NILES — On Wednesday morning, just two Michigan patients in the Detroit area had tested positive for the coronavirus COVID-19, according to Michigan.gov. By Wednesday evening, Niles’ neighboring St. Joseph County Health Department in Indiana announced that a resident had also tested positive for the virus.

With the COVID-19 virus officially in Michigan, schools, health providers, Berrien County and the city of Niles are considering disease prevention measures.

“We have been preparing and planning for weeks now, since the beginning of January when we became aware of the novel coronavirus, before it had even come to the United States,” said Gillian Conrad, communications manager of the Berrien County Health Department. “Over the last three to four weeks in particular, there have been even more efforts ensuring that we are communicating with partner organizations, our local healthcare agencies, Spectrum Health Lakeland and all of our other providers and all of our community agencies, prepared with what they need to do.”

Conrad included schools, businesses, nonprofits and faith-based organizations in the list.

“We do not have any cases in Berrien County confirmed at this time — subject to change, obviously,” she said.

A Niles representative announced on Wednesday that they were taking steps and making plans to ensure a continuity of services if an outbreak of COVID-19 should find itself in the city. These services include police, fire, medical, electricity, water and wastewater functions.

“We’re reaffirming with all employees on how to interact with the public,” said Richard Huff, city administrator.

City leaders are also making plans for significant events, making sure that every department has backup plans and that manpower sharing is in place, with plans being made to ensure appropriate staffing is maintained.

Huff said that he thinks the city’s plans at this time are “all in good shape.”

The announcement encouraged residents to reduce their exposure by submitting concerns through the city website and paying their utility bills online.

Health department speaks

about symptoms, prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, symptoms of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 include a fever, cough and shortness of breath. These can appear two to 14 days after exposure. The Berrien County Health Department encourages those concerned about the virus, their own symptoms or prevention to reach out for guidance and consultation. Spectrum Health is also providing free virtual COVID-19 screenings to best advise on next steps.

“At this point, it’s more of the same recommendations that we’ve been making about washing your hands and staying home if you are sick,” Conrad said. “While you’re experiencing any sort of respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, anything that could also be associated with the flu or a whole host of other viruses, please stay home. Don’t go to work. Don’t go to school. Don’t go to your sports games, just give your body the time it needs to get better and protect those around you.”

Schools take precautions

Thursday night, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced all K-12 schools will be closed March 16 to April 6.

In the academic world, Lake Michigan College closed campuses to students and non-essential staff, canceling classes for Friday.

The campus will re-open on Monday, though face-to-face instruction will be canceled, with online classes resuming as usual. Courses originally delivered face-to-face will be transitioned to online only by March 23, with plans to resume classes as usual on April 13.

Exceptions to this protocol include Allegan County Area Technical and Education Center, Brandywine High School and Van Buren Technology center.

Joseph Odenwald, president of Southwestern Michigan College, sent a letter to the SMC community Thursday afternoon.

“As an institution, we value safety and student academic success above all else. At this time, concern for safety requires that we change the delivery of courses to an online format for the next few weeks,” Odenwald said.

In the letter, Odenwald outlined changes to both the SMC Dowagiac and Niles campuses, including suspension of face-to-face classes, as they transition to online learning environments for students. On campus-gatherings with an expected attendance of 100 or more people will be canceled through the end of the current semester. The residence halls will remain open, but visitors will not be permitted. The campuses will remain open for business, with employees reporting as usual.

“A decision on commencement ceremonies will be made in the next few weeks,” Odenwald said. “I have the utmost confidence that by all working together, we can ensure safety and student success.”

Both Brandywine Community Schools and Niles Community Schools sent home letters last Friday to parents, when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center. The releases included CDC and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recommendations of disease prevention measures, including frequently washing hands with soap and water, avoiding touching the face — especially eyes, nose and mouth, as well as covering the mouth during a cough or sneeze, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and objects, and avoiding close contact with those who are sick. The release included that anyone feeling sick should stay home.

Medical facilities

enact safety measures

On Wednesday, Spectrum Health posted resources for citizens to find information about precautions to take regarding the COVID-19 virus and announced new visitor restrictions to their facilities to help slow the spread of diseases.

“The disease is now present in Michigan. We want to help ease fears and provide our community with the information people need to prevent this illness from spreading,” said Darryl Elmouchi, chief medical officer of Spectrum Health Systems and president of Spectrum Health Medical Group.

Area nursing homes are also taking elevated precautions. The Chalet of Niles Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has a visitation notice on the front page of its website. In red letters across the top, it states: “As a precautionary measure to protect our residents and in response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus visitation at all locations has been temporarily suspended.”

While the Chalet of Niles could not be reached comment at the time of writing, on the recent measures, they listed several other ways for family and friends to contact residents, suggesting telephone, email, text, video chat and social media.

Riveridge Manor, or Riveridge Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, in Niles, has been updating its Facebook page with its latest announcements as staff approach current situation. The Riveridge Manor Facebook page announced a visitor screening policy on Tuesday evening.

“We are posting signs on our entryway doors to notify visitors of this policy and actively screening individuals, including staff, who need to come into the building. We have designated visiting hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This allows us to screen everyone entering the facility,” the post said.

The Berrien County Health Department encourages those who are most at risk and vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus to stay home more often and to avoid large crowds and gatherings.

“We are working with our long-term care facilities, suggesting some guidelines with especially some of their sick clients, that visitors be limited — especially any of those who might have symptoms,” Conrad said.

Preparing for a potential, prolonged period of staying in the home, is also recommended.

“For older adults, those who might not be able to be as mobile out and about in the community, planning ahead to think about medications you might need on hand, what supplies, food, toiletries, toilet paper, things you might need on hand. Start thinking about that in case you do need to stay home for a long period of time,” Conrad said.