Coronavirus curve continues to flatten statewide

(This story was updated at 4:16 p.m.)

SATURDAY, April 18 —The state reported 768 new coronavirus cases and 81 more deaths yesterday, continuing the flattening of the curve statewide.

That brings the total number of reported cases to 30,791.

The latest reported statewide death count stood at 2,308.

Greater Lansing tracked more than 20 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the regional total to 488 confirmed cases with at least 17 related deaths.

Here are the latest case and death statistics across Greater Lansing, Michigan and the country:              

Ingham County              

Cases — 298

Recoveries — 85    

Deaths — 6

Fatality Rate — 2%     

Most Ingham County cases, 51-55 of them, were tracked in Lansing in zip code 48911. Much of the rest of southwest Lansing, Mason, East Lansing, Meridian and Bath townships tallied 26-40 cases in zip codes 48910, 48823, 48854 and 48864. Zip codes 48912, 48842 and 48906 tracked between 16-20 cases. Zip code 488915 tracked 11-15 cases. Zip codes 48840, 48895, 48917, 48819, 48827, 28892, 48909, 48933, 49251, 49264 and 49285 tracked 10 cases or less.   

Eaton County              

Cases — 87

Recoveries — 51    

Deaths — 5       

Fatality Rate — 5.7%   

Clinton County              

Cases — 103

Deaths — 6  

Fatality Rate — 5.8%              

Officials at the Mid-Michigan County Health Department do not report recovery statistics.  

Four residents at Gunnisonville Meadows Senior Assisted Living in Dewitt have died from the COVID-19, with 17 residents and two staff members also testing positive for the virus, health department officials reported this week. Those with the virus or symptoms are in self-quarantine.

Michigan               

Cases — 30,791 (+2.6%)            

Deaths — 2,308 (+6.4%)      

According to state reports, about 78% of cases (and about 83% of those dead) are from Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, including the city of Detroit. Data also shows African Americans accounted for 33% of cases and 40% of deaths. Caucasians accounted for 29% of cases and 41% of deaths; those of unknown race charted 27% of cases and 13% of deaths.      

At least 515 cases and 15 deaths are among Michigan Department of Corrections inmates.        

U.S.            

Cases — 717,825 

Deaths — 34,022

Fatality Rate — 4.7%

Source:The New York Times

Michigan is the state with the fourth most confirmed cases in the country, behind New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Michigan also reports the third most virus deaths in the U.S.    

In Lansing … 

The city of Lansing will resume yard waste collection in two phases following the latest executive order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which now allows for waste to be collected. Drop-off service will be available through April and curbside collection begins in May.

Until then, bagged and bundled yard waste can be dropped off at Hammond Farms, at 5834 Michigan Road in Dimondale, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 21, 23, 25, 28 and 30. Visit lansingmi.gov/yardwaste or call 517-483-4400 with questions or for any additional information.

Dart Container Corp. in Mason will donate 5,000 to 10,000 plastic face shields to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing over the next couple of weeks as an extra precaution for nurses during the pandemic. Hundreds of face shields have already been donated and distributed to caregivers.

This week’s protest caused delays for nurses and doctors at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, with some workers delayed in making their shifts, prompting other employees to stay longer after shift change, reports the Detroit News. Otherwise, the main campus was reportedly accessible. 

The Lansing State Journal reports there were otherwise no major delays across the city.

Still, hundreds of demonstrators left their cars, refused to socially distance and clearly violated state orders. In response, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor announced yesterday that additional precautions will be taken for future demonstrations. Read more about the plans from City Pulse.

Meanwhile, as protesters contemplate further demonstrations in Lansing next week, President Trump sent an encouraging tweet yesterday: “LIBERATE MICHIGAN” from Whitmer’s emergency order. The New York Times reports today that Whitmer has become a favorite target of Fox News commentators, including Tucker Carlson, who described her as “authoritarian” and wished for her to lose her job “because she certainly deserves it.”

The Times also examined Whitmer’s growing national attention and whether she will end up as presumed Democratic nominee Joseph Biden’s VP choice. 

And Buzzfeed looks at Michigan’s influence on spreading protests in state capitals, including Austin, Texas, and Annapolis, Maryland, today. 

A poll shows that most Americans disagree with the protesters, The Detroit News reports. 

Like other colleges in Michigan, Michigan State University will also keep its tuition flat for the 2020-21 academic year, officials announced yesterday. MSU President Samuel Stanley Jr. said the goal was to “ensure students can stay in our Spartan family,” even in tough financial times.

MSU researchers are developing a more accurate COVID-19 test but have been unable to put the new technology to use without federal authorization, reports the Lansing State Journal.

The Lansing State Journal reports that a 49-bed temporary homeless shelter is open at the Gier Community Center in Lansing. With shelters at capacity, officials said up to 40 people are still living in a makeshift outdoor camp in the city, though many are moving to the community center.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin will host a telephone town hall on coronavirus at noon Monday, April 20. Anyone can sign up online and ask questions to Slotkin. Click here for details.

Rite-Aid will open three self-swab testing sites in Michigan Monday, including one in Eaton Rapids, at 715 S. Main St. For more information, see www.riteaide.com.

Across Michigan… 

On top of Trump’s attacks, Whitmer is facing an increasing number of lawsuits filed by Michiganians who think she has exceeded her authority, the Detroit Free Press reports today. Whitmer said yesterday that she hopes to relax the state’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order when it expires on May 1. She said the economy will open in phases, with low-risk sectors returning to work first — possibly on a region-by-region basis, reports the Detroit Free Press.

Whitmer announced yesterday a new website — Stay Home, Stay MIndful — to serve as a free mental health resource for Michiganders during the pandemic. Residents can now access specially curated collections of science-backed meditations and at-home mindfulness exercises.

“This virus has taken a toll on Michiganders’ physical and mental health,” Whitmer said in a release. “It is so important to take the time to check in and take care of yourself. Michiganders are tough, but having access to tools like this one will help us all get through this together.”

Michigan also recently opened a mental health warmline that connects residents living with persistent mental health conditions to certified peer support specialists at 888-PEER-753.

Whitmer signed an executive order yesterday extending previous mandates that suspended evictions and enhanced restrictions on price gouging. The orders protect tenants and mobile home owners from evictions amid the pandemic, even if unable to stay current on their rent.

The other order places restrictions on excessive pricing of goods, materials, emergency supplies and consumer food items. Extended restrictions remain in effect until at least May 15.

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs launched a new program yesterday that will eventually provide at least $502,400 in one-time grants to eligible nonprofit arts and culture organizations that have been negatively impacted as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Funding can be used for salary support, fees for artists and facility costs, like rent and utilities. Maximum requests are $5,000; No match requirement exists. Visit michigan.gov/arts for details.

Bar and restaurant owners now have an additional week — until at least 5 p.m. on Friday, April 24 — to request a booze buyback from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. At least 6,000 on-premise license holders are eligible to participate in the program through michigan.gov/lcc.

Whitmer signed another executive order yesterday suspending requirements for in-person examinations and renewals of pesticide certifications until after the emergency declaration has been lifted, extending the validity of three-year certifications that otherwise expired in December.

State officials also clarified yesterday that all federal stimulus checks to noncustodial parents who owe child support will instead be directed toward custodial parents and their children.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency is directing claimants who need to certify next week to avoid doing so on Monday, April 2,0 and instead wait to certify throughout the week and during off-peak hours. Mondays usually have the highest number of logins and web interactions.

About $825 million in unemployment benefits have already been paid to more than 750,000 claimants affected by COVID-19 and those numbers have been increasing every day this week. Federal statistics show that more than 99% of eligible claimants are currently receiving benefits.

Michigan could’ve already entered a recession, despite the lack of formal status, MLive reports.

Whitmer also said state regulators are investigating a report of bodies that were stored in vacant hospital rooms at the Detroit Medical Center’s Sinai-Grace hospital, reports the Detroit News. The bodies were shown in photos shared with CNN; Whitmer was asked about it yesterday.

Meanwhile, Oakland County officials are considering ice arenas to store bodies as a last resort after recently bringing in two big refrigerated trucks for extra capacity, reports WXYZ Detroit.

The latest information is posted at michigan.gov/coronavirus and cdc.gov/coronavirus.              

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