Health Department Encouraged By Recent COVID Numbers

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This was a week of progress when it comes to COVID-19 in Berrien County. The numbers were kept low, and there was even a day with no new cases of the illness to report. Berrien County Health Department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News this is all good news. However…

“We know that we still need to keep up with our efforts and make sure that we’re all taking those preventative actions that will keep our trends on this downward trajectory,” Conrad said. “So it’s things like washing our hands, staying home if we’re sick, wearing our face coverings when we’re in public, trying to keep our six foot distance from others where we can.”

Conrad notes as things have opened up and there have been large events like marches, the health department hasn’t seen a spike in coronavirus.

“We haven’t. So we know that as people are heading out and engaging in activities again, people are doing the right thing. They’re trying their best to keep distance from others where they can, wearing face coverings, and making sure hand hygiene is definitely a part of whatever activity that they’re doing.”

The percentage of tests that come back positive in Berrien County is now down to 3.1% from 7.7% in May, and Conrad says tests are now much more available. She urges anyone with even mild symptoms of an illness to arrange to get tested. The testing sites in Berrien County are Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph, Intercare in Benton Harbor, Rite Aid in Bridgman and Niles, and Walmart in Benton Harbor.