Monthly Archives: May 2020

(May 20, 2020 6:29 AM) The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting as of 5 PM Tuesday, May 19, there are 3,089 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at facilities throughout the state.  Of that statewide total, 1,041 of the confirmed positive cases are at Jackson facilities. There have been a total of 59 deaths (statewide) of prisoners who had tested positive for COVID-19, 19 of those deaths were among prisoners at Jackson facilities.   The most recent deaths, reported on May 19 were of a prisoner who had originally been housed at Lakeland Correctional Facility and a prisoner who had been housed at Charles E. Egeler Reception and Guidance Center. In Jackson, there are 180 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at Parnall Correctional Facility, 104 at Charles E. Egeler Reception and Guidance Center, 69 at Duane Waters Health Center and 688 at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility. Among staff, there are a total of 334 COVID-19 positive cases statewide.   In Jackson, there are 76 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases among employees at Parnall Correctional Facility, 1 at Cooper Street Correctional Facility, 30 at Charles E. Egeler Reception and Guidance Center, 36 at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility and 3 at Jackson Regional…

(May 20, 2020 6:18 AM) To help boost the safe reopening of bars and restaurants across the state, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) today announced streamlined licensing for outdoor services and additional bar permits, and launched a new webpage with reopening guidelines and resources for liquor licensees. “At the governor’s direction, we are pleased to join her in helping liquor licensees get back to business in a safe and profitable way. This is our top priority right now,” said MLCC Chair Pat Gagliardi. “Licensees brought their needs to the table through a ‘reopening workgroup’ and the Commission took action. I want to thank MLCC Commissioners Ed Clemente and Brad Jacobsen, co-chairs of the workgroup and all those who participated to help make these changes happen.”    The MLCC convened a “Reopening Workgroup” comprised of stakeholders, liquor licensees and other interest groups that met virtually to share ideas and consider written suggestions from restaurant and bar owners on what they needed to help them prepare for reopening their businesses. As a result, the MLCC is now streamlining the application process for: outdoor service expansions or new requests for the 2020 summer season adding a Specially Designated Merchant (SDM) license to an…

(May 19, 2020 8:24 PM) Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon issued an Emergency Order Monday, May 18, finding that the procedures and restrictions in Executive Orders 2020-69, 2020-71, 2020-91 and 2020-92 are needed to control the COVID-19 epidemic, reinforcing the governor’s orders and allowing for civil fines of up to $1,000 and referral to licensing agencies for violations.   This new order rescinds an April 2 order that made the same finding with respect to earlier versions of the governor’s orders.   “More than 51,000 cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in our state, and appropriate social distancing is the primary tool available to slow the spread of the virus and save lives,” Gordon said. “The real heroes of this crisis are the medical workers, first responders and other essential workers who are putting their lives on the line for us every day. We owe it to them to do what we can ourselves to stop the spread of the virus. The Executive Orders issued by the Governor are intended to protect the health and safety of all Michiganders. A civil penalty and potential licensing actions send a strong message to Michiganders that we are serious about…

(May 19, 2020 4:38 PM)  Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-93 extending her previous order which gives pharmacists increased operational capacity and expands access to prescriptions for Michiganders who need them.    “As we continue to suppress the spread of COVID-19, Michiganders need to continue to stay safer at home,”  said Governor Whitmer. “By allowing patients to get a refill of their prescriptions for up to 60 days from a pharmacist, people can reduce their time traveling and in turn lower the chance of a second wave of COVID-19.”    Executive Order 2020-93 continues to allow pharmacists to dispense emergency refills of prescriptions for up to 60 days’ worth of supply for patients and require insurers to cover early refills for up to 90 days’ worth of supply during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The order will also allow pharmacists to dispense COVID-19 treatments according to government-approved protocols.   To view Executive Order 2020-93 is effective immediately and continues until June 16, 2020. To view the order, click the link below:    EO 2020-93 Emerg order - pharmacies - re-issue.pdf

(May 19, 2020 3:37 PM)  Michigan reported 435 coronavirus (COVID-19) positive test cases today, with the state reported total now at 52,350. The State of Michigan is reporting 102* COVID-19-related deaths today, bringing the state total to 5,017. State Cumulative Total of Recovered COVID-19 Cases (as of 5/15/2020): 28,234.  This information is updated daily at 3 p.m., with COVID-19 results included as of 10 a.m. *Note on deaths (05/19/20): Regular reviews of death certificate data maintained in Vital Records reporting systems are conducted by MDHHS staff three times per week. As a part of this process, records that identify COVID-19 infection as a contributing factor to death are compared against all laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS). If a death certificate is matched to a confirmed COVID-19 case and that record in the MDSS does not indicate the individual died, the MDSS record is updated to indicate the death and the appropriate local health department is notified. These matched deaths are then included with mortality information posted to the Michigan Coronavirus website. As a result of the most recent assessment, today’s data includes 43 additional deaths identified by this methodology. Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by Jurisdiction updated 5/19/2020 County…