Washtenaw County Government: Quarterly Update: Health Department Continues Serving Our Community

Saline MI

14 April, 2022

12:53 PM

Description

Press release from Washtenaw County Government: April 8, 2022 Quarterly Update: Health Department Continues Serving Our Community During the first three months of the year, we crossed the two-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 cases in Washtenaw County. Entering 2022, we are in a very different spot, but are still responding to the ongoing health and economic impacts of the pandemic. The Board has continued to receive regular updates from Health Officer Jimena Loveluck and support the actions of the Health Department. Some of the news activities of the Health Department include: Hosting a series of virtual community events about the latest COVID-19 news in English and Spanish. Partnering with local groups to bring free KN95 masks and test kits to community members. From Jan-Feb 2022, we gave out over 113,000 KN95 masks and over 28,000 at-home tests! Read more about this initiative here, and watch this video with highlights from the events! Hosting ongoing COVID-19 vaccine clinics Health Officer Jimena Loveluck being honored as the United Way Washtenaw County Woman of the Year. Check out this great WEMU 89.1 interview where Jimena talks with David Fair about her background in HIV/AIDS work and how those experiences prepared her to lead our county's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Releasing their 2020 Annual Report Putting out ongoing communications about the latest COVID-19 prevention/transmission guidance and information https://www.washtenaw.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2035 At their March 2nd meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved a second expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act funds, which included a substantial investment in the Health Department. The goal of the investment is to continue building a strong and equity-driven health department. This investment highlighted a number of different goals, including leading with data for equity and investing in healthy people, places, and neighborhoods. This will include hiring additional community health workers and public health nurses. While many of these positions and updates from the Board's investment will occur later this year, they are actively hiring for other positions as well. Click here to learn more! This press release was produced by Washtenaw County Government. The views expressed here are the author's own.