Coronavirus / Covid-19

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.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she will issue a declaration to extend Michigan’s COVID-19 state of emergency.

She will do that before the current state of emergency expires later this week.

Republicans in the Legislature and business groups are using litigation and a petition drive to try and curtail the governor’s emergency powers.

The Kent County Board of Commissioners is allocating $5 million dollars to businesses impacted by the pandemic closed by Executive Order since August 1st.

Most businesses where social distancing is difficult to maintain have been most adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. With that in mind, the Kent County Board of Commissioners is extending short-term economic relief grants to qualifying businesses depending on their size. Grants range from $10,000, $40,000.

The Kent County Health Department announced Monday its experiencing a decline in the number of residents seeking COVID-19 tests, and according to Christopher Bendekgey, the Community Clinical Services Division Director, 40%-50% fewer people are getting tested currently than at the height of infections in early to mid-July. 

So, what’s causing the slowdown? What factors are contributing to fewer tests at health department sites?

Bendekgey weighs in. 

“There’s more organizations coming online with their testing capacities and capabilities,” he explains.