Community Health Outreach and Resources | Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology

The Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology recognizes the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and continues to have, on our students, staff, and faculty.

The department has compiled a few of the most utilized COVID-19 resources here. In addition, the department has listed other community health resources as well. If you have questions or would like to explore other resources that may be available to you, please reach out to us at kip@mtu.edu.

Quarantine Guidelines

Guidelines for quarantining if you test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed are available on the MTU Flex website. If you have questions about the dates of a quarantine, contact the Western UP Health Department at (906) 482-7382, option 8 (8 am - 4 pm M-F).

Travel Guidelines

Guidance on domestic and international travel is available from CDC, including a travel planner, which can help you connect to relevant information sources at your destination.

Ways to Stay Informed

National, Regional, and Local Trends

It is important and beneficial to look at case trends from national, state, and local levels to fully understand and interpret the current impact of COVID-19.

National - CDC COVID Data Tracker

State - State of Michigan Coronavirus Hub

Local - Western UP Health Department, CDC County Map

UP Community Health Town Hall

The U.P. Community Health Town Hall is a FREE, monthly, virtual webinar series hosted by the Center for Rural Health at Northern Michigan University. The Town Hall provides a platform for the public to engage with a diverse panel of subject- matter experts such as public health officials, clinicians, educators, agencies, etc. and focuses on a variety of aspects that impact the health and wellbeing of communities throughout the Upper Peninsula. Regional health statistics, emerging health issues, current initiatives, and best practices are shared in an effort to increase awareness, inspire action and improve the health of individuals.

KIP Health Brief

As part of their training, graduate students prepare and send out a monthly brief which includes updates on latest case trends, COVID-19 research, and information/misinformation, and promotion of healthy living behaviors during the pandemic. This information is emailed within the department to students, faculty, and staff.

Health Information/Misinformation

COVID-19 information is critical for helping keep you and friends and family healthy and safe during the pandemic. Health information that is false, inaccurate or misleading based on the best evidence available at the time is misinformation. Misinformation is not a new problem but became more widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic. Misinformation is harmful to individual and community health and has led to harassment and violence against others, including public health and healthcare workers. Learn how to identify misinformation and actively avoid spreading misinformation about COVID-19. The US Surgeon General has released an advisory statement that tasks community members, educators, and researchers to help build a healthier information environment. Here are some helpful links:

Confronting Health Misinformation (US Surgeon General Report)
Coronavirus Rumor Control (FEMA)
How to spot misinformation (Stronger)
How to address COVID-19 vaccine misinformation (CDC)
COVID-19 Vaccines: Myth v. Fact (Johns Hopkins Medicine)

Testing

Testing is available at the locations listed below. You will be responsible for costs related to testing at these sites. Costs may include the cost of the test, administrative fees, and doctor’s visit fees. Your insurance may cover some of these costs.

UP Health System - Portage Express Care
921 W Sharon Ave, Houghton, MI
(906) 483-1777

No appointment required

Walgreens COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing

1007 Memorial Rd, Houghton, MI
(906) 231-8007

No appointment required

Upper Great Lakes Houghton Family Health Center

600 Macinnes Dr, Houghton, MI
(844) 947-4854

Appointment required

Western Upper Peninsula Health Department

821 Water St, Hancock, MI

Open to public, Monday - Friday, 10 am - 3 pm

Vaccinations

For information about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, vaccines.gov can help you find the nearest COVID-19 location.

Mental Health and Well-Being

Center for Student Mental Health and Well-Being provides students mental health support including individual therapy, drop-in support, support and therapy groups, workshops, programs, events and medical management. Here, you can find out 2022 Fall support groups that focus on different topics like self-improvement, stress and anxiety management and others. Your well-being is important to us, please feel free to utilize available on-campus mental health and well-being services. Additional resources are available from a Michigan.gov Stay Well counselor.

Physical Activity

It is important that you stay physically active during the pandemic because regular physical activity offers a great form of medicine to promote good physical and mental health. The department offers a free virtual physical activity program called UP and Moving This program provides live and recorded home-based workouts to help keep adults (students, staff, faculty, community members) in the Upper Peninsula physically active and healthy during the pandemic and beyond. Other physical activity resources available to students include intramurals and the Outdoor Adventure Program.