COVID-19 Resources

View the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic OpportunityCOVID-19 Announcement HERE

All Washington Township offices remain open to serve you with public access to township facilities.
Many tasks can be handled online, over the phone or through one of the township’s drop boxes. Call a department 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, and our staff will walk you through the best, safest way to conduct business. These measures help us minimize face-to-face interactions to keep our staff and community safer and slow the spread of COVID-19. Residents can email township staff at comments@washingtontwpmi.org for general questions.

The Washington Township Fire Department and the Washington Township Police Department are responding to emergency calls. Please use discretion when seeking emergency services.

Trash pick-up will continue regularly on scheduled pick-up days, and the Department of Public Works is responding to all calls. Please call (586) 786-0012 concerning DPW business and for calls concerning trash pick-up please contact Priority Waste at (586) 228-1200.

The Building Department is actively performing permit processing, plan reviews and inspections. You may call the Building Department at (586) 786-0018 or email bldginspect@washingtontwpmi.org to conduct business.

The Building Department is asking the community to adhere to Best Practice Guidelines for the Construction Industry set forth by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity.

As we offer more recreation programs and opportunities this summer, the Parks, Recreation and Maintenance Department follows federal, state and county guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit the Parks & Recreation Website at https://www.rwbparksrec.org/ to make sure you have the most up-to-date information before visiting our facilities, parks and events.

The Romeo District Library is open for business. The library welcomes patrons inside with access to technology, its collection and the best and friendliest library staff in the state. For more information you can visit the website at https://romeodistrictlibrary.org/ 

Macomb County Health Department: 586-463-3750
COVID-19 Testing: Contact primary care provider

Only call 911 for emergencies, if you are having trouble breathing or experiencing a high fever and need EMS.
Do not call 911 for:
•    Questions about Coronavirus
•    Questions about where to get tested
•    If you are experiencing mild symptoms like low fever or cough

Who should you call?
•    Your primary care physician
•    Macomb County Health Department
Visit the Macomb County Health Department website for information.

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COVID-19 FAQ

View the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Notice

Below is a list of frequently asked questions regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. They refer to Charter Township of Washington employee concerns. The township's priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of its employees and the community. These guidelines offer a roadmap to addressing employee needs and concerns during this time. Ultimately, these points may change and be updated as the township continues to adhere to standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Macomb County Department of Health and Community Services.

If I do not feel safe at work from COVID-19, what should I do?
Employees are encouraged to wash their hands frequently, avoid touching their faces and maintain social distance. Employees who are concerned may also contact CARE - Employee Assistance. CARE - Employee Assistance is a free and confidential service for employees and their dependents. Employees of Shelby Township, please call (866) 888-1555. Benefit time and unpaid time off options have also been offered to employees.

If a colleague became ill in the office or on township grounds and went home, do I need to be isolated or quarantined?
Not necessarily – we must rely on guidance from health care providers because most situations in the workplace require individual responses. Employees who are unwell or who start to feel unwell at work should stay at home or go home immediately, respectively. The most important thing employees can do is monitor their health and remain home when unwell. If there is a presumed or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace, managers should contact the Parks, Recreation and Maintenance Department for next steps regarding cleaning methods. Health care providers will determine the extent of necessary quarantine.

If I am an employee and my question isn’t addressed in these FAQs, who should I contact?
Employees may contact their department head or HR with additional questions, and HR will either answer your question or direct you to the appropriate office. 

What if I’m diagnosed with COVID-19?
Employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19 must self-isolate, per CDC guidelines, until they are well. Employees should follow standard procedures in notifying their manager of an illness.

If I felt fine when I came to work but then fell ill – what should I do?
Employees who feel unwell should immediately separate from others, inform their manager of their illness, go home and contact a health care provider. Employees who are concerned about their symptoms should directly contact their primary health care provider. Employees who have recovered from an illness should contact their manager when ready to return and have their return-to-work documentation from their health care provider.

If I am recovering from an illness, when should I return to work?
Employees are encouraged to remain home through the duration of an illness, whether it is the common cold, flu, or COVID-19. Employees should return to work after being symptom-free for 72 hours without the aid of symptom-reducing medications. For absences due to illness, employees are expected to follow the necessary processing protocols up to and including physician certification. Employees who have recovered from an illness must present return-to-work documentation from their health care provider.

If a household member is sick, what should I do?
CDC guidelines recommend self-monitoring at home only when a household member has recently returned from a Level 3 country OR if the household member has a presumptive or confirmed case of COVID-19. Otherwise, employees may have the option to care for their immediate family members, as appropriate within guidelines. If an employee has an unwell household member, the employee may go to work without restriction once they have received return-to-work documentation from their health care provider.

What should I do if I am not sick, but I have been in the proximity of someone who is under self-quarantine (i.e., the person does not have symptoms and was asked to self-quarantine because of their potential exposure to COVID-19)?
Being a “secondary contact” does not require you to be quarantined under current CDC guidelines. You would only be required to quarantine if you are in close contact with someone diagnosed with a presumptive or confirmed case of COVID-19 (e.g., a household member or someone recently returned from a Level 3 country). Employees should continue to monitor for symptoms. If you notice that you have symptoms, contact your primary health care provider, then your manager and, if advised, stay home.

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COVID-19 Glossary

Asymptomatic: Asymptomatic means there are no symptoms. You are considered asymptomatic if you have recovered from an illness or condition and no longer have symptoms or have an illness or condition (such as early-stage high blood pressure or glaucoma) but do not have symptoms of it.

Confirmed case: Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases are individuals with at least one respiratory specimen that tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 at a CDC laboratory.

COVID-19: COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats and bats.

Isolation: Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not ill.

Level 3 Country: The CDC defines Level 3 countries as those with widespread, ongoing transmission. Travelers should avoid nonessential travel to these locations. A list of these countries can be found at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers.

Presumptive Positive Cases: Individuals with at least one respiratory specimen that tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 at a state or local laboratory are presumptive positive cases.

Quarantine: Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

Return-to-Work Documentation: Return-to-work documentation is written authorization from an employee’s healthcare provider. Please note that an employee may not return to work without first submitting return-to-work documentation that states that the employee can work, listing any restrictions on normal duties. If an employee comes to work without providing the required documentation, the employee will be sent home until they provide medical certification that they can return to work.

Self-monitoring: Self-monitoring is for those that may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19. They should monitor themselves for symptoms (fever, cough, and shortness of breath). Self-monitoring means people should monitor themselves for fever by taking their temperatures twice a day and remain alert for cough or difficulty breathing. If they develop symptoms during the self-monitoring period, they should self-isolate, limit contact with others and seek medical advice by telephone.

Symptomatic: Symptomatic can mean showing symptoms, or it may concern a specific symptom. Symptoms are signs of disease or injury. They are noticed by the person. Many conditions and diseases have symptoms. When someone has the common symptoms associated with a disease or condition, they are considered symptomatic. COVID-19 illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure; fever, cough or shortness of breath.