BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich.—The chair of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners on Thursday declared a local state of emergency in response to COVID-19.

The decision was made based on a recommendation by the Berrien County Emergency Management Coordinator and the Berrien County Public Health Officer.

“Just as we did in the 2018 flood, we are looking for all available resources to address the growing community needs in Berrien County to help combat this health crisis,” said Board of Commissioner Chair, Mac Elliott in a press release.

The declaration supports the continued operations of the Berrien County Emergency Operations Center. 

As of Thursday morning, the Berrien County Health Department said that it currently has 11 positive cases of coronavirus in the county.

The health department said it is seeing an increase in community spread of the virus. 

Michigan residents are being encouraged by the health department to practice social distancing and to follow the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer earlier in the week.

The executive order asks that residents stay home in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.