x
Breaking News
More () »

Coronavirus updates, May 7: Whitmer extends stay at home order; state reports over 4,300 deaths

Here are the live updates on coronavirus for Thursday, May 7.
Credit: WZZM/CDC

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Here is the latest information on the coronavirus in Michigan, including the number of cases state offices report and other updates affecting West Michigan. 

As of Thursday the state is reporting at total of 45,646 cases and 4,343 deaths. There are 592 new cases of the virus and 93 new deaths. 

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.

See cumulative data here.

Whitmer extends stay at home order, reopens manufacturing 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed another executive order to extend Michigan’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order to May 28.

The governor’s order will allow manufacturing workers, including those at Michigan’s Big 3 auto companies, to resume work on Monday, May 11. 

Read more here. 

Whitmer reveals six-phase plan to reopen the state 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer detailed the six phases of her MI Safe Start Plan to re-engage Michigan’s economy.

he governor said the state is currently in phase three.

The phases of the pandemic are: Uncontrolled growth, persistent spread, flattening, improving, containing and post-pandemic . 

Read the full story here.   

Construction work starts back up

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order last week which allows construction and other jobs with a low risk of infection to resume work on Thursday, May 7.

This comes as a huge sigh of relief for construction companies across the state. But, it also means learning a new way of doing things.  The state is requiring construction sites to adopt a set of best practices to protect their workers from infection.

Read more here.

69K file for Michigan unemployment

Nearly 69,000 people filed initial claims for unemployment last week, bringing Michigan’s seven-week total in the coronavirus pandemic to more than 1.3 million.

Read more here.

Wednesday's cases

In a Wednesday update, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 45,054 total cases of COVID-19 in the state and 4,250 deaths.

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.

More stories on 13 ON YOUR SIDE:

Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.

Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Before You Leave, Check This Out