Health

(March 19, 2020 9:21 AM) The Consumers Energy Foundation is supporting two statewide organizations with a $500,000 contribution to help enhance critical services for Michigan children, vulnerable seniors and those who may need assistance in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “For many, the coronavirus pandemic is more than just a disruption to daily life. Families with kids who are food insecure, the elderly and those who live paycheck to paycheck are especially vulnerable. With schools and businesses closed and many grocery store shelves left bare, local nonprofits are playing a critical role in helping those in need. Consumers Energy is privileged to provide additional support to these key organizations that will support numerous vital services to help those most affected,” said Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. The Food Bank Council of Michigan and the Michigan Association of United Ways will each receive $250,000, Hofmeister said. The Food Bank Council of Michigan will distribute its $250,000 contribution to its regional food bank network to fill gaps where schools are unable to provide food for children, vulnerable seniors and the anticipated growing need that will surface as more people cannot work due to COVID-19 but still need food…

(March 18, 2020 10:04 PM) Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-16 to expand the capacity for child care services for health care workers, first responders, and other members of the essential workforce providing critical infrastructure to Michiganders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The order provides temporary and limited relief from certain regulatory restrictions regarding child care services and facilitates the use of certain property for child care services.  Executive Order 2020-16, effective immediately, authorizes the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to issue expedited provisional licenses to expand capacity for child care services. It also allows employers, like hospitals, to operate a disaster relief child care center for their employees. Finally, it allows both public and nonpublic school facilities to be utilized for the purposes of maintaining a disaster relief child care center focused on providing services for members of the essential workforce.      “Our health care workers and everyone who’s providing emergency medical services are doing incredible work to help us fight COVID-19,” said Governor Whitmer. “That’s why I’m taking action to expand capacity for child care services for these critical frontline workers. By expanding our ability to care for our children, we are allowing them to continue working…

(March 18, 2020 7:55 PM) Governor Gretchen Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-14, extending the deadline for Michigan residents to pay back taxes and avoid foreclosure on their property during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  Executive Order 2020-14, which takes effect immediately, will move the tax foreclosure deadline from March 31, 2020, to May 29, 2020, or 30 days after the state of emergency declared in Executive Order 2020-4 is terminated, whichever comes first.  “This executive order will give families struggling to make ends meet real and immediate relief from the pressure of having their home foreclosed on while trying to focus on the health and safety of their loved ones,” Governor Whitmer said. “This order is the latest in a series of steps to protect the public, slow the spread of COVID-19 and give families comfort during these uncertain times.”  “We want all Michiganders to focus on staying healthy and making smart choices to help avoid the spread of COVID-19,” said Jeff Donofrio, director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “The last thing families and seniors should have to worry about during this global health pandemic is losing their home, which is why this commonsense executive order will give homeowners…

(March 18, 2020 6:44 PM) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today the call up of the Michigan Army National Guard to assist the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services with assembling and loading critical personal protective gear, such as gloves, gowns, and face shields. Once packaged, MDHHS will deliver the supplies to various local public health departments. “The Michigan National Guard has been involved with the COVID-19 response from a planning and coordination standpoint since the SEOC was stood up,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The men and women of the Michigan National Guard are part of the fabric of our communities and I am confident they are ready to support state and local agencies as this response continues.” “The members of the Michigan National Guard are experienced and proven professionals,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general.  “Our units frequently train and respond side-by-side with state and local emergency responders, making them well suited for domestic operations.  The National Guard has unique capabilities, providing local first responders with additional resources to combat COVID-19.” Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

(March 18, 2020 6:29 PM) Some Amtrak Midwest modifications due to reduced travel demand, are effective Thursday, March 19, in partnership with the Wisconsin, Michigan and Missouri state transportation departments: Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha corridor service reduced to four daily roundtrips. Friday evening Hiawatha Train 343 also temporarily suspended.  Chicago-Detroit-Pontiac Wolverine corridor service reduced to two daily roundtrips. (This is the line serving Jackson)   The two departures for Chicago are now at 7:56 AM and 11:58 AM. Chicago-Holland-Grand Rapids Pere Marquette daily roundtrips suspended. Amtrak Thruway Bus connections to and from Grand Rapids are available daily via Kalamazoo. No changes to Chicago-East Lansing-Port Huron Blue Water roundtrips or Kansas City-Jefferson City-St. Louis Missouri River Runner corridor services. Some Amtrak Thruway Bus routes will have service modifications. National messaging regarding COVID-19, including refund information, is posted at Amtrak.com/Corornavirus and in the Amtrak Media Center at media.Amtrak.com. Anyone planning to travel should check their train status on Amtrak.com or our smartphone apps prior to departing, allow extra time to get to the station and be extremely careful in stations and on platforms. To be notified of service disruptions, follow @AmtrakAlerts on Twitter. Subscribe to automated email or text message notifications if Amtrak trains are…

(March 18, 2020 5:30 PM) Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel took her first action today against an individual in Hillsdale selling high-priced products online through eBay as her department amps up efforts to pursue price-gougers.  Meanwhile, the number of price-gouging complaints related to coronavirus submitted to the Michigan Department of Attorney General continues to grow. Yesterday, the Attorney General sent a cease and desist letter to Menards after the Attorney General’s office received 18 complaints from consumers about face masks, bleach and other products being sold at high prices. Nessel’s office had received 572 price-gouging complaints as of 11 p.m. Tuesday. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection team has been gathering the complaints online and through its phonelines at 877-765-8388. Nessel says she personally staffed the hotline Tuesday night along with other intake workers. The phonelines are usually open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours were extended earlier this week to keep up with demand and will be extended again from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The number of price-gouging complaints received since Friday afternoon (75) has increased by 662 percent. “Our primary focus is consumer protection and ensuring that Michiganders have access to the goods they…

(Marcy 18, 2020 2:54 PM) A Beaumont Health patient, a male in his 50’s who tested positive for COVID-19 and had other underlying medical conditions, passed away early this morning at a Beaumont Hospital in Wayne County. “Our medical team went to extraordinary efforts to care for this patient and we are deeply saddened by his passing and empathize with his family,” Beaumont Health Chief Nursing Officer Susan Grant said. “Our physicians, nurses and medical staff are all working together to care for COVID-19 patients. During a time like this, we are united to battle this virus. Further, we must continue to serve and care for the non-COVID-19 needs of all patients whether they are giving birth, needing essential surgery or requiring lifesaving emergency procedures.” The information about the patient was released by Beaumont Health this afternoon.  State officials are expected to have further information, including comments from the Governor, later today.

(UPDATED March 18, 2020 10:19 PM) Today, General Motors Co. confirmed it will begin a systematic orderly suspension of manufacturing operations in North America due to market conditions, to deep clean facilities and continue to protect people. The suspension will last until at least March 30. Production status will be reevaluated week-to-week after that. Ford and Fiat Chrysler also announced they would begin closing plants as early as tomorrow.  All 3 companies have indicated the shutdown would last to at least March 30. “GM and the UAW have always put the health and safety of the people entering GM plants first, and we have agreed to a systematic, orderly suspension of production to aid in fighting COVID-19/coronavirus,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “We have been taking extraordinary precautions around the world to keep our plant environments safe and recent developments in North America make it clear this is the right thing to do now. I appreciate the teamwork of UAW President Rory Gamble, UAW Vice President Terry Dittes and local leadership as we take this unprecedented step.” “UAW members, their families and our communities will benefit from today’s announcement with the certainty that we are doing all that…