CASSOPOLIS — Friday afternoon, Cass County elected officials addressed concerns surrounding public health in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Following mandates from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Thursday and Friday to close all K-12 schools through April 5 and to temporarily prohibit all events or shared space assemblages of more than 250 people due to concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19, known as the coronavirus, the Cass County Board of Commissioners hosted an emergency meeting Friday afternoon. During the meeting, the county board was briefed by department heads and elected officials about how they are responding to virus concerns.

Though as of Friday afternoon no cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Cass County, County Administrator Jeff Carmen said county officials are taking the matter seriously and are preparing precautionary measures to ensure the safety of residents and to help curb the spread of the disease.

“We feel a desire to be prepared, but it is not an imminent need as there are no cases in Cass County,” Carmen said. “This is not a reaction. This is a precaution. … This is a serious matter, but we have it under control.”

Carmen said the county is looking at ways county employees can limit contact with the public, including adding a drop box outside the county building where people can deposit payments.

“This is not about locking people out,” he said. “It is about allowing people the decision outside to access our services.”

The county will also be directing people to its website and online services. Carmen said the county website would be updated regularly.

In response to the outbreak, all civil jury trials scheduled for the remainder of March and April have been adjourned to be reset after May 1, and all criminal trials with defendants on bond or in state prisons scheduled for the remainder of March and April are postponed to be reset after May 1. All criminal trials with defendants in custody at the county jail planned for the rest of March and April will be subject to review as to whether bond should be reduced and then reviewed as to whether the case should be tried or adjourned. If adjourned, the hearing will be reset after May 1.

All hearings in civil, criminal, probate and family cases with individuals at risk of severe illness may be postponed upon request.

The court is also requesting that anyone experiencing coronavirus symptoms, which include runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever and difficulty breathing, not come to the courthouse, but instead communicate with the court by phone.

Additionally, the court is considering the use of navigators that will help guide visitors through the court processes from the public window, so that people do not need to enter the courthouse unless necessary.

Chief Judge Susan Dobrich said these recommendations are being made to help protect the health of employees and visitors to the courthouse and employees and inmates at Cass County Jail.

“The idea is to limit the risk to the public, employees and people going into the courts,” Dobrich said. “Our goal as we develop these policies is to keep the public safe.”

While Carmen said the county was working diligently to prepare for issues as they arose, he said circumstances were changing rapidly and dynamically, noting that county employees should be prepared for anything, including the potential for government buildings to be closed. Both Carmen and Dobrich said they would be looking at recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Gov. Whitmer going forward.

“As a government, I believe we have a responsibility to stay open. That’s not hubris or ego — people rely on us to answer the phone, provide services and give them advice and counsel,” he said. “This is not the Alamo. We are going to take every step to ensure that we can continue to provide services.”