State Rep. Sarah Lightner today issued the following statement related to coronavirus prevention:

“Coronavirus is a concern for many people in our great state, especially in the Eaton Rapids area today. I want to stress that our state and health care industry are working diligently to contain the virus and protect Michigan residents.

“The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is working closely with our local health care providers, local public health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to actively isolate and monitor the situation. Further, the governor has activated state Emergency Operations Center to coordinate with state, local and federal agencies to remain alert and help prevent the spread of the virus.

“Additionally, I recently supported an emergency budget action plan to address evolving challenges with the spread of the virus, which included more than $25 million to assist in virus monitoring, testing and infection control.

“Please know, our local health departments are following protocol handed down from the CDC to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. They are working day and night to ensure the health and safety of our communities, and I am in consistent communication with the department and MDHHS to relay any relevant information that I can.

“I encourage people to seek accurate, reliable information about this public health crisis and work to help curtail further spreading of the virus. That means using effective preventive measures like washing your hands often with soap, consistently cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and most importantly, staying home if you’re feeling ill.

Reliable information about COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus, can be found on www.michigan.gov/Coronavirus and the www.CDC.gov/Coronavirus.”