COVID-19 PUBLIC STATEMENT

[St. James Township]

Beaver Island Public Statement regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
Last Updated: November 24, 2020
NOTICE: If you are if you are sick, or tested positive, or are awaiting test results, or think you have been exposed: Stay Home!

Update on Closure of BI Transfer Station
Until at least December 1, 2020, the BI Transfer Station is closed, due to a positive COVID-19 employee exposure. The decision was made in compliance with the Townships’ COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan. The closure will allow all transfer station employees to self-quarantine and seek testing and will allow for a thorough cleaning. Bins are available in front of the transfer station for the disposal of green bags only.

The closure of the transfer station reflects a much broader reality for our small Island community and reinforces the need for each of us to fully embrace our individual commitment to the whole community. Because each of our core businesses and institutions rely on relatively few people to keep them operational, if one or two people are exposed and/or test positive, it is likely that there are no backups to keep the business or service operating. This is true of the stores, the airlines, the boat company. Do not enter a business or public space without a mask.

We must do what Beaver Island typically does best; watch out for each other. Appreciation goes out to the Island stores, airlines, the school, the Boat Company, the resale shop, the chamber and its businesses, and the townships for implementing strong measures to try to stop the spread of the virus. We will get through this, and hopefully, with no Islander having serious long-term effects, hospitalization or death. We must all do our very best to protect each other and to protect our most valuable Island resource, it’s people. Let’s all reach out to thank those who have had our backs during this unprecedented time.

People have asked about identifying possible exposure sites. According to District Health Department #10: they will no longer publish potential exposure sites there are too many to keep track of and they wish to focus their efforts on case investigation and contact tracing of actual cases, not potential exposures.

Please browse this site for easy to understand information about testing, when and how to quarantine or isolate, and what you should do or not do if you are quarantining or isolating. Health Department of Northwest Michigan: http://www.nwhealth.org/covid19.html.

“Pause… Protect Yourself, Protect the Island”
 Limit your interaction with others as much as possible
 Wear a Mask
 Respect Social Distancing and Avoid Gatherings
 Wash your Hands
 Monitor your Health. Pay attention for COVID-19 symptoms: Fever, Cough, Shortness of Breath

As of November 24, 2020, the Beaver Island Rural Health CenteR is reporting that 282 patients have been tested for COVID-19: 241 have come back negative and 25 are pending; 16 have come back positive, 10 of whom were tested during the week of November 15th.

Kathleen McNamara, Supervisor
St James Township
Phone: 231.448.2014
mcnamara.stjamestwp.bi@gmail.com

Doug Tilly, Supervisor
Peaine Township
Phone: 231.448.2389
peainetownship@gmail.com

[esalveter]

I am hearing numbers much larger than 16 positive Covid-19 cases being tossed about. Is there an official update?

[BeanieBeanstalk]

Ed,
I just checked the Beaver Island Rural Health Center (BIRHC) website and it says 23 total positives (including the 6 which occured before November 1) and 10 outstanding tests. This morning there were only 4 outstanding tests.

That website is biruralhealth.org. and is updated at least once a day.