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Kent County Health Department reminding residents remain vigilant during "long phase" of pandemic

Dr. Adam London photo
Kent County Health Department

The number of Kent County COVID-19 cases is trending in a positive direction. However, the county health director is warning we need to be careful and smart about our social behaviors.

There’s an increase of COVID-19 cases in 19 states. In a handful of those states where stay-orders were lifted, Kent County Health Department Director Dr. Adam London says are now reconsidering the decision.

“Concerning, but not surprising because in many ways the landscape has not changed very much for COVID-19. We know that less than 5% of all Americans have been exposed to this virus and so the vast majority are still vulnerable to infection.”

Across the state and West Michigan, residents have made sacrifices limiting the virus spread.

“But now we’re in this long phase of this pandemic where we don’t have vaccine yet. We don’t have medical therapies yet. And most people are still vulnerable to this and so we have to live and navigate very carefully these waters for the next nine months to a year, or longer, until we actually have herd immunity through vaccination.”

Dr. London says its imperative public health guidelines are followed including wearing masks, avoiding mass gatherings and working from home as much as possible.

I’m Patrick Center

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.