Health

(April 8, 2020 3:23 PM)  Michigan reported 1,376 coronavirus (COVID-19) positive test cases today,  with the state reported total now at 20,346. The State of Michigan is reporting 114 COVID-19-related deaths today, bringing the state total to 959.    The Jackson County Health Department released the COVID-19 positive numbers for Jackson County.  As of 12 PM today, there are 124 positive cases (cumulative), and 4 deaths (cumulative). As of 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, Henry Ford Allegiance Health was treating 38 inpatients in their hospital who tested positive for COVID-19. Test results are pending on another 12 patients who are being treated as “persons under investigation,” and are being cared for on isolated units in the hospital to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 to other patients. Henry Ford Allegiance Health is also reporting their third patient death overnight from COVID-19. The 68-year-old man was a resident of Hillsdale County and did have underlying health issues. This information is updated daily at 3 p.m., with COVID-19 results included as of 10 a.m.. Overall Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by County updated 4/8/2020 County Cases Reported Deaths Allegan 18   Antrim 6   Arenac 4   Barry 7   Bay 39   Berrien…

(April 8, 2020 3:07 PM) To help ensure the health, safety and well-being of patients, visitors and employees, Henry Ford Allegiance Health has adopted a universal mask policy for all employees and visitors. Anyone entering a Henry Ford Allegiance Health facility is required to wear a mask, effective immediately. To conserve masks and align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation to use simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus, the hospital is urging community members to make their own masks at home. The health system is also gratefully accepting donations of homemade masks to provide to visitors who do not have a mask. Donations of homemade masks, or other unused medical supplies or PPE, may be dropped off at the main hospital receiving dock at 205 N. East Avenue, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The receiving dock can be accessed via the drive furthest east on Michigan Avenue (near the parking structure). The dock is located to the left, after the parking structure ends. Monetary donations can be given to the HFHS COVID-19 Emergency Needs Fund which provides for the needs of patients and employees as well as…

(April 8, 2020 12:15 PM) The Jackson County Health Department released the COVID-19 positive numbers for Jackson County.  As of 12 PM today, there are 124 positive cases (cumulative), and 4 deaths (cumulative). As of 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, there are 38 individuals with positive COVID-19 results who are inpatients at Henry Ford Allegiance Health. An additional 12 persons under investigation are hospitalized at HFAH. *These numbers do not reflect any cases or deaths identified through Michigan Department of Corrections.  Their numbers are listed under a separate category "Others" for the Michigan Statistics. Gender Number Percent Male 63 51% Female 61 49% Beginning April 2, 2020, the Age group will only be reported as a percentage of the total instead of the actual number.  Age - Years Percent 0 -19 1% 20 - 29 13% 30 - 39 11% 40 - 49 21% 50 - 59 24% 60 - 69 21% 70 -79 5% 80 4% Race and Ethnicity tables are being added as of today, April 8th.   Race % of overall case by race American Indian or Alaska Native 0% Asian / Pacific Islander 0% Black or African American 12% Caucasian 72% Multiple Races 5% Other 2% Unknown 9%…

(April 8, 2020 11:41 AM) Governor Gretchen Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-40, which waives International Fuel Tax Association (IFTA) credentialing requirements and ensures emergency medical supplies, sanitary supplies and key personnel can continue to flow into Michigan during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “Right now, it’s more important than ever to ensure there are no disruptions in the flow of critical equipment and health care personnel coming into our state to help treat patients and reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Governor Whitmer said. “This Executive Order will help ensure urgently needed resources are delivered as efficiently as possible during this crisis.” The COVID-19 pandemic has created a steep and immediate demand for certain essential supplies, equipment and personnel, and has made it harder for state agencies and departments to conduct business as usual — including credentialing motor carriers. Motor carriers delivering the following products will not face fines or penalties if their license or decals lapse: Medical supplies or equipment related to the testing, diagnosis or treatment of COVID-19 Sanitary supplies including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants Food Equipment, supplies or people needed to establish or manage temporary housing, quarantine or isolation facilities People designated by federal, state…

(April 8, 2020 10:54 AM) The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was passed by Congress are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now. When implemented, there will be many new resources available for small businesses, as well as certain nonprofits and other employers. The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship has released a guide that provides information about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available from the Small Business Administration (SBA).  The programs that address these needs,  as well as some additional tax provisions that are outside the scope of SBA are outlined in the guide. To keep up to date on when these programs become available, please stay in contact with your local Small Business Administration (SBA) District Office:  477 Michigan Ave. suite 1819 Detroit, MI 48226.  313-226-6075.  Visit website email: Michigan@sba.gov Download guide here.

(April 8, 2020 10:15 AM) The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is adding staff and hours to better serve an unprecedented increase in customers filing unemployment claims as a result of COVID-19. The UIA has extended call center hours by an hour every day 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and it remains open from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday.  Customers in the call center and online chat queues before closing time will have their calls or chats resolved that day. The UIA continues to increase call center resources and has nearly quadrupled staffing levels over the last several weeks. Normal staffing levels are around 130 employees. By March 30, approximately 300 staff were answering calls and by the end of this week an estimated 500 employees will be dedicated to the call center. Hundreds of additional staff will be added to the call center in the coming weeks. “Thank you to Michigan’s working families for their patience as the UIA continues to provide emergency financial assistance during this unprecedent increase in unemployment claims,” said Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Jeff Donofrio. “We continue to ramp up our services to make sure every eligible Michigander receives…

(April 8, 2020 7:29 AM) As the school year abruptly comes to a halt for teenagers around the country, many may be mourning the loss of missed milestones. It means no end-of-year goodbyes or celebrations with classmates and teachers. No prom. No last debut in a school musical or baseball game. And for high school seniors, the pandemic may dash hopes of walking across the stage at graduation. Many families are experiencing social distancing blues – but it may be a particularly difficult transition for adolescents and teens who are redefining social lives and foregoing rites of passage. “We all remember how important our friends were when we were 14, 15 and 16. Those shared experiences with peers were memorable parts of growing up,” says Terrill Bravender, M.D., M.P.H. chief of adolescent medicine at Michigan Medicine C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. “This is a stage in life when social connections and experiences are a healthy and critical part of development. Not being able to see friends, go to school events, play sports, all of this can cause sadness and major disappointment.” Parents may struggle with the best way to manage teens’ reactions to the premature ending to the school year. Bravender offers his top advice for…

(April 7, 2020 6:56 PM) Michigan U.S. Senator Gary Peters today announced a proposal for the “COVID-19 Heroes Fund,” to provide pandemic premium pay to reward, retain and recruit essential workers. Peters’ proposal consists of two major components: a $25,000 premium pay increase for essential healthcare workers, which would equate to a raise of $13 per hour from the start of the public health emergency until December 31, 2020 and a $15,000 essential worker recruitment incentive to attract and secure the workforce needed in Michigan and across the country to fight this public health crisis. The “Heroes Fund” would fully federally-fund the premium pay and recruitment and retention incentive to help support frontline workers, including health care professionals, workers at grocery stores, home care workers, first responders, pharmacists, postal workers and other essential workers. Sen. Peters is the Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “So many people are working hard and performing essential duties to help our communities confront this pandemic, and they deserve to be compensated for their dedication,” said Senator Peters. “Whether it’s health care providers and food supply workers in the private sector, or postal workers and security professionals in the public…