Northern Michigan local health departments are asking residents who recently traveled to Colorado, or were passengers on a cruise ship, to distance themselves from others.
It applies to people who visited the mountain resort communities of Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in the past week. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says COVID-19 has spread extensively in those communities.
Additionally, the health departments say passengers on the following cruises should isolate themselves:
Azamara Quest: voyage departing 2/10/20 and any subsequent voyages
Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas: voyage departing 2/29/20 and any subsequent voyages
MSC Meraviglia: voyage departing 3/1/20 and any subsequent voyages
Norwegian Bliss: voyage departing 3/1/20 and any subsequent voyages
Costa Luminosa: voyage departing 3/5/20 and any subsequent voyages
Celebrity Summit: voyage departing 3/7/20 and any subsequent voyages
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says people who fit this description should self-quarantine for 14 days even if they haven’t been experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. The agency says people could be sick without showing signs and spread the illness to others in their community.
Medical Director for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan Dr. Josh Meyerson says there are steps people can take to avoid illness.
“As community transmission increases, it’s important to have situational awareness, especially if you have traveled recently,” he says.
The CDC says people should also monitor themselves for coughing, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose or a fever. If people become ill, they should contact their local health department or seek emergency care if their symptoms are severe.
For more information, people can call the state coronavirus hotline running 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week at 1-888-535-6136.
