Omicron strikes Manchester: Record case numbers and two school outbreaks

Manchester Community Schools announced COVID outbreaks in two buildings on Wednesday sending Riverside’s 5th grade virtual and closing the Early Childhood Center infant and toddler rooms at Klager Elementary for the rest of last week. These were the first reported outbreaks the district had since a small outbreak among staff members at Riverside in fall of 2020. On Wednesday and Thursday last week, the school district reported 22 individuals had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, mostly at Klager and Riverside. Of these reported cases, seven were staff members. 

Additionally, the Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD) reported on Thursday that Manchester (zip code 48158) had its highest ever number of new positive COVID-19 cases/week, with 77 new cases over the previous seven days. The previous high number of cases, 63, was at the very peak of the Delta variant wave in mid-November.

Manchester’s high case number last week is definitely an undercount as PCR tests, which are used to determine this number, are harder to get appointments for than in the recent past. The WCHD is now recommending that symptomatic people who test positive on home tests do not need to get PCR tests to confirm their positivity or report home test positives to the health department.

Jimena Loveluck, MSW, health officer with WCHD stated, “Our public health workforce continues working incredibly hard, but we’ve been overwhelmed for a long time now. We are doing the best we can with the resources we have. We cannot do more, and we cannot do everything. I want to be very clear that we remain focused on vaccination, and we continue to support testing as much as possible as well as ongoing information sharing — all with attention to equitable access.”

You can find testing sites in Washtenaw County at www.washtenaw.org/covid19test or anywhere in the State of Michigan at https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/ (click on “find a test site”). Starting this Wednesday, January 19th, every home in the United States will be able order four free at-home COVID-19 tests at https://www.covidtests.gov. The tests will be completely free — there are no shipping costs and you don’t need to enter a credit card number. These will be shipped to your home through the postal service.

“I know many of you are already doing everything you can — and are also hurting from loss, illness or very real pandemic fatigue,” says Loveluck. “I’m asking everyone to get vaccinated or boosted if you’re eligible and have not yet done so. Then take the additional steps we recommend to reduce spread and protect those who cannot get vaccinated or remain vulnerable.”

Manchester area residents who are fully vaccinated but need a booster, can get their booster this Friday, January 21 from 10 am to 3 pm at Emanuel Church, 324 West Main Street. Michigan Medicine Community Health Services will be giving free Pfizer booster shots for those 16+ years old who are due. You can get the Pfizer booster regardless of your initial vaccine. For more information call Community Health Services at (734) 998-2156. Anyone that needs a free ride to the booster clinic can call (734) 475-9494 as far in advance as possible. 

If you need your first or second vaccine dose or a booster for a 12- to 15-year-old, or need a booster but can’t make it to the clinic on Friday visit https://www.washtenaw.org/3337/Where-to-Get-the-COVID-19-Vaccine for other vaccine locations in Washtenaw County.

WCHD urges all community members and organizations to take precautions. Use available, effective strategies to reduce spread and prevent severe illness. In addition to seeking testing when you are feeling ill or having been exposed (wait five days after exposure) and getting vaccinated and boosted they recommend that you stay away from others if you are feeling ill, waiting for test results, or have tested positive; wear a well-fitting face mask in indoor public spaces (a multilayer, surgical, KN95, or N95 mask is recommended rather than a cloth mask but a cloth mask is better than no mask); stay away from others if you are feeling ill, waiting for test results, or have tested positive; avoid crowded areas or events; limit gatherings; and clean hands frequently.

For COVID updates and information from the county visit www.washtenaw.org/covid19.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.