GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Here is the latest information on the coronavirus in Michigan, including the number of cases state officials report and other updates affecting West Michigan.
Wednesday's cases
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 1,137 new cases and 103 more deaths on April 29.
The statewide total is now 40,399 cases and 3,670 deaths, according to MDHHS data.
Ninety new cases were reported in Kent County where health officials say expanded testing is leading to an overall increase. The county now has a total of 1,395 cases.
Michigan Dept. of Corrections is reporting 1,264 cases and 41 deaths. The department is conducting mass testing as certain facilities to help curb further spread. Last week, all inmates at Lakeland Correctional Facility were tested and this week all inmates at the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility are being tested. The Federal Corrections Institution is reporting 86 cases and 1 death.
The state health department is updating the number of recoveries on Saturdays. Current data shows that 8,342 people have recovered from the virus in Michigan. This is an increase of about 5,000 from last Saturday. A recovery is counted as a confirmed COVID-19 patient who is 30 days out from the onset of their symptoms.
Michigan's case fatality rate is 9%, but health officials say this will likely decline as testing of people with mild symptoms becomes more widely available.
The state emphasizes that the report of cumulative data is "provisional and subject to change. As public health investigations of individual cases continue, there will be corrections to the status and details of referred cases that result in changes to this report." The state is also no longer reporting new cases by county.
Court sides with Whitmer in lawsuit alleging stay-at-home order infringes on constitutional rights
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says the Michigan Court of Claims has sided with the governor and denied a motion for a preliminary injunction.
Court of Claims Judge Christopher M. Murray wrote in his opinion that the rights are fundamental, but that those liberties are subject to society's interests.
"They – our fellow residents – have an interest to remain unharmed by a highly communicable and deadly virus, and since the state entered the Union in 1837, it has had the broad power to act for the public health of the entire state when faced with a public crisis," the opinion reads.
“I am pleased with the court’s decision,” Nessel said. “This pandemic has already taken more than 3,600 lives in Michigan and many more around the world. The primary goal of the Stay Home, Stay Safe order has always been to protect human life.”
Whitmer announces free college program for front-line workers
Essential workers will be eligible for tuition-free post-secondary education for their service during the pandemic. The governor said this is a first of its kind plan modeled after the federal government's GI Bill program for soldiers post-World War II.
$130 million invested in making child care more accessible during pandemic
The governor announced Wednesday the creation of a “Child Care Relief Fund” to provide direct, non-competitive grants to child care providers.
Per the governor's office, the funds are meant to help with the following:
- Child care providers currently serving essential workers remain open, and costs associated with providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic are not passed on to essential workers.
- Child care providers can stay afloat during the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” state of emergency.
- Child care is more affordable to families now, and as our economy begins to reopen.
- Child care providers across the state have the resources needed to reopen for Michigan’s workforce when the recovery process of the current COVID-19 pandemic begins and more families are in need of child care options.
The funding is a combination of $100 million in federal dollars and $30 million from the state's child care fund. Grant recipients must agree to drop weekly rates by 10%.
Beginning April 29, there will be a simple online application for child care providers to use at www.michigan.gov/childcare.
Small protest leads to removal with force by Michigan House sergeants
A small group of protesters chanted "open Michigan now" from the gallery of the Michigan House of Representatives before being removed on Wednesday, according to WLNS.
According to Michigan State Police, three protesters entered the House of Representatives gallery around 10:15 a.m. MSP says House of Representatives sergeants asked them to leave due to the gallery being closed, however, the three people remained in the gallery.
Whitmer expected to issue order allowing construction work to begin
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office confirmed Wednesday that the governor intends on allowing the construction industry to get back to work starting next week.
Senate wants elective medical procedures to be permitted
Republicans who control the Michigan Senate are urging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to lift her five-week-old ban on nonessential medical and dental procedures, saying the decision to resume should be left to hospitals and health providers.
Tuesday's resolution is the latest move by Republicans pushing the Democrat to ease restrictions she adopted to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
5 Michigan businesses suing Whitmer, claiming executive orders violate constitutional rights
Five different businesses in Michigan have come together to sue Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Robert Gordon, according to WXYZ in Detroit.
The lawsuit claims the executive orders that the governor has put into place during the coronavirus pandemic have "violated the constitutional rights of several businesses." WXYZ said the lawyers for the plantiff's announced the lawsuit on Tuesday.
Tuesday's cases
In the daily update Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 1,052 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases up to 39,262 in the state.
The state also recorded 160 deaths Tuesday, which included 40 deaths from a review of death certificate data.The death toll has reached 3,567.
State recommendations for COVID-19
Patients with confirmed infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
The best prevention for viruses, such as influenza, the common cold or COVID-19 is to:
- If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, call your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call the nearest hospital.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- If you are sick, stay home, and avoid contact with others.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others when in a public setting.
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