Good Afternoon,
It has been another eventful week. On Monday, COVID vaccine eligibility in Michigan opened up to anyone 16 years old and older. As of yesterday, every employee on our vaccine interest list has now either scheduled an appointment or received at least one dose of the vaccine, some have received both doses.
Thank you to those who have chosen to get vaccinated, you are making all of us safer. Over the past 4 months we have advocated to get our workforce vaccinated through the Washtenaw County Health Department. Since eligibility has now opened to all adults, the county is no longer taking employee names from us but has asked that anyone interested register through their website. For those who have not been vaccinated yet, clinics are also available throughout the region and thousands of people are getting vaccinated every day. You can find available appointments near you at vaccinefinder.org/search/.
Unfortunately, the vaccine progress has not been enough to prevent another surge in cases and hospitalizations across the state. Earlier today, Governor Whitmer held a press conference to announce new public health recommendations.
The state now recommends:
- High schools switch to virtual learning for the next two weeks
- Youth sports suspend in-person activities for the next two weeks
- Diners avoid indoor dining at restaurants and bars
State mandates related to masks in public spaces and remote work remain in effect.
I know we are sick and tired of this pandemic, but we need to remain vigilant. Just this week, we had another employee test positive. I’m also extremely sad to announce that Laurie Forrester, a planner with DTE-Gas, who many of us have worked with, passed away on Wednesday after contracting COVID. I knew Laurie for many years and my heart goes out to her family and friends.
As Laurie’s passing shows us, this latest surge is very real and dangerous. We know what we need to do to get through this…wear your mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands and get vaccinated. We can do this – for ourselves, our families and our coworkers.
I hope you have a safe and relaxing weekend,
Sheryl
