July 9: COVID-19 UPDATE

NEW TODAY: Here’s the latest information about Michigan Medicine’s management of operations:

• COVID-19 PATIENT STATS
• TEAM MEMBER COVID-19 TESTING
• PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) GUIDANCE
• COVID-19 CASES INCREASING IN THE COMMUNITY
• EMPLOYEES FACE NO RESTRICTIONS REGARDING TRAVEL AND/OR COMMUNITY OR HOUSEHOLD EXPOSURES
• HAND SANITIZER DISTRIBUTED BY MICHIGAN MEDICINE SAFE TO USE
• SURGICAL RAMP-UP TOWN HALL

DAILY COVID-19 PATIENT STATS

Today’s census for COVID-19 inpatients and those patients under investigation (PUI) are noted below: 

Discharges: 620 total COVID-19 discharges to date, 1 in the last 24 hours. These numbers include patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities but excludes deaths and discharges to hospice.

TEAM MEMBER COVID-19 TESTING STATS*

* Data from 3/10 through 7/9. The testing stats reflect just Michigan Medicine employees, not all University of Michigan employees. It also reflects only those who sought testing at or were hospitalized at Michigan Medicine or reported their testing to Occupational Health Services. Some Michigan Medicine employees may have been tested outside our system.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) GUIDANCE

Michigan Medicine continues to monitor current guidelines, data and research regarding the safe and effective use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including N95 masks and respirators for care of COVID-19 patients/PUIs. We are aware of communications suggesting a change in regulatory requirements and enforcement by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) and we are in contact with MIOSHA, as well as the Michigan Hospital Association and other state entities to be prepared for any regulatory change. With this information, the organization’s leadership will evaluate whether such policies and protocols should change, and if so, which changes would be made.

The safety of our employees is a top priority and our current recommendations for PPE while caring for patients with COVID-19/PUIs are based on scientific data and evidence. Our experience and internal data has shown that our current PPE guidelines are safe and effective in keeping employees safe and limiting risk to patients in our organization, and promote effective conservation of PPE.   

These guidelines and policies have not changed. This includes the policy that no employees should bring in their own personal protective equipment for use in patient care. N95 masks and respirators are available at the point of use for any employee when it is appropriate and necessary for protection, with safety as a priority.

We are confident that our current PPE policies and procedures are consistent with standards and objectives to maintain safety for our care teams and will communicate any changes in recommendations when decisions are made.  

COVID-19 CASES INCREASING IN THE COMMUNITY

COVID-19 infections are increasing in Michigan, including in the Detroit area and Washtenaw County. The Detroit region has moved to a medium- to high-risk level based upon case rate and percent positivity in the last three weeks (https://www.mistartmap.info/).

July 8 marked the first time Michigan recorded more than 600 COVID cases, and it was the highest single day the state had seen, since the end of May.

As a community, we must rigorously follow the proven public health strategies below or we risk seeing a rapid increase in cases, hospitalizations and deaths:

·       Wear masks correctly and consistently in all indoor areas where there is more than one person.

·       Wear masks in outdoor environments when social distancing of 6 feet is not possible.

·       Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer often.

·       Practice social distancing

·       Limit-in-person contact as much as possible, which includes keeping non-essential staff working at home. Use online and contactless options when possible.

·       Avoid crowds and large social gatherings including entry to and exit from buildings. Utilize the screening tool for all employees every day to improve flow and reduce crowding at the entry points. 

·       Stay at least 6 feet away from others outside your immediate family.

EMPLOYEES FACE NO RESTRICTIONS REGARDING TRAVEL AND/OR COMMUNITY OR HOUSEHOLD EXPOSURES
There have been some inconsistencies in how employees, supervisors and managers are interpreting Michigan Medicine COVID-19 guidelines and policies related to employees returning from travel and/or experiencing household or community exposures. As a reminder, there are no work restrictions for most asymptomatic workforce members with recent travel and/or household and community exposures. 

Please take the time to review the following documents that help guide the management of these situations:

·       Michigan Medicine Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 for Michigan Medicine Workforce Members found at http://www.med.umich.edu/i/ice/resources/coronavirus/c-19_employee_info.pdf.

·       COVID-19 Work Restrictions for Michigan Medicine Workforce Members found at http://www.med.umich.edu/i/ice/resources/coronavirus/COVIDWorkRestrictions.pdf. These documents provide detailed information on how to manage travel, exposures, testing and return to work. 

If you have further questions or need additional guidance please work with your immediate supervisor, HR or OHS. 

HAND SANITIZER AT MICHIGAN MEDICINE SAFE TO USE

In recent days, the Food and Drug Administration has recalled specific alcohol-based hand sanitizer products that may contain methanol, which can cause blindness or death when absorbed through the skin or when swallowed.

Please be aware that none of the hand sanitizer distributed by Michigan Medicine is affected by the recall, and none contain methanol. 

For products obtained from other sources or used at home, check the FDA’s testing and manufacturer’s recalls list: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitzers-methanol.

If your product is on this list, stop using the product and dispose of it immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers; do not flush or pour them down the drain.

SURGICAL RAMP-UP TOWN HALL

A virtual Town Hall event is being held on Thursday, July 16, at 7 a.m. to provide updates for faculty and staff on surgical services at Michigan Medicine. This one-hour webinar will include information on the following:

·       Commitment to patient and employee safety

·       Summary of OR ramp-up activity to date

·       Strategic plan for optimization of surgical services

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/95564894561?pwd=eGs5NkZvblFpZVhuYVIrcmkwWDR0QT09

Password: 559015

Or iPhone one-tap:

    US: +13126266799, 95564894561#

Or Telephone: (312) 626-6799

    Webinar ID: 955 6489 4561

    Password: 559015

    International numbers available: https://umich-health.zoom.us/u/aeEe1oUN4N

Still have questions?

We are also posting all daily bulletins and policies on Michigan Medicine Headlines at https://mmheadlines.org/covid-19-updates/. Please bookmark that site and refer to it throughout the day for the most up-to-date information.

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for on these web pages, please email coronavirus-info@med.umich.edu and your question will be answered as quickly as possible. Do not use this email for sharing patient health information.