sun and news 4-3-2021

The Sun and News, Saturday, April 3, 2021/ Page 9

Despite vaccines, variant drives new COVID surge

Taylor Owens
Staff Writer
Spectrum Health
announced Tuesday that the
hospital network is facing a
new surge of COVID-19,
and cases are spreading fast-
er than the outbreak last fall.
In just 2 1/2 weeks, the
number of patients hospital-
ized with COVID-19 at
Spectrum hospitals has risen
from around 50 to 139 as of
Tuesday. The number of
COVID-19 patients in the
intensive care unit had dou-
bled over the past four days.
Those numbers mirror an
increase in cases in Barry
County, nearly tripling the
number of active cases in the
past month. The Barry-Eaton
District Health Department
reported 144 active cases as
of Tuesday. Two more deaths
have been counted since last
week, for a total of 51 since
the start of the pandemic in
March 2020.
The percentage of positive
COVID-19 tests in the coun-
ty has also continued to rise,
with a peak of 20.29 percent
Sunday, the highest since the
previous surge in November.
“We are seeing similar sit-
uations here at Pennock, and
we are actively partnering
with [the health department]
in the effort to get people
vaccinated as quickly as pos-
sible,” Angela Ditmar, presi-
dent and regional market
leader at Spectrum Health
Pennock, said. “We are
encouraging anyone who can
get a vaccine to get one. It is
important to continue to
mask and follow all COVID
protocols.”

As of Wednesday,

Michigan had the highest

number of new COVID-

cases per capita of any state

in the nation, according to

the U.S. Centers for Disease

Control.

“This is strangely, and

sadly, reminiscent of what

we saw in the fall,” President

of Spectrum Health West

Michigan Darryl Elmouchi

said during a virtual press

conference Tuesday. “We

definitely hope we don’t see

a surge like we did before,

but it’s seeming that way.”

Though many people over

age 65 have been vaccinated,

Elmouchi said this new surge

is being driven by the more

contagious, and more lethal,

B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-

19 that originated in the

United Kingdom. Studies

have shown the variant may

be 50 percent more conta-

gious than the previous

strain, and about 35 percent

more deadly.

The majority of new

COVID-19 cases in Michigan

are believed to be the variant,

though testing for the variant

is not widespread enough to

confirm that.

Elmouchi said the variant

also appears to be affecting

younger people at a higher

rate.

The average age of hospi-

talizations in the fall was 73,

but that dropped to 60 this

week.

While hospitals have seen

a decrease in patients over

age 60, they also have seen a

significant increase in

patients under age 40.

Elmouchi said that is partly

due to older people receiving

a larger share of the vac-

cines, but also to the aggres-

siveness of the variant strain.

The hospital network, he

said, also is seeing more

pediatric cases than it was

during the previous surge.

“There’s definitely a

younger demographic in the

hospital,” Elmouchi said.

The health network con-

tinues to vaccinate as many

people as it can, and was

scheduled to give out 52,

doses this week.

“There is hope, and that

hope almost entirely lies in

the vaccine,” Elmouchi said.

Spectrum Health United

and Kelsey Hospitals Chief

Operating Officer Jon

Ashford said one clinic early

this week vaccinated 12,

people in 12 hours, which he

believed may be a record in

the state.

Spectrum also has expand-

ed vaccine eligibility to

everyone age 16 and older,

after a new announcement

from Gov. Gretchen

Whitmer’s administration.

Whitmer’s press secretary

Monday encouraged health

providers to vaccinate people

age 16 and up when avail-

able, to ensure that doses do

not go to waste.

Vaccines will officially

open to all Michigan resi-

dents 16 and older April 5.

During a Barry-Eaton

District Board of Health

meeting March 24, health

department official Anne

Barna said a number of local

outbreaks have been con-

nected to high schools.

She encouraged parents to

have their 16- and 17-year-

old children inoculated with

the Pfizer vaccine, and said

some Meijer locations are

already vaccinating kids at

those ages.

Pfizer announced

Wednesday its vaccine has

been shown to be safe and

effective in children as young

as 12. If the U.S. Food and

Drug Administration

approves the vaccine for

children age 12 to 15, vacci-

nations could begin before

the next school year.

Barna added that some

Barry County residents 65

and older still have not been

vaccinated, and the health

department is giving them

top priority. Often, people in

that age demographic are

scheduled “almost immedi-

ately” when they register

online or call the department,

Barna said.

She also said the state has

sent Barry County more vac-

cines to catch up with Eaton

County, after Barry fell

slightly behind due to a num-

ber of factors, including a

perception of lower demand.

Barry County had a smaller

number of people per capita

signed up to receive the vac-

cine than Eaton County.

Barna said that was due to a

mix of demographic differ-

ences and less internet avail-

ability in Barry County.

As of Monday, 13,

Barry County residents had

received their first dose of

the vaccine, which represents

27.7 percent of people over

age 16. The state also report-

ed 8,416 Barry County resi-

dents have been fully vacci-

nated, which is 16.9 percent

of people over 16.

Health officials expect the

supply of vaccines to

increase in the coming

weeks, but say shipments

remain sporadic.

Spring brings new and ongoing events

I may have spoken too
soon in last month’s column,
but this time, I’m sure spring
is finally here. And that’s
what this column is about.
First things first, the day
everyone is always anxiously
awaiting – spring cleanup.
Republic Services will be
coming through Saturday,
April 17, to pick up any and
all items that don’t fit in your
garbage can. Of course, as
always, you can set your
items on the curb starting the
previous Monday, to give
your neighbors a chance to
take a look. One person’s
trash is another person’s trea-
sure.

Thursday, April 22, is

Earth Day. There are many

small, easy changes to be

more eco-friendly. Consider

using reusable bags at the

grocery store, refilling a

glass or stainless steel bottle

from the tap instead of buy-

ing bottled water, walking or

biking your commute, or

bringing your own coffee

cup (where allowed) for your

morning latte. You also can

celebrate this day by getting

outside and enjoying our

beautiful local amenities,

from the Paul Henry/North

Country Trail downtown, to

Wildwood Trails in Rolling

Oaks, to the many trails in

Yankee Springs.

Speaking of spring, the

downtown development

authority has been working

hard to bring you a brand-

new event April 24 – the first

annual Spring Spectacular.

Experience the Paul-Henry

Trail and Downtown

Middleville like never before

as explorers on a Safari and

Trivia Quest, show off your

creative skills in our side-

walk chalk competition, or

join in live karaoke at the

DDA amphitheater. This

event will run from noon to 5

p.m. If you’re interested in

volunteering, message My

Middleville DDA on

Facebook.

Finally, we get to celebrate

many years of hard work

with a ribbon-cutting cere-

mony at The Lofts of

Middleville April 24. For

those of us who have lived

here many years, it’s exciting

to see new life breathed into

one of our oldest historical

buildings. I know I speak for

former and current staff, as

well as many former and cur-

rent council and planning

commission members, when

I say The Lofts project is one

of the most exciting develop-

ments we’ve seen, and we’re

thrilled to celebrate the cul-

mination of this project.

As always, the village

staff is on hand to help you

with any of your questions

and concerns. Check out our

website or give us a call.

Amanda Fisk,

Village President

157795

8196 Broadmoor Ave. SE

Caledonia, MI 49316

Phone: 616.891.

Fax: 616.891.

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA

COUNTY OF KENT, MICHIGAN

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the Charter Township

of Caledonia will hold a public hearing on April 19, at 7:00 p.m. at the Caledonia Charter

Township Hall, 8196 Broadmoor Avenue, Caledonia, Michigan, or via Zoom with link to be

published on the Township’s website, http://www.caledoniatownship.org and at the Township Hall

within 3 days of the meeting.

Section 3.11 (b) Residential Accessory Buildings, Table 3.2 the term Lot Area shall be replaced

with the word Lot for the purposes of measuring square footage of accessory buildings.

All interested persons may attend the public hearing and comment on the proposed amending

ordinances. Written comments concerning the proposed amending ordinances may be submitted

to the Township, at the address above, up to the time of and during the public hearing. Copies of

the proposed amending ordinances are on file at the Township Hall and may be reviewed during

Township office hours.

Dated: March 29, 2021 PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALEDONIA

157954

VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE

BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN

Notice of Adoption of Village Ordinance and

Summary of the Regulatory Effect Thereof

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on March 23, 2021, the Village

Council of the Village of Middleville adopted Ordinance No. 2115 (the “Ordinance”),

amending Section 78.04 thereof, the Village Zoning Map, to rezone certain lands within

the Village. The principal provisions of the amending ordinance are as follows:

Section 1. Rezoning of Lands. Section 1 of the Ordinance rezones lands within

the Village from its former Agricultural-Residential zoning classification (under the

Township of Thornapple’s zoning ordinance) to the R-1 Low Density Resident District

under the Village of Middleville’s zoning ordinance, legally described as:

1. PERMANENT PARCEL 08-41-027-004-10:

THORNAPPLE TWP N 1/2 SW 1/4 SEC 27-T4N-R10W. EXC COM SW

CORN 1/2 SW ¼ SD SEC 27; TH N 275’ M/L TO POB; TH N 310’ M/L; THE

250’ M/L; TH S 310’ M/L; TH W 250’ M/L TO POB. (llT)

2. PERMANENT PARCEL 08-41-027-008-00:

THORNAPPLE TWP COM SW CORN 1/2 SW 1/4 SEC 27-T4N-R10W TH

N 275’ M/L TO POB; TH N 310’ M/L; THE 250’ M/L; TH S 310’ M/L; TH W

250’ M/L TO POB. (llT)

Section 2. Effective Date. The amending ordinance will become effective on

April 3, 2021.

A copy of the ordinance may be examined or purchased at the offices of the

Middleville Village Clerk, 100 East Main Street, Middleville, Michigan, during Village

office hours.

Dated: March 23, 2021 VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE

VILLAGE OF MIDDLEVILLE

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