Monthly Archives: March 2020

(March 25,2020 8:43 AM) The State of Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) today provided updated information for workers affected by COVID-19. Workers are encouraged to apply online at Michigan.gov/UIA or over the phone at 866-500-0017, but due to the tremendous call volume, certain callers may receive a busy signal.   “The UIA is working hard and fast to handle the influx of applications for unemployment benefits as we deal with the COVID-19 crisis. While an unprecedented number of calls and clicks has challenged the system, particularly during peak hours, we want to assure Michiganders that the system is providing emergency financial relief,” said UIA Director Steve Gray. "Our website may be operating a little slower, and phone queues are full resulting in busy signals for some callers, so the UIA is urging patience and recommending that workers go first to the online system at Michigan.gov/UIA.”  In addition, applying online in off-peak hours will expedite the process. The 24-hour website operates faster when there are fewer people on the site at any given time. The UIA also urges Michiganders using the website to expect longer load times. It may take several minutes for a page to load at this time. Users are asked to be…

(March 25, 2020 8:30 AM) The Michigan Department of Health and Humans Services (MDHHS)  announced three cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) among patients at its Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Saline and Walter Reuther Psychiatric Hospital in Westland. “Our primary focus is the health and safety of our staff and the patients at our state hospitals,” said MDHHS Director Robert Gordon. “We treat the spread of COVID-19 with the greatest seriousness and are taking many steps to address it.” Two of the positive cases are patients at Walter Reuther and one is at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry. In addition, three staff members at Walter Reuther have tested positive for COVID-19. Several weeks ago, isolation units were equipped in each of the state’s five psychiatric hospitals. Additional cleaning measures have been undertaken at the facilities and staff and patients have been monitored closely for COVID-19 symptoms for the last two weeks. The hospital also stopped allowing visitors at the hospitals two weeks ago. All State of Michigan psychiatric hospitals adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in regard to COVID-19. No additional information will be provided about the patients or staff who tested positive. Information around this…

(March 25, 2020 7:05 AM) University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel announced that that all spring and summer courses at U-M’s Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses will be conducted remotely in alternative formats, as has been the case for winter semester courses since March 16. Schlissel also announced that all UM employees should now work remotely “unless your unit needs you on campus to maintain the work we’ve identified as critical to our mission.” That action, one of several items in a university-wide email, followed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s statewide “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. According to Schlissel, the decision to move all spring and summer courses online “aligns with our ongoing efforts to respond to the pandemic, by maintaining this critical part of our mission while encouraging social distancing.”

(March 25, 2020 6:32 AM) The Attorney General’s office is reporting the AG’s Consumer Protection Hotline has been overwhelmed, literally bringing their system to a standstill.  The office says they have received an overwhelming number of calls related to the Governor’s COVID-19 Executive Orders.  The AG’s office has requested that media remind Michigan residents that any complaints related to the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order should be directed to local law enforcement agencies.  Failing to comply with the Governor’s Executive Orders could result in a $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail for each violation. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection team is designed to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices. This team has received thousands of complaints but at this time its main focus is cracking down on price-gouging and scams related to COVID-19. All other violations of the Governor’s Executive Orders should be referred to local police departments for enforcement. The Department of Attorney General stands ready to assist local prosecuting attorneys’ offices as these cases move forward.  The Attorney General’s office, in a media release said,  “These are incredibly difficult times and we are all in uncharted territory. We ask for everyone’s cooperation, understanding and…

(March 24, 2020 9:18 PM) In accordance with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendations designed to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be cancelling the spring Adopt-A-Highway pickups previously scheduled for April 18-26 and May 9-17 around the state. The program is currently planned to resume with the statewide summer pickup, scheduled for July 18-26. For more information, visit www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway. The state is taking proactive steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in reducing the coronavirus risk to Michigan residents. Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

(March 24, 2020 7:51 PM) Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today sent a cease and desist letter to two related Rockford-based businesses for marketing to consumers the “Coronavirus Defender Patch,” which the companies falsely claim will help protect people from contracting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Meanwhile, price-gouging complaints related to COVID-19 filed with the Attorney General’s office are nearing 1,600.  The businesses, Frequency Apps Corp. and Biores Technologies Inc., claim the patch will “help aid the immune system to defend itself against exposure to the virus,” and “can help lessen the effect of the virus if you already have” it. The patch was priced at $49.99, but the companies stated that consumers could receive a 30-day supply of the patch for free when they buy a 45-day supply of any patches the companies sell.  “Providing consumers with a false sense of security that these patches could somehow protect them from this virus is simply wrong,” Nessel said. “I will not tolerate deceptive and misleading business practices at any time, but especially not during this time of uncertainty surrounding Michigan’s battle with COVID-19.”  The companies are likely in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act because they may be:  Representing that goods or services have sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits or quantities that they do not have, or that a person has sponsorship,…