Josephine Taylor: What Parents Need to Know About Coronavirus in Detroit, Ann Arbor and Beyond

It’s hard for us not to have coronavirus on our minds, especially as parents. As of June 1, 2020, officials have announced 57,532 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan, according to Michigan.gov.

Here is what parents need to know about the coronavirus in Detroit, Ann Arbor and beyond, including prevention tips, precautions, cancellations and closures.

We’ll update this article as new information arrives and new parenting resources will be added in the list below.

Parenting resources during COVID-19 crisis

Support

E-learning

At-home activities

Smiling Father Playing With Baby Son At Home

Other

What parents need to know

We’ve compiled this information from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) page dedicated to COVID-19.

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are part of a large family of viruses that can cause illness in both animals and humans. In humans, several coronaviruses can cause respiratory infections from the common cold to more severe ailments like MERS and SARS.

The most recently discovered coronavirus, COVID-19, has caused outbreaks of mild and severe respiratory illness around the world.

How is it transmitted?

COVID-19 is spread via person-to-person contact via small droplets from the nose or mouth.

A person who comes in contact with these droplets, either directly or touching an item contaminated with them, and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth can contract the virus.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of confirmed COVID-19 cases have generally been mild and most commonly start within one week or up to 14 days after exposure. They include:

Fever
Tiredness
Dry cough
Difficulty breathing

Additional symptoms such as aches, pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and diarrhea have been reported in some patients.

What about my kids?

About 80% of people who get COVID-19 recover from the disease without special treatment, the WHO reports. However, about 1 in 6 people who get the disease becomes seriously ill.

People most vulnerable to serious illness so far reportedly include older people and those with underlying medical issues including high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes — though anyone with a fever, cough or who is having difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

What precautions should I take for the coronavirus?

Currently, there is no vaccination or medication that prevent or treat COVID-19. Here are some ways to help protect yourself from the coronavirus:

Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.
If sick, stay away from public places including work, school and day care.
Cover your cough and sneeze.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Practice social distancing and stay at least six feet away from other people.
Teach your children and others to follow these steps.

The CDC currently recommends (and our state requires) all people who are medically able and over the age of two wear face masks in public spaces.

In addition, there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted by your pets.

Cancellations, closures and postponed events

Event cancellations

On March 16, President Trump issued new guidelines to limit gatherings of more than 10 people, thus most events scheduled in March, April or May in southeast Michigan have either been canceled or postponed.

Check out our calendar for event updates this spring and virtual alternatives for your favorite activities.

Affected venues, schools, etc.

On March 23, Gov. Whitmer signed the original “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order, which temporarily suspended operations of all “non-essential” businesses including restaurants, museums and other venues.

Here’s how it affected schools and venues in our area:

Affected schools

As of April 2, all Michigan K-12 schools have been closed for the rest of the academic year. Colleges also have closed their campuses, but many have adopted online coursework for the remainder of the semester.

Affected venues

Virtually all recreation venues have either closed or limited activities during the Stay Home, Stay Safe order. You can see some highlights on our cancellations page. Please check with each venue for more information on how COVID-19 has affected their operations.

What’s reopening and when

On June 1, 2020, Gov. Whitmer moved to stage four of her 6-stage reopening plan. This move allowed restaurants and retailers to reopen at limited capacity and with social distancing measures in place.

Outdoor swimming pools, day camps, libraries and museums were allowed to reopen starting on June 8 and on June 10, that expanded to included gyms, movie theaters, bowling alleys, concert venues and more — again with certain limitations.

Hair salons will be allowed to reopen on June 15.

All establishments are required to follow these protocols before they are allowed to reopen:

Post signs telling customers not to enter if they’re sick
Require or encourage customers to wear masks
Enforce crowd-limiting measures and limit seating capacity
Use dividers, floor markings and signs to encourage social distancing
Train employees on how to enforce coronavirus protocols
Frequently disinfect high-touch surfaces
Disinfect the facility throughout the day, as necessary
Close buffets and self-serve food or drink options

For a full list of what’s opening in our area, check out our post on what’s reopening in metro Detroit and Ann Arbor — and for more information on COVID-19, how it’s affecting our area and additional services or activities, visit our Coronavirus Help page.

This post is updated regularly.

Josephine Taylor

Friday, June 12, 2020

What Parents Need to Know About Coronavirus in Detroit, Ann Arbor and Beyond