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"Staying Safe" order replaces "Staying in Place" order for Allendale Twp. impacting GVSU students

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Ottawa County

The “Staying in Place” order for Ottawa County’s Allendale Township has been lifted. With COVID-19 cases declining among the Grand Valley State University student population, a new order with fewer restrictions has been issued.

he Ottawa County “Staying in Place” order that took effect September 17th expires at midnight October 1st. That order kept Grand Valley State University students in their on-campus or off-campus housing for two weeks with few exceptions. The restrictions have brought down the number of cases.

“Our numbers are way down. You know, we’ve gone from 50-60 cases a day down to like, 10.”

Greg Sanial is vice president for Finance and Administration and interim director of the GVSU Virus Action Team.

The “Staying Safe" order issued by the Ottawa County Department of Public Health in collaboration with the university takes effect October 2nd. It limits up to four guests per student residences. That goes for indoor common areas. Masks should be worn indoors and outdoors. Those outdoor gatherings should not exceed 10 people. The 10-person limit does not include classroom activities. The county and university will continue monitoring cases.

“You know, contact tracing is a big part of it. Testing is a big part of it and mask wearing is a big part of it. And you know, they all work together. You’re not going to control the virus with just one approach. You need them all and contact tracing was an area where we needed to improve and we have done that.”

The “Staying Safe” order expires October 16th.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.