Health department sees increase in COVID-19 cases

The Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency has experienced an increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases being reported and variant spread, similar to the rest of Michigan the past few weeks.

According to an agency media release, it is following MDHHS guidance on reinstituting a standard, 14-day quarantine for close contacts of COVID-19 cases. This will remove the option of a 10-day quarantine for non-variant cases.

Due to increased cases, there may also be a delay in contacting someone who tests positive for the virus or has been in close contact to someone who has COVID-19.

Agency officials are recommending anyone who has received a positive COVID-19 test to isolate for a minimum of 10 days from the start of symptoms or positive test date. They suggest notifying close contacts and encourage them to quarantine for 14 days from their last date of contact.