Health

(March 17, 2020 11:02 AM)  City of Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today declared a local State of Emergency within the City of Jackson. The Mayor’s statement: “The City of Jackson recognizes the threat to public health caused by the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. The City understands that in the coming weeks it will make difficult but necessary choices to protect the health of all residents and visitors, with special attention to its most vulnerable residents including our elderly, people with pre-existing health conditions, and those that live at or below the poverty line. “Over the past several weeks, city administration has continuously reviewed the City's response plan in relation to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, including the bold, preventative measures announced by the city in the past few days. The City has also engaged with nonprofit leaders in the beginnings of organizing a community response structure. “It has become overwhelmingly obvious that our preparations and response will require a more formal incident command structure to direct the City resources necessary to protect the health and safety of our residents. Local resources will be utilized to the fullest extent possible, but we recognize the extent to which the threat may overwhelm those resources…

Henry Ford Allegiance Health and the MyCare Advice Line are experiencing a large volume of phone calls for COVID-19 screening.Screening is by appointment only and please wait  until noon today to begin calling the Henry Ford MyCare Advice Line (313-874-7500).   (March 17, 2020 10:55 AM) Among the first in the State to open its drive-through COVID-19 screening center, Henry Ford Allegiance Health reports screening 386 individuals in its first three days of operation. “Our team was simply incredible,” said Courtland Keteyian, MD, Vice President of Population Health at Henry Ford Allegiance Health. “We had less than 24 hours to build the screening center from the ground up, and our team members worked around the clock to make the impossible happen.” In a White House news conference on Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump announced retailers like Walmart, Target and CVS would begin opening their own screening centers to test individuals for COVID-19.  “While we welcome large retailers to begin offering testing as a way of easing the burden for health care providers like us, we knew we could not wait to make this crucial screening service available to our patients and community members,” said Paula Autry, President and CEO of Henry…

Empty shelves in the paper goods and toilet paper aisle at the East Michigan Avenue Jackson Meijer store this weekend.  JTV Photo. (UPDATED March 16, 2020 11:05 PM)  Supermarkets in the Jackson area have been extremely busy this weekend and Monday.  All area major stores are making adjustments to keep up with demand and to ensure customer and employee safety. Jackson based Polly’s Market and Polly’s Country Market is eliminating the salad bar and removing any un-packaged goods that can’t be washed by the consumer.  Donuts and bakery items will be pre-packaged and items like the olive bar and bulk foods will be temporarily unavailable.  The fresh produce departments are fully stocked and remain open. Items in the produce department can be washed at home by the consumer and will continue to be fully available.     Todd Kennedy, Operations Manager and Meat Department Director for Polly’s told JTV today, “We have been extremely busy and our teams are operating 24 hours to keep up.  We have all trucks coming in from all suppliers and our warehouses are full.  We have no shortages due to supplier issues”.  Any shortages in stores currently are due to high customer demand.  “We are…

March 16, 2020 9:18 PM Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-12, temporarily lifting weight and other delivery-related restrictions for vehicles carrying essential supplies to mitigate the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The executive order is effective immediately and extends until Monday, April 13 at 11:59pm.   Under the governor’s executive order, all state and local seasonal load restrictions are suspended for deliveries that meet immediate needs for: medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19; supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and the prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap, and disinfectants; food for the emergency restocking of stores; equipment, supplies, and people necessary to establish and manage temporary housing, quarantine, and isolation facilities related to the COVID-19 emergency; people designated by federal, state, or local authorities for medical, isolation, or quarantine purposes; and people necessary to provide other medical or emergency services, the supply of which may be affected by the COVID-19 emergency.  “This is a crisis unlike any we’ve dealt with before, and we must do everything we can to ensure our communities have the resources they need to get through it as safely as…

(March 16, 2020 8:03 PM) Due to the continuing spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States, LifeWays has focused significant efforts on sustaining our mission of providing outstanding behavioral health services while ensuring the safety of both consumers and staff. LifeWays will be moving to Tier-3 level of preparedness as of March 17, 2020. This means LifeWays will only offer the following essential services and utilize telehealth where possible. As always, please continue to use our 24/7 Access Crisis Line at 1 (800) 284-8288. Essential services will occur at both locations: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday Medical Services will continue to provide urgent injections and post-hospital services. Genoa Healthcare (1200 N W Ave #500, Jackson, MI 49202) and Segue, Inc. (212 E. Biddle St. Jackson, MI 49203 and 3200 W. Carleton Rd. Hillsdale, MI 49242) are backups for injections. Crisis Residential and the Respite Center will remain open. Medication Delivery, Community Living Supports, and Residential will continue with current plans for balancing necessary face-to-face services with telehealth.  Home-based providers will utilize telehealth whenever possible and use face-to-face services only as a last resort. Non-Essential Services by phone or telehealth. Brief screens and intake assessments will…

(March 16, 2020 7:03PM) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and per guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Jackson College will postpone all upcoming scheduled events until further notice, including commencement. “We realize this is disappointing and may cause inconveniences,” said Cindy Allen, vice president for talent and administration. At this point, the College is only postponing events, with the hope of rescheduling them whenever possible once this unprecedented threat has passed and restrictions are lifted, she said. Cancellations include: ·         All athletic games and events (with the exception of eSports matches that will continue remotely) ·         Charlotte’s Web, March 20 ·         Jackson Symphony Orchestra Concert, March 21 ·         Late Nite Catechism, March 22 ·         JACC Cosmetology, March 24 ·         Community Easter Egg Hunt, April 11 ·         Le Cirque Esprit, April 18 ·         Jackson Community Concert Band, April 19 ·         Kente Ceremony, April 23 ·         Nurse Pinning Ceremony, April 23 ·         Jackson Symphony Orchestra Concert, April 25 ·         Fraternal Order of Police Country Concert, April 26 ·         Student Excellence Awards Ceremony, May 1 ·         Jackson College Commencement Ceremonies, May 2 ·         Hanover Horton Band Concert, May 3 ·         Convocation, May 8 ·         Oak Ridge Boys, May 8 For continuing updates, please check the website at www.jccmi.edu/COVID-19.

Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-11, to prohibit all events over 50 people or assemblages in shared indoor spaces over 50 people beginning Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00am.  Executive Order 2020-11 changes the temporary restrictions imposed on events and assemblages by Executive Order 2020-5, to correspond with the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When the new restrictions go into effect, Executive Order 2020-5 will be rescinded. This order does not change the scope of restrictions imposed by Executive Order 2020-5 as to the closure of elementary school buildings and secondary school buildings. The new restrictions on events and assemblages go into effect on March 17, 2020 at 9:00am, and will remain in place, like the school closure restrictions, until April 5, 2020 at 5:00pm.  This order provides an exception from its prohibition on assemblages for health care facilities, workplaces not open to the public, the state legislature, mass transit, the purchase of groceries or consumer goods, and the performance of agricultural or construction work.  “My number one priority remains to protect the most people we can from the spread of coronavirus,” said Governor Whitmer. “We are all better off when all of us…

As of tomorrow, March 17, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will begin reporting COVID-19 case numbers at a new time with new metrics. In a daily web update at 2 p.m., the department will provide statewide numbers for: Cases and deaths broken down by county Cases by age range (in 10-year increments) Cases by sex The afternoon web update will include all information reported through midnight the previous day. As of 2 p.m. today, one additional individual tested positive for COVID-19, an adult female from Macomb County with history of domestic travel. No additional announcements on case counts will be made tonight. “It is important to provide the public with accurate data regarding this outbreak,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “As the number of people tested has drastically increased in recent days, our team has transitioned the way it prioritizes and reports testing.” As new counties get cases of COVID-19 and more labs begin testing for the virus, the epidemiologists who track statewide data are gathering and analyzing information from many sources. They must work closely with local health departments and labs to make sure statewide data is accurate…

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today extended the hours of operation for her Consumer Protection intake team as the number of price-gouging complaints received by her office surges to more than 240 during the state’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Phonelines will be open until 11 p.m. today and Tuesday. The extended hours will be evaluated on a daily basis and continued if necessary to meet demands. (Note: The consumer tip line is generally open between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.) As of 1 p.m. Friday, the Attorney General’s office had received 75 price-gouging complaints related to COVID-19 that were submitted electronically. That number had increased to 181 as of 4 p.m. today. Between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. today, the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection team had received 60 complaints via phone. “I will not allow consumers to be taken advantage of during a public emergency,” Nessel said. “I encourage consumers to continue filing complaints with my office so that we can properly investigate these complaints and determine what legal action must be taken.” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order Sunday to specifically address price-gouging related to COVID-19. That order states the following: No one who…

Drive Thru Service to Continue CP Federal Credit Union is modifying hours and lobby services at various locations effective today.  In a letter to members, CP Federal Credit Union said: In order to continue following safety precautions recommended by authorities for disease control within our branches, we will be temporarily adjusting branch operations, including closing some branches. This will be effective immediately, and until further notice.  Temporary Branch Closings & Hours Drive-Thru  (Normal Drive-Thru Hours)Locations & HoursPhone Appointments Schedule by calling 517.784.7101 or 800.554.7101 Main Office - 1100 Clinton Rd., Jackson, MI 49201 Spring Arbor Road - 2055 Spring Arbor Rd., Jackson, MI 49203 Polly’s Country Market - 1210 W. Parnall Rd., Jackson, MI 49201 Grass Lake - 670 E. Michigan Ave., Grass Lake, MI 49240 Brooklyn - 131 S. Main St., Brooklyn, MI 49230 Mason - 103 E. Kipp Road, Mason, MI 48854 By Appointment Only Schedule by calling 517.784.7101 or 800.554.7101 Locations & Hours Saline - 559 E. Michigan Ave., Saline, MI 48176 (in the Saline Shopping Center) Temporarily Closed Please see alternative locations and remote options for access Locations & Hours Downtown - 165 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson, MI 49201 One Energy Plaza - Inside Consumer’s Energy Parma - 121 Main St., Parma, MI 49269 Service Availability For a full list of the services that…