Monthly Archives: May 2020

(May 1, 2020 3:22 PM)  Michigan reported 977 coronavirus (COVID-19) positive test cases today, with the state reported total now at 42,356. The State of Michigan is reporting 77 COVID-19-related deaths today, bringing the state total to 3,866. State Cumulative Total of Recovered COVID-19 Cases (as of 4/24/2020): 8,342.  This number is updated weekly. 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 5/1/2020 County Confirmed Cases Reported Deaths Alcona 4 1 Allegan 104 2 Alpena 82 6 Antrim 10   Arenac 26 1 Baraga 1   Barry 36 1 Bay 150 6 Benzie 4   Berrien 263 15 Branch 64 2 Calhoun 231 15 Cass 30 2 Charlevoix 13 1 Cheboygan 19 1 Chippewa 2   Clare 11 1 Clinton 118 9 Crawford 53 4 Delta 13 2 Detroit City 9162 1040 Dickinson 3 2 Eaton 133 6 Emmet 21 2 Genesee 1600 192 Gladwin 16 1 Gogebic 4 1 Grand Traverse 19 5 Gratiot 21 1 Hillsdale 127 17 Houghton 2   Huron 19   Ingham 483 12 Ionia 80 2 Iosco 51 7 Isabella 60 7 Jackson 381 22 Kalamazoo 405 18 Kalkaska 17 2 Kent…

(May 1, 2020 3:05 PM) Today, at a press conference with leaders in health care, business, and labor, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-70 as part of her MI Safe Start plan. The executive order will allow the May 7 resumption of some types of work that present a very low risk of infection, including construction, real-estate activities, and work that is traditionally and primarily performed outdoors.  “The vast majority of Michiganders are still doing their part to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19. That’s good, but we must keep it up,” said Governor Whitmer. “As part of our MI Safe Start Plan, we are bringing business and labor leaders together to ensure that while we lift some restrictions on the previous Stay Home, Stay Safe order, we are also protecting workers and their families from the spread of this virus. I want to be clear: we must all continue to stay home and stay safe as much as possible. If we all keep doing our part, we can reduce the risk of a second wave and re-engage our economy safely and responsibly.”  The governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order remains in effect until May 15, 2020. Under this order, Michiganders still must not leave their homes except to run…

(May 1, 2020 2:33 PM) Henry Ford Allegiance Health reached a major milestone last night. Since accepting its first COVID-19 patient in mid-March, the local hospital now reports having discharged 100 patients who have been successfully treated for COVID-19. “In challenging times like these, we must recognize these life-affirming victories,” said Henry Ford Allegiance Health President and CEO Paula Autry. “We are elated when any patient recovers, but the level of threat COVID-19 poses to the patient and to our community makes each victory that much more satisfying when the battle is won.” “Our first positive COVID-19 patient was admitted on March 16, and it’s been a non-stop effort on the part of our team ever since to care for each and every patient with great determination and resolve,” said Wendy Boersma, DNP, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Henry Ford Allegiance Health. “We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our front-line employees and those working behind-the-scenes to keep operations running smoothly. There is no question their collective effort has saved an incredible number of lives.”

(May 1, 2020 10:16 AM) Michigan has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education (USED) for nearly $390 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, the Michigan Department of Education announced.   The $13.2 billion ESSER fund provides emergency relief funds to address the impact that the COVID-19 public health crisis has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the United States. ESSER funding was included as part of the $2 trillion federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.   “These are vitally important resources to help our schools reduce the strain caused by this global pandemic,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. “Schools can use the funds to meet a variety of current education needs, but must recognize that these funds are one-time revenues.”  The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) will award 90 percent of the $389,796,984 in emergency relief funds to eligible local school districts based on the 2019-20 Title I, Part A funding formula, as required by the CARES Act.  ESSER funds are a one-time appropriation and will not be ongoing funding for school districts, Rice said, strongly recommending that districts reflect carefully about the best…

(May 1, 2020 7:41 AM) The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting as of 11:30 PM Friday, there are 1,623 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at facilities throughout the state.  Of that statewide total, 563 of the confirmed positive cases are at Jackson facilities. The number of positive cases increased by 192 since Wednesday night’s report, as mass testing has begun at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility.  The Department says they have now started a system of expanded testing and began testing all prisoners at Cotton Correctional Facility this week. Of 1196 prisoners tested at Cotton, 330 are COVID-19 confirmed positive.  28% of those tested are positive. There have been a total of 41 deaths of prisoners who had tested positive for COVID-19, 15 of those deaths were among prisoners at Jackson facilities. The most recent deaths, reported on April 29, were of a prisoner who had been housed at Lakeland Correctional Facility and a prisoner who had been housed at Parnall Correctional Facility. In Jackson, there are 170 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases at Parnall Correctional Facility, 31 at Charles E. Egeler Reception and Guidance Center, 32 at Duane Waters Health Center and 330 at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility. Among…