For Saturday, July 18.

MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Health Department has become aware through contact tracing efforts of two confirmed cases of COVID-19 among people who attended the McCarty’s Cove beach gathering on the Fourth of July weekend.

MCHD is recommending that anyone who attended the gathering monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms and contact their medical providers should they become symptomatic.

The health department stressed that the positive cases demonstrate the fact that outdoor social gatherings, even among asymptomatic young people, can cause community transmission of COVID-19.

Testing information is available at mqthealth.org.

The health department continues to recommend adhering to all social distancing and hygiene practices needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing whenever around people in public, whether it is inside or outside of a building.

The health department also advises avoiding physical contact with others and not sharing items such as water bottles or cell phones, officials said.

Mask order strengthened

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday signed Executive Order 2020-153, which strengthens her previous order requiring all Michiganders to wear a mask in indoor public spaces and crowded outdoor spaces.

The new order clarifies that businesses may not assume that an unmasked customer cannot medically tolerate a face covering, though they can accept a customer’s verbal representation to that effect. It also requires public safety officers to wear a face covering unless doing so would seriously interfere in the performance of their responsibilities.

The order clarifies that wearing a mask at a polling place for purposes of voting in an election is not required, but strongly encouraged.

“Wearing a mask is the right thing to do to protect our families, our businesses, and our economy,” Whitmer said in a news release. “If everyone in Michigan masks up, we can save thousands of lives and put ourselves in a better position to send our kids back to school in the fall. For the safety of our loved ones and our dedicated first responders on the front lines: Mask up, Michigan.”

There are exceptions to the governor’s order.

Although a face covering is strongly encouraged even for people who are not required to wear one, the requirement to wear a face covering does not apply to individuals who, among other things:

≤ Are younger than 5 years old;

≤ Cannot medically tolerate a face covering;

≤ Are eating or drinking while seated at a food service establishment;

≤ Are exercising when wearing a face covering would interfere in the activity; or

≤ Are at a polling place to vote in an election.

Over the past two weeks, every region in Michigan has seen an uptick in new cases, and daily case counts now exceed 20 cases per million in all but one region in the state, the governor’s office said.

Possible exposure sites ID’d

The Luce-Mackinac-Alger-Schoolcraft County District Health Department has been informed that four travelers with confirmed COVID-19 visited Mackinac County.

One was a group of three who visited from July 2-6 while an additional individual visited on July 11.

Possible exposure sites for the group of three were at the KOA St. Ignace/ Mackinac Campground in St. Ignace and the Bridgeview Diner in downstate Mackinaw City. The group ate outside between 1 and 4 p.m. July 6.

The individual was on Shepler’s Ferry at 3 p.m. July 11, traveling from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island and returning at 8 p.m. on the ferry.

The LMAS District Health Department suggested anyone present at any of these locations during the times and dates noted should monitor for symptoms and contact their local health departments.

Mackinac County residents should call 906-643-1100 while Cheboygan County residents should call 231-627-8850. Emmet County residents should phone 800-432-4121.

Anyone not living in these three counties but who believe they were at any of the above locations at the times and dates indicated are urged to contact their public health departments.

The LMAS District Health Department also learned that a traveler who has tested positive for COVID-19 visited Alger County on Sunday. The only exposure site was the Glass Bottom Boat Tour from 2:30 to 4 p.m. that day. The individual wore a mask and practiced social distancing.

The person had no symptoms until later that evening, and tested positive on Tuesday. Anyone present at the location during the time and date noted should monitor for symptoms and contact LMAS at 906-387-2297 or 800-562-4832.

Soo Film Festival

canceled

The 2020 Soo Film Festival has been canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Festival organizers, though, are looking into the feasibility of an online event at a later date.

The film festival was scheduled for Sept. 16-20 in downtown Sault Ste. Marie for its seventh year. Films were to screened at the historic Soo Theatre and Bayliss Public Library.

Festival President Jason Markstrom said in a statement, “Due to the ever-changing conditions we cannot in good conscience risk the well-being of our staff, friends, family and fellow film fans.

“This year’s filmmakers put hard work and tremendous effort into their films and we were very excited to show them off. Soo Film Festival looks forward to seeing their work next year.”

The Soo Film Festival is open to filmmakers worldwide but emphasizes and showcases work from the Great Lakes region.

Meeting protocols given

Whitmer on Friday signed Executive Order 2020-154, which extends previous executive orders to provide temporary alternative means to conduct public meetings, conduct administrative proceedings, and provide the required notice under tax abatement statutes, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Under the new executive order, all three previous orders are consolidated and extended to protect the public health and safety of Michiganders.

The new order:

≤ Allows public bodies subject to the Open Meetings Act, including boards, commissions, committees, subcommittees, authorities, councils and nonprofit boards, to use telephone- or video-conferencing methods to continue meeting and conducting business during the COVID-19 public health crisis, so long as they follow certain procedures to ensure meaningful access and participation by members of the public body and the general public;

≤ Allows notice of any public hearing required to take place under a tax abatement statute to be provided electronically and by newspaper; and

≤ Allows the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, Unemployment Insurance Agency and other administrative hearings to be held by video conference or phone in place of in-person hearings.

Executive Orders 2020-129, 2020-132 and 2020-141 are rescinded with Executive Order 2020-154 remaining in effect during any state of emergency or disaster associated with COVID-19, and for 28 days thereafter to the extent necessary for public bodies to schedule remote meetings and hearings.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net