Mask up! Join us in our fight to eradicate the coronavirus outbreak in Michigan and how we can spread hope, not COVID. Get tips on how you can do your part as a Michigander. This post is sponsored by The amaMichigan Department of Health and Human Services.
How Michigan Can Help Spread Hope, Not COVID
In Michigan, our state motto is, “Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice.” Translated into English, it says, “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” We have looked and what we’ve found is if we choose unity and hope, the difficult situation we’re in becomes a pleasant peninsula for all of us. No matter how this pandemic has affected any of us individually, we all want to see Michigan back on her feet, people getting back to work, reopening our schools and public spaces, and most of all, we want to get our economy going.
We cannot afford another shutdown
Here we are and it’s all of us together! From Keweenaw to Hillsdale. We are spreading hope. And from Gogebic to St. Clair, we are fighting to contain the potentially deadly virus. But we can’t do it alone, and we need your help.
Sharing the same goal
On so many levels, this pandemic has taken so much from us already. So many memories we didn’t get to make, too many missed opportunities and so much time and valuable resources wasted. But through it all, we have clung to hope. Because right now, hope is Michigan’s most valuable resource and we need hope more than ever. In choosing hope, we move forward because we don’t want to slip backward. The last thing we want is more infections and more deaths! Also, by opening our great state before it’s safe, we’re putting undue pressure on our overstressed health care systems, putting our invaluable essential workers in harm’s way, and we risk jeopardizing the complete recovery of our economy.
How COVID can spread
Did you know, masking up and staying at least 6-feet or more from others is an effective way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19? We know this is a new virus and the medical experts are learning more about it every day. And because nobody is immune to the virus, everyone can contract and spread it. Just because you feel healthy doesn’t mean you can’t spread this virus. The reality is nearly 40% of people who have COVID-19 are asymptomatic and do not show any signs of infection. Did you know that one out of every two people could be infected and not even know it? What might be a mild illness for one person may be life-threatening for another. But teamwork will make the dream work. And the dream is to all do our part and help defeat the pandemic and recapture the American Dream!
What you can do to stop the spread of COVID
I firmly believe we can reopen Michigan, but it’s going to take all of us working together. We all want to keep our families and communities safe, especially the elderly and those with preexisting conditions. Here are some necessary steps we can all do to make opening Michigan a reality:
- When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose using a tissue or use your upper sleeve to cover your nose and mouth. When we cough, droplets spray at least 6 feet or more. A sneeze can spray droplets up to 27-feet, and airborne droplets spreading droplets can be transferred to faces, can be inhaled through the mouth or nose, and these same droplets can even enter your body through our eyes.
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unclean hands.
- Wear a mask when you’re in indoor public spaces and crowded outdoor spaces where you may be in close contact with people outside of your household. In Michigan, this is a requirement for anyone over the age of 2. If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, they recommend you wear a clear mask if possible. Also, children under the age of 2, or anyone who may have trouble breathing or otherwise unable to wear a mask due to health issues are exempt from wearing a mask.
Why we wear our masks
Our family wears our masks because we love and respect each other and want to do our part in taking care of our friends, family, and the larger community. I have pre-existing conditions, which is another factor we also take into account. To date, we have lost a few friends, and have seen family members and friends battle this horrible virus. In the wake of those deaths, it suddenly got up close and personal. And instead of being a part of the problem, we work to be a part of the solution.
Taking the responsible approach has been difficult for our family, especially with three teenagers. Just like everyone else, our boys are being robbed of so many milestones. But the sooner we start looking out for one another and taking the necessary steps to tackle the problem, the sooner we can return to something that looks like normal.
Together we can safely reopen Michigan
This virus will not just magically disappear; we must all do our part by exercising our right to do what’s best for Michigan, for our countrymen, our friends, and family. Because here in America, we look out for each other. Here’s the thing, we have never lost our freedom. Freedom lies in the ability to prioritize selflessness, and the only way we get our jobs and economy back is to rally as one.
Spread Hope Not COVID
So let’s wear the mask! Scientists and doctors agree that by simply wearing masks and face coverings, it is 70% effective in minimizing the risk. In the span of time it takes the sun to rise over Lake Huron and set over Lake Michigan; you can help stop the spread of this virus. That sounds pretty powerful to me!
How contact tracing can be effective
After nearly a year, we are tired of the upending of our daily lives, but to stop the spread of this virus, Michiganders can use contact tracing as a useful and effective tool. After a positive coronavirus result, we realize it can be a scary experience. How contact tracing works, it begins when someone gets a confirmed positive result or a suspected infection. Public Health personnel then call those who were in close contact and who may have been exposed to the infected individual. Contact tracers protect the privacy of both contacts and patients, the name of the patient is never revealed, and all calls are confidential. If you received a call from 866-806-3447, MI COVID HELP, or contact your local health department, please answer and give any information to help keep your community safe.
If you want more information, call the Hotline at 888-535-6136 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and press 1 to be connected to an operator who can help you find a nearby location and schedule an appointment; or Visit Michigan.gov/CoronavirusTest to locate a testing location near you and schedule an appointment. There are many locations where you can get tested at no cost to you.
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