Joint Information Center
Wednesday, June 23
As of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, Calhoun County has a cumulative total of 12,402 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to Calhoun County Public Health Department (CCPHD), with a total of 294 deaths attributed to the virus. This information is updated once daily, Monday through Friday, at www.calhouncountymi.gov.

Tuesday, June 22, Calhoun County had zero new, additional cases of COVID-19 reported to the Public Health Department within 24 hours. This is great news and is extremely rare since the start of the pandemic. Health Officer Eric Pessell says this is indicative of the season in which people are more likely to go outside and the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine.


COVID-19 Vaccine Information
The State vaccine dashboard shows that as of June 23, 2021, 101,049 doses have been administered to Calhoun County residents, from various sources, not just the Public Health Department.

In Calhoun County, total shots administered by the Public Health Department as of June 23rd are, 20,947 first dose and 18,860 second dose shots. Last week, between June 13- June 19, the Public Health Department administered 233 vaccine doses. Our first dose totals include all who are vaccinated by CCPHD with one dose of any vaccine: Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson.

Calhoun County is reporting 48.3% of the population have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 43.9% have completed a two-dose series. The goal is to have 70% of Calhoun County residents vaccinated.


Vaccine Clinic Schedule—Program with Albion College
Albion College, the Albion Health Care Alliance, the Battle Creek Family YMCA, the Calhoun County Public Health Department and Marshall Public Schools announced a partnership to organize three public vaccine clinics. High school and middle school students who get vaccinated at one of the three clinics will be entered to win free tuition at Albion College for one year. Read more about this initiative.

  • Saturday, June 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 611 E. Porter St, Albion (Albion College). Pfizer vaccine, 12 years and older, J&J vaccine for 18 years and older upon request. No appointment necessary. Second dose return date Saturday, July 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Monday, June 28, 3-6 p.m., 182 Capital Ave NE, Battle Creek (Battle Creek Family YMCA) Pfizer vaccine, 12 years and older, J&J vaccine for 18 years and older upon request. No appointment necessary. Second dose return date Monday, July 19, 3-6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 29, 3-6 p.m., 701 N Marshall Ave, Marshall (Marshall High School) Pfizer vaccine, 12 years and older, J&J vaccine for 18 years and older upon request. No appointment necessary. Second dose return date Tuesday, July 20, 3-6 p.m.

Reminder: COVID-19 vaccine is also available by appointment only at both Public Health Department clinic locations:
  • Toeller Building, 190 E Michigan Ave, Battle Creek, 269-969-6363
  • Albion Health Department, 214 E Michigan Ave, Albion, 517-629-9434

Both clinics are open Monday - Thursday 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m., as well as Fridays 8 a.m.-Noon. Please call the appropriate office to set up an appointment.
Keep up with Calhoun County vaccine efforts at
Variants of COVID-19
On Monday, February 8 multiple cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 variant also known as the Alpha Variant were detected in Calhoun County. This strain of the virus quickly gained foothold in Michigan with a total of 11,476 detected cases in Michigan as of Monday, June 21. There were 216 cases of the Alpha Variant reported in Calhoun County.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) described the Delta Variant (B.1.617.2) as a "variant of concern," a label given to strains believed to be more transmissible or cause more serious disease. The variant was first identified in India, and it is estimated to be 40% more transmissible than the Alpha Variant. As of today, June 16, the Delta Variant has appeared in residents of five counties in Michigan.

Calhoun County has not received any indication of presence of the Delta Variant, although it is not unlikely. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been proven to be highly effective against the Delta Variant after two doses. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is likely to be as well.

For this reason, it’s critical to get more people vaccinated, especially in areas with more unvaccinated people to avoid community spread.


Face Mask Recommendations
Effective on June 22, there is no longer a statewide requirement to wear face masks in most settings, however local health departments, establishments, sports organizers, and school districts may set additional rules that must be followed.

Further, the CDC requires that all persons – regardless of vaccination status – wear masks on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.

Organizations and businesses may choose to keep masking and prevention strategies in place to provide as much protection as possible to everyone. Please be kind and respectful to business owners, workers, and each other! See more detail here: https://bit.ly/35N8H98


MIOSHA updates COVID-19 emergency rules to align with Federal OSHA
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration filed COVID-19 emergency rules Tuesday to align with Federal OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standards, dialing back workplace rule for non-health care settings. Employers in non-health care settings will be able to “use their best judgment” in determining whether to maintain daily health screenings, face covering requirements and social distancing requirements, according to a news release. The updated rules are effective today and set to expire Dec. 22, 2021.

The updated MIOSHA emergency rules adopt the Federal OSHA ETS and focus on health care settings where known or suspected COVID patients might be present, the state announced. These workplaces might have a higher exposure risk for employees and need continued protections to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

For more information about MIOSHA's safety and health guidelines to protect Michigan's workforce, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDWorkplaceSafety.
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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

Victor Jovanovich, Public Health Department Communications Specialist

Jessica Vanderkolk, City of Battle Creek Communications Manager