L’ANSE — A letter from Baraga County officials denouncing COVID-19 restrictions within the county earlier this week made the rounds across the Upper Peninsula.

The letter, signed by Baraga County Sheriff Joe Brogan and eight other county officials, called out the state of Michigan’s coronavirus restrictions and stated that the county no longer has the “intention of participating in the unconstitutional destruction of our citizens’ economic security and Liberty.

“We further declare our intention to take no action whatsoever in furtherance of this terribly misguided agenda,” the letter continued.

Baraga County Memorial Hospital in L’Anse responded to the letter Thursday, reassuring hospital patients that it’s still safe to visit the facility if need be.

“We, the medical staff of Baraga County Memorial Hospital, bring your attention to a document, titled the Baraga County Manifesto and signed by county officials,” BCMH said in a press release. “We received a concern from a community member who had read the Manifesto. She was worried about whether it would still be safe to come to the hospital, thinking the Manifesto required us to change our practices. Though the county officials are entitled to their opinions, we want to clearly state that this Manifesto in no way requires BCMH to change its practices.

“We are concerned that following a Manifesto such as this may lead to harm to the residents of Baraga County and as their medical providers, we stand firm in our agreement with the recommendations and public health orders which have been put forth by the state of Michigan. With Baraga County’s death rate (deaths per capita) being the highest rate of all Michigan counties, we continue to follow the orders ourselves and we continue to encourage our patients to follow them. In fact, not following the recommendations is likely to lead to more hospitalizations and deaths of our most vulnerable county residents, taking us backwards in this pandemic. We are losing a whole generation of elderly people whom our community’s children will never know.

“We, as medical professionals in Baraga County, in order to move forward instead of backwards, urge our community to follow the CDC recommendations. We urge you to continue masking and using social distancing. We urge you to allow our health departments to continue guiding us through this unprecedented pandemic. We strongly recommend getting one of the protective vaccines as soon as it is available to you. We want our community to be able to move forward in a gradual return to a normally functioning society. Therefore, we at BCMH will continue to provide medical care using best medical practices and following our experts’ advice.”

The county added zero new COVID-19 cases and deaths on Friday, leaving its total at 479 confirmed cases and 29 confirmed deaths, with 90 cases listed as “probable.”

The state reported 2,598 new coronavirus cases on Friday and 29 new deaths, bringing the states total confirmed case count to 533,602. The U.P. now stands at 15,276 total confirmed cases and 345 confirmed deaths, with 3,648 more cases and 79 more deaths listed as probable.

For the latest statewide COVID-19 data and information, visit www.Michigan.gov/coronavirus.

MCHD announces

additional vaccines

The Marquette County Health Department on Friday afternoon announced that it has received additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine and will be holding more clinics for anyone age 65 and up beginning next week.

Vaccination clinics will be held at the Northern Center located on the campus of Northern Michigan University. The clinics will run for three days from Wednesday, Jan. 20 through Friday, Jan. 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

MCHD emphasizes that you must schedule an appointment in advance to be given a COVID-19 vaccination. Individuals who show up at the clinic without an established appointment cannot receive a vaccine at that time.

Due to vaccine availability, a limited number of appointments will be available.

Those age 65 and older may make an appointment by visiting www.mqthealth.org and clicking on the scheduling link. The link to schedule an appointment will be available beginning at 10 a.m. Monday. Do not call NMU to schedule an appointment.

If you need assistance in scheduling a vaccine appointment, call 906-475-7847. Appointments are available only to those who meet the age requirement of 65 and older. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first serve basis.

A picture I.D. will be required at the time of your appointment. To help maintain social distancing, do not arrive at your appointment more than five minutes early.

For more information, visit www.mqthealth.org or call MCHD at 906-475-9977.

Ryan Spitza can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. His email address is rspitza@miningjournal.net.