Joint Information Center
Wednesday, August 19
As of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, Calhoun County has a cumulative total of 755 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to Calhoun County Public Health Department (CCPHD), with a total of 42 deaths attributed to the virus. This information is updated once daily, Monday through Friday, at www.calhouncountymi.gov.
Public Health Department Reminder About Vaccinations
As children to return to school, both virtually and in-person, it is important to remember required immunizations and hearing and vision screenings when preparing for back to school and in keeping our children healthy and learning. Two ways to ensure your child(ren) is healthy and ready for school is to be sure he/she is fully immunized and has completed his/her hearing and required vision screening.

Immunizations are the best way to protect our children against vaccine-preventable diseases. From measles to mumps, polio to chicken pox, whooping cough, spiral meningitis, to HPV (human papillomavirus vaccine), immunizations are disease-prevention vaccines scientifically developed using antibodies.

The Calhoun County Public Health Department offers immunizations to children in Calhoun County. Like most children, they are exposed to many types of infectious diseases and school-aged children are often the first to catch the 'bug” that is going around. The CCPHD immunization program aims to protect the public’s health from vaccine-preventable disease. The flu vaccine is also available through the health department at the beginning of each year.

Vision and hearing screenings are very important in ensuring that our children are learning. Children who often struggle in school may cause parents and teachers frustration. There are times that these learning challenges can be as simple as a child’s inability to see or hear and then learning struggles go undiagnosed.

The CCPHD offers immunizations by appointment daily from 8am–12:30 and 1-4:30 in both Albion and Battle Creek by calling 269-969-6363 (Battle Creek) or 517-629-9434 (Albion). Hearing and vision screenings can be scheduled in Battle Creek or Albion by calling 269-969-6389 or 269-969-6361. Appointments can also be coordinated to receive a vision screening while at the health department for immunizations. 
Battle Creek Transit News
Battle Creek Transit will collect fare from riders again starting on Tuesday, Sept. 1, with boarding at the front of the vehicles. Riders who still have multi-ride passes must exchange them for books of individual ride tickets, for any remaining rides on the pass. Riders can purchase new books of individual tickets at the same rate as the multi-ride pass. 

This change is to keep contact between drivers and passengers at a minimum, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Riders will show the driver the front of the pass when boarding through the front door, and request a transfer at that time, if needed. Transfers remain free. 

Transit has operated, temporarily, fare-free since late March, so we could continue public transportation services to the community, while also helping prevent the spread of the virus. This is equal to almost half of Transit’s annual fare revenues. The Transit team spent the last few months implementing a fare collection procedure that is safe for our passengers, and our staff. 

Battle Creek Transit offices also reopened to the public, and will be open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 339 W. Michigan Ave. Customers can walk up to the Plexiglas window at the front office to exchange and purchase passes. Riders also can exchange and purchase passes at City Hall, which is open Monday through Thursday, 9-10 a.m. for seniors age 60 and older, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for visitors of all ages. Full Blast remains closed to the public. 

Please wear a mask while using Transit services, and observe the social distancing markings inside the vehicles. 

For more information, or help planning your trip, visit //battlecreekmi.gov/transit or contact Battle Creek Transit at 269-966-3474. 


Update from City of Springfield
Springfield City Manager Kevin A. Catlin, who has worked with leaders countywide on the COVID-19 response, was appointed to the County Administrator position in Boone County, in his home state of Illinois. The Springfield City County is seeking applications for the position, due to Catlin by Friday, Sept. 4. Find a full job description and a recruitment brochure on the city's website, www.springfieldmich.com.


Updates from the City of Marshall
At this week's Joint Operations Center briefing, the City of Marshall reported the following updates:

  • All city buildings are open to the public, but outside meetings are not allowed in city facilities at this time
  • The City's Recreation Department canceled all summer sports, but currently hopes to plan for fall seasons. Staff is also exploring fall enrichment activities for children.
  • Construction on two streets downtown (Jefferson and Eagle) are scheduled to be complete at the end of august. Paving of Michigan Ave. has started and will be complete next week.


Updates from the Finance Workgroup
A finance workgroup is managing the Joint Operation Center's expenditures and funding opportunities, and it reported at the latest JOC meeting that COVID-19-related costs have reached $527,000. This workgroup is tracking all possible funding sources, such as CARES distribution from the state, MDHHS emergency and crisis-related funds, United Way Disaster Relief assistance, and more. Funding from FEMA for the quarantine and isolation site that operated at the peak of our response is pending final review and entry of final costs. 
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For updates from Calhoun County, about County operations and COVID-19 in Calhoun County, visit the County website, calhouncountymi.gov.

For updates from the City of Battle Creek, please visit battlecreekmi.gov/coronavirus.

The State’s COVID-19 Hotline is available for anyone who has questions or concerns related to the virus. The hotline is open seven days a week from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 1-888-535-6136. For state COVID-19 information, visit michigan.gov/coronavirus.
For information, contact
Lucy Blair, Calhoun County Communications Manager

Jessica Vanderkolk, City of Battle Creek Communications Manager