Here is the latest information on the coronavirus in Michigan, including the number of cases state offices report and other updates affecting West Michigan.
Monday's cases
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 773 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total to 51,915. This uptick is due to enhanced testing within the Michigan Department of Corrections, which accounts for 513 of the day's cases.
There were 24 deaths recorded, bringing the total to 4,915.
The Michigan Department of Corrections reports 3,051 cases and 57 deaths. The state is working to test every prison in the Upper Peninsula, and it is working to expand testing at facilities across the Lower Peninsula. To date, they've tested 31,731 inmates.
The state reports a continual decline in the number of hospitalizations. There are now 1,075 COVID-19 patients within Michigan hospitals, with 418 on ventilators and 473 in critical care.
The latest data on testing is from Friday, May 15, and it shows that nearly 20,000 people were tested with a 7% positivity rate. Whitmer said the state aims to be testing 30,000 people a day by mid-June.
Michigan started reporting the number of cases at long term care facilities. That data can be seen here.
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 latest data on recoveries is from Friday, May 15. It shows that 28,234 people have recovered from the virus. The state updates this data every Saturday. A recovery is counted as anyone who is 30 days out from the onset of their symptoms.
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."
Whitmer signs order expanding worker protections as in-person work gradually resume
Whitmer signs order expanding worker protections as in-person work gradually resumes
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed two new executive orders Monday to expand safety measures and protections for Michigan workers as parts of the economy start opening back up.
Executive order 2020-91, “Safeguards to protect Michigan’s workers from COVID-19,” provides in-depth safety guidelines to protect workers, communities and patrons. The order requires all businesses to adhere to these guidelines.
Retail businesses in northern Michigan, U.P. can reopen
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced that retail businesses in much of northern Michigan, including restaurants and bars, can reopen starting Friday.
The bars and restaurants will have to limit their capacity to 50%. Groups will be required to stay 6 feet apart and servers will wear face coverings.
“This is a big step, but we must all remember to continue doing our part to protect ourselves and our families from the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Whitmer. “It’s crucial that all businesses do everything in their power to protect their workers, customers, and their families"
Protesters gathering in Grand Rapids Monday
Monday at 5:00, protesters are expected to gather in downtown Grand Rapids, in objection to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's stay at home order.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Monday's demonstrations will include Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf as a speaker.
Recently, Sheriff Dar Leaf appeared on FOX News, where he referred to the stay at home order as: unconstitutional.
Michigan receives federal funding for families struggling to pay energy bills
More than $35 million in additional federal funding has been awarded to the state of Michigan to help struggling households pay utility bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is releasing $900 million in supplemental funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) this federal fiscal year, $35,130,421 of which is Michigan’s share.
Sunday's cases
Sunday the state reported 638 new cases of COVID-19 and 11 new deaths from the virus. There are now 4,891 deaths and 51,142 cases of coronavirus.
The state saw a massive spike in cases on Thursday as they got backlogged results and saw increased testing at correctional facilities in the state.
The latest data on recoveries is from Friday, May 15. It shows that 28,234 people have recovered from the virus. The state updates this data every Saturday. A recovery is counted as anyone who is 30 days out from the onset of their symptoms.
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."
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