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BERRIEN COUNTY — Berrien County has established an emergency operations center in response to the COVID-19 situation.

Although there is not a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Berrien County, the EOC was partially activated out of an abundance of caution to provide for the safety of the public during the health crisis, according to officials with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department.

An EOC is established to provide a single point of contact, coordination and avenue to share information to all 39 municipalities and first responder and public safety agencies and volunteer organizations in Berrien County.  A partial activation of the Berrien County EOC allows the staff members from the various positions to perform their functions remotely in accordance with the governor’s and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendations designed to help prevent the spread of the disease.

“We are communicating the current situation to each of the stakeholders assigned to the EOC in order to be better prepared for future needs,” stated a press release from the department.

On March 10, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency based on ongoing health concerns of COVID-19. Michigan had 65 confirmed cases as of press time, with no reported deaths.