNSHIP BOARD

As of 11 a.m. today, March 17, the Whiteford Township Board meeting at 7 p.m. the same evening is still scheduled. The board is asking all who attend to use the social distancing formula of six feet and not to attend if they are ill.

BLISSFIELD TOWNSHIP BOARD

The Blissfield Township Board meeting that had been rescheduled for 7 p.m. today, March 17, has been cancelled.

PALMYRA TOWNSHIP BOARD
The Palmyra Township Board meeting scheduled for tonight, March 17, has also been cancelled, according to Supervisor Jim Isley.

PALMYRA PLANNING COMMISSION
The Palmyra Planning Commission meeting to discuss commercial solar arrays on March 24 has been cancelled.

Lenawee Health Dept. seeks specific cruisers
The Lenawee County Health Department has issued a list of cruise ships from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with COVID-19-positive travelers discovered after passengers disembarked from the ships.
Following is the list of ships of which the CDC is aware that have had at least one case of COVID 19:
• Azamara Quest: voyage departing 2-10-2020 and any subsequent voyages;
• Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas: 2-29-2020 and subsequent departures;
• MSC Meraviglia: 3-1-2020 and subsequent departures;
• Norwegian Bliss: 3-1-2020 and subsequent voyages;
• Costa Luminosa: voyages beginning 3-5-2020;
• Celebrity Summit: voyages beginning 3-7-2020.
People who were a passenger on any of these cruise ships are asked to contact the Lenawee County Health Department at 517-264-5226, according to Martha Hall, health officer.

MDOT waives seasonal weight restrictions for
trucks supporting COVID-19 relief efforts
The Michigan Department of Transportation announced Sunday it will exempt from seasonal weight restrictions motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks.

Watershed conservation meeting cancelled
The River Raisin Watershed Farmer-Led Conservation Group’s annual meeting scheduled for April 2 at the Lenawee Intermediate School District Tech Center. has been cancelled.

BD kindergarten roundup reset for May 13
Britton Deerfield Kindergarten Round-up originally scheduled for March 25 will now take place May 13.

Testicle Fest reslated for May 9
DEERFIELD — The Deerfield American Legion Testicle Festival scheduled for March 21 has been rescheduled to 10 a.m.-10 p.m. May 9.

Blissfield Preschool Open House now April 20
The Blissfield Preschool Open House has been postponed from March 23 to April 20, from 6-7:30 p.m.

FOR MORE UPDATES ON MEETINGS CANCELLATIONS AND RESCHEDULING, please see the March 18, 2020, ADVANCE. It is filled with coronavirus-related news of the Blissfield area.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 306 E Jefferson St., Blissfield, has cancelled all Sunday and Wednesday services between Sunday, March 15m and Wednesday, April 1. Services will resume on Palm Sunday, April . Questions may be directed to the church office weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and noon at 517-486-2404.

​​​​​Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1500 N. Blissfield Hwy., Palmyra, has cancelled all Sunday and Wednesday services between Sunday, March 15 and Wednesday, April 1. Services will resume on Palm Sunday, April 5.

A message signed by all Lenawee County superintendents of public schools, posted on the Blissfield Community Schools website, answers several questions being raised with the statewide closure of schools as a way to stop community spread of the coronavirus.

One is whether the spring break for Lenawee County, from April 6-12, would occur as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had indicated schools would be closed in Michigan until April 6.

“At the present time, there are no plans to adjust the scheduled spring break,” said the message. “Thus spring break in Lenawee County is still scheduled for Monday, April 6, 2020, through Sunday, April 12, 2020. Should the Governor and/or Legislature take action that obligates schools to return to session beginning on April 6, 2020, this may change.”

The fact sheet said the issues of make-up days and meals for students remain fluid. Students will not be expected to have at-home, online lessons, although individual districts may provide optional enrichments of supplemental learning opportunities or resources.

All school-sponsored activities are postponed indefinitely and MHSAA, as reported earlier, has “suspended all winter team tournaments. At this time, guidance is awaited from MHSAA on spring sports, but “there will be no practices, rehearsals or other activities during the closure period.”

Kindergarten roundups that haven’t already occurred are postponed until after spring break, with dates to come once these can be scheduled.

School board meetings will be on an individual, district-level decision with most local districts indicating they will have essential-business-only meetings in accordance with Michigan’s Open Meetings Act with “social distancing” measures encouraged.

The Schultz-Holmes Memorial Library in Blissfield has cancelled all events over the next three weeks, according to Library Director Dr. Robert Barringer.

Further, the library is closed until 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 13.  

“We will re-evaluate as we move though the closure, but that is the current date to re-open,” Barringer said.

The building, including restrooms, will be closed to the public.  Staff will be on-site at least part of each day the library is open. 

“We will check the library voicemail, email, and social media sites for messages. Patrons who have been notified they have materials on hold to pick up should call the library to arrange to pick up the items,” Barringer added.

While the book drop remains open for patrons to return borrowed items, all fines on items due between March 1 and April 30 are waived as long as the material is returned by June 1. Interlibrary loan is suspended until further notice. Auditorium rental is suspended until further notice.  Programs are cancelled until the library re-opens. The library’s online services and collection are unaffected and remain operational to serve library patrons.

Britton Deerfield Community Schools officials have confirmed they will remain closed through spring break with classes tentatively resuming April 13.

Schools across the state of Michigan will all be closed starting March 16 by order of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer due to the coronavirus threat.

The school will not have mandatory online learning because they cannot guarantee equitable computer and Internet access to all students. Students who are dual-enrolled in college will have the opportunity to complete their classes online as colleges are offering online class options.

The week of April 6-12 was the original spring break for local schools and the district is honoring the teacher contract by remaining closed that week, according to Stacy Johnson, superintendent of Britton Deerfield Schools. It is unknown how much of this time may be required to be made up by the state of Michigan.