Two Michigan residents have tested positive for the COVID-19 at the state laboratories in Lansing. They are considered presumptive because the cases still need to be confirmed by the CDC. In the meantime, however, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is treating the patients as though they are 100% positive, which is what we want to happen. It means health officials are taking steps toΒ reduce the spread of the virus by tracking down anyone who may have been in close contact with them. Both patients are reported to be hospitalized and are middle-aged adults β one male and one female. They had also both traveled recently. The man had recently traveled domestically and is from Wayne County. And the woman had recently traveled abroad and is from Oakland County.Β
Stopping the Spread in Michigan
Now that the coronavirus is in Michigan, itβs even more essential to keep workplaces disinfected. If youβre anything like me, you spend a large portion of your day at work. So, I recommend you wipe down your workstation at the beginning of each day with aΒ disinfectant. It includes your keyboard, mouse, phone, and commonly touched surfaces like your desk; door handles, light switches, and elevator buttonsβwet surfaces for about 3 to 5 minutes. And donβt forget about your cell phone! These things are much dirtier than any of us would like to admit. Wet a microfiber cloth just enough to damp it and ensure you donβt get any moisture into the ports. And most importantly,Β wash your handsΒ thoroughly and frequently. If youβre in a place where you canβt wash your hands, use hand sanitizer instead.
Testing Delays
There is a backlog of people waiting for test results. Though the CDC has tested over 8,500 specimens, testing is still ramping up at the federal level. So, the number of cases in the United States could soar well past the 1,200 cases currently reported.Β
Symptoms After Quarantine
Though it is possible toΒ develop symptomsΒ after completing a two-week quarantine, the chances are small. If you are quarantined for 14 days, a recent report says that about 101 out of 10,000 people could show signs. However, 97.5% of patients saw symptoms within 11.5 days, with 5.1 being the median number of days. So, if symptoms do appear, it is recommended that patients immediately re-quarantine themselves.
