Monthly Archives: May 2020

(May 15, 2020 3:51 PM) State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks, State Budget Director Chris Kolb, Senate Fiscal Agency Director Chris Harkins and House Fiscal Agency Director Mary Ann Cleary today reached consensus on economic and revenue figures for the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 and for the upcoming 2021 and 2022 fiscal years. Following today’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, net FY 2020 General Fund-General Purpose (GF-GP) revenue is projected at $9.0 billion, down almost $2.0 billion from estimates agreed to in January. Net FY 2020 School Aid Fund (SAF) revenue is now estimated at $12.7 billion, down $1.2 billion from January. Combined, GF-GP and SAF estimates have been revised down approximately $3.2 billion for FY 2020. “The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis unlike any we have seen before,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “This public health emergency is the root of the revenue shortfalls we are experiencing. With the state income tax deadline now in July, we will have a better revenue picture after an additional conference later this summer.” Net GF-GP revenue for the FY 2021 — which begins Oct. 1 — is now forecasted at $9.3 billion, down $1.9 billion from January’s estimate, while the FY 2020 SAF…

(May 15, 2020 3:34 PM) Michigan reported 497 coronavirus (COVID-19) positive test cases today, with the state reported total now at 50,079. The State of Michigan is reporting 38 COVID-19-related deaths today, bringing the state total to 4,825. State Cumulative Total of Recovered COVID-19 Cases (as of 5/8/2020): 22,686. This information is updated daily at 3 p.m., with COVID-19 results included as of 10 a.m. Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by Jurisdiction updated 5/15/2020 County Confirmed Cases Reported Deaths Alcona 6 1 Allegan 173 2 Alpena 90 8 Antrim 10   Arenac 29 1 Baraga 1   Barry 56 1 Bay 228 14 Benzie 4   Berrien 485 28 Branch 92 2 Calhoun 290 18 Cass 50 2 Charlevoix 13 1 Cheboygan 19 1 Chippewa 2   Clare 14 2 Clinton 132 10 Crawford 57 4 Delta 14 2 Detroit City 10230 1240 Dickinson 5 2 Eaton 162 6 Emmet 21 2 Genesee 1835 229 Gladwin 17 1 Gogebic 4 1 Grand Traverse 23 5 Gratiot 35 4 Hillsdale 162 22 Houghton 2   Huron 38 1 Ingham 629 20 Ionia 116 3 Iosco 57 8 Isabella 62 7 Jackson 416 26 Kalamazoo 679 41 Kalkaska 17 2 Kent 2705 53 Lake 2   Lapeer…

(May 15, 2020 3:09 PM) Confidential emotional support counseling is now available 24/7 at no cost to Michiganders who call the state’s COVID-19 hotline. The service is part of a federally funded grant program implemented by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration (BHDDA) in partnership with the Michigan State Police.   Callers to the COVID-19 hotline will hear a recording that begins by saying to press “8” if they would like to speak with a Michigan Stay Well counselor. The counselors, though not licensed professionals, have received specialized training from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Technical Assistance Center on how to provide emotional support to residents of federally declared disaster areas. A major disaster was declared in Michigan on Friday, March 27, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.   BHDDA hopes that adding Stay Well counseling services to the hotline will provide callers with relief from the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.  “Emerging or lingering anxiety, distress, irritability and loss of hope are important feelings to recognize in ourselves and others, and it can help to talk to someone,” said Dr. Debra Pinals, psychiatrist and MDHHS…

(May 15, 2020 3:04 PM) Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced the creation of the Return to Learning Advisory Council via Executive Order 2020-88, formalizing a process for determining how schools may be able to reopen in the fall. The panel – which will be comprised of students, parents, frontline educators, administrators and public health officials – will be tasked with providing the COVID-19 Task Force on Education within the State Emergency Operations Center with recommendations on how to safely, equitably, and efficiently return to school in the Fall. The State of Michigan will also partner with a national nonprofit organization called Opportunity Labs to bring national expertise to this project. “It’s critical we bring together experts in health care and education, as well as students, educators, and families to think about how and if it’s possible to safely return to in-person learning in the fall and how to ensure the more than 1.5 million K-12 students across Michigan get the education they need and deserve,” Governor Whitmer said. “This panel will use a data-informed and science-based approach with input from epidemiologists to determine if, when, and how students can return to school this fall and what that will look like.”…

(May 15, 2020 12:09 PM) The Jackson County Health Department released the COVID-19 positive numbers for Jackson County.  As of 12:00 PM today, there are 415 positive cases (cumulative), and 26 deaths (cumulative)*.  The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting as of 9 PM Thursday, there are  1,000 confirmed positive cases are at Jackson facilities, 133 Confirmed Positive Jackson Staff. As of 3 PM on Thursday, May 14, there are 23 individuals with positive COVID-19 results who are inpatients at Henry Ford Allegiance Health. To date, a total of 115 positive COVID-19 HFAH inpatients have been treated and discharged. *These numbers do not reflect any cases or deaths identified through Michigan Department of Corrections.  Their numbers are listed under a separate category “MDOC” for the Michigan Statistics. Gender   Percent Male 192 46.3% Female 223 53.7% The Age group is reported as a percentage of the total instead of the actual number.  Age - Years Percent 0 -19 4.6% 20 - 29 15.7% 30 - 39 14.2% 40 - 49 20.0% 50 - 59 17.6% 60 - 69 15.9% 70 -79 5.8% 80 6.3% Race and Ethnicity tables were added on April, 8, 2020. Note: Totals may not add to 100% due…