[Michlib-l] Scaling back reopening or closing?

[Kat Boyer]

We had something similar, I had an employee exposed (for an extended period
of time, and I am sure there was close contact) to someone who has COVID
and when I called our local Health Department I was told by no less than 3
people that its only a problem once that employee is diagnosed with COVID
themself.  I directly asked if I should shift services back and was told
no.  I was told to have the employee quarantine, and if they felt
symptomatic to have them get tested.  Then, if that person was positive
we'd just keep the quarantine chain going.  I was honestly pretty shocked.
I did close one day, because I got the information late last Friday and
wanted more time to speak to the Health Department and other officials.  I
also figured that if the employee was positive, all the library items they
touched should be COVID free after 3 days (including any items bagged up
for curbside) since that is our quarantine period. We scaled back services
on Tuesday, but then opened back up on Wednesday to our limited services.

I agree that the response seems to be just, odd and irresponsible.  It
doesn't make sense to act retroactively to the virus, but instead to be
proactive, even if that means backing down services slightly for a few
days.  The Health Department here acted like I was overreacting.  But that
has been their MO all along.  They literally told me on March 13 or 14 when
I called to ask about what we should do in concern for COVID getting here,
that they were "going to deal with it once it was here".

Kat Boyer
Director
Benton Harbor Public Library
213 E Wall St.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022



On Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 11:27 AM Nannette Miller via Michlib-l <
michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:

> We have a situation in Elk Rapids. One of my staff called this morning
> saying he spent yesterday afternoon in the ER and was tested for Covid-19.
> He won't know the results for 2 to 10 days. The Health Department says we
> can stay open until we know for sure he has it. My gut says shut it down.
> We just started letting the public in this week. I'm closing for the
> weekend and hoping he can get an answer before Monday. Then I will
> reevaluate. I'm curious what others would do. I don't want to act
> hysterically, but I want to err on the side of caution. I think I
> understand why we can't get control of this pandemic. They could have given
> him a rapid test and known immediately if he has it, but because he wasn't
> sick enough to be admitted they wouldn't. That is absurd in my opinion. So
> the official advice is he may have it, and if he does everyone he worked
> with this week was exposed, but continue business as usual until we know,
> potentially exposing many more people to the virus.
>
> Thanks.
> Nannette
>
> On Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 8:28 AM Jessica Holman via Michlib-l <
> michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:
>
>> Good morning,
>>
>> I don't know if any Michigan libraries have done so, but I have seen that
>> some libraries in other parts of the country have closed again due to
>> increasing COVID-19 cases.
>>
>> Has anyone in the state had to close again, or scale back their reopening
>> plan?
>>
>> What are you using to determine whether you close again?
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>>
>> Jessica Holman
>> Director
>> Negaunee Public Library
>> 319 W. Case St.
>> PO Box 548
>> Negaunee, MI 49866
>> (906) 475-7700 ext. 18
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Michlib-l mailing list
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>> https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
>>
>
>
> --
>
> Nannette Miller | Director
> Elk Rapids District Library
> 231.264.9979 | erlib.director at gmail.com | elkrapidslibrary.org
> _______________________________________________
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>
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