Lakeland, Health Department Give COVID-19 Update

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yutyuy6

The Berrien County Health Department has made contact tracing a major part of its COVID-19 response. During an update for the public on Friday, Berrien County Health Officer Nicki Britten said you may get a call from the department as it contacts anyone who may have had close contact with someone who tested positive.

“This has led to a reach of over 1,600 people so far, and it’s really helped us get a better understanding of what’s going on in the community,” Britten said.

Britten said as the state is opened back up, maybe in May, it will be crucial that everyone following social distancing and other guidelines to avoid getting sick. Spectrum Health Lakeland CEO Loren Hamel shared a bit of news that he said could be important. He said the hospital on Friday conducted its first transfusion of convalescent plasma. What is that?

“Convalescent serum is when you take a blood product from somebody who had COVID-19, tested positive, recovered, and then 14 days later we tasted them again and they were negative,” Hamel said. “At that point, we assume they have antibodies, or immunity, and then we take their plasma and give it to somebody who is sick.”

Hamel said the hope is that the antibodies will help the sick person fight the illness and experience less severe symptoms. Hamel also said the hospital working to acquire the ability to do antibody tests, although it will be weeks before those are helpful.

“We have purchased the equipment necessary to do those kinds of tests, and we’re actively pursuing the reagents. The challenge – you’ve probably all heard about these antibody tests and wondered why everybody doesn’t have them – like everything else, they’re now in short supply, but in addition, they’re all new.”

Hamel asked those who have had COVID-19 and recovered to keep themselves available if they could help. Britten noted the health department is working closely with Pine Ridge Nursing Center in Stevensville, where several individuals have tested positive. The employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 are isolating at home and are no longer in contact with any of the residents. The residents who have tested positive are being isolated in their rooms and all group activities have been canceled.