Whitmer vows to extend statewide business lockdown

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THURSDAY, April 23 — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced yesterday that an extension to the statewide “Stay Safe, Stay Home” executive mandate is imminent, but she also hinted at plans to gradually reopen the economy “in phases,” with more details expected tomorrow. 

Whitmer’s current order — limiting travel and prohibiting nonessential businesses from opening — formally expires a week from today. Many Republicans, including some moderates and other far-right extremists, have called for sectors of the economy to reopen immediately. 

More than a million Michiganders have filed for unemployment as businesses cling to loans, grants and other assistance to get by during the pandemic. And while Whitmer has been sympathetic to the backlash, she warned that easing up restrictions too early could be fatal. 

“We are going to have to look at the process of re-engaging sectors of our economy. There will be an extension of some sort,” Whitmer said. “We see these signs and perhaps we can start taking some small steps forward, but now is an appropriate time to reassess the breadth of the current stay-at-home order and assess the scope of what the next one might look like." 

Michigan tracked a 15% reduction in virus-related hospitalizations over the last 10 days, but aggressive measures still need to be taken to prevent a second wave of cases across the state, Whitmer explained. Only a limited array of businesses are expected to reopen quickly. 

Whitmer is expected to provide more details on Friday afternoon, but she spoke this week about plans to implement new requirements based on access to protective gear, whether the work is indoors or outdoors and how those operations interface with the general public. 

Bars, tattoo shops, gyms, bowling alleys and barbershops will be among the last to open, according to reports in the Detroit Free Press. And they won’t open without strict guidelines. 

In Lansing… 

Despite rumors of a larger demonstration, only a few protesters were spotted outside the Michigan State Capitol yesterday afternoon. None carried signs,. only an American Flag, some guns, ammunition and some camouflage. Their intended message was unclear. 

The Office and Professional Employees International Union, Local 459 called for salaries at McLaren’s corporate offices to be capped at $1 million yesterday while its lower-tier, frontline employees continue to face furloughs and the potential for widespread layoffs on the horizon. The union represents at least 1,100 health-care workers in the Lansing area. 

The call for change arrived as hospital systems in southeast Michigan and across the state furlough and layoff their employees amid a national reduction in non-essential procedures. The CEO of Beaumont Health System took a 70% pay cut, reports the Detroit Free Press. 

A patient from Mason was upset after officials at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing told him to get a ride home in an Uber following COVID-19 treatment, reports the Lansing State Journal. 

And according to the Lansing State Journal, a Michigan State University researcher has developed a new, rapid, 5-7 minute COVID-19 test but is still seeking federal approval. 

Across Michigan… 

Whitmer also announced that thousands of employees across all sectors of state government will be temporarily laid off for at least 10 days. The Detroit News reports that layoff notices were sent to a total of more than 2,900 employees to save about $5 million. 

Those personnel will retain their insurance benefits and be automatically enrolled in the state’s unemployment system. But the state will need to do some more budgetary maneuvering in the wake of a $3 billion shortfall because of the virus-induced shutdown. 

Additionally, Whitmer took a 10% pay cut through the end of the fiscal year and encouraged her senior-level staff to take at least a 5% pay cut during the pandemic. Attorney General Dana Nessel has since laid off about 25% of her staff and also slashed her own paycheck. 

Whitmer is also calling on residents to get tested for COVID-19 in order to help the state better understand the scope of the pandemic in Michigan. She urges anyone who has flu-like symptoms — like fever, cough, and shortness of breath — to be tested immediately. 

Under expanded state guidelines, those with symptoms can be tested without doctor’s orders. All critical infrastructure workers, including first responders and health care personnel, are also encouraged to get tested for the coronavirus as soon as possible. 

In Greater Lansing, at least three testing sites are available:  

• Michigan State University Health Care — 804 Service Rd. in East Lansing  

(855) 958-2678  

MSU Health Care is testing in Parking Lot 100, east of the Radiology Building at the Clinical Center and requires a driver’s license and a doctor’s order. Residents do not need to call ahead for an appointment. No payment or insurance coverage is necessary.  

• Forest Community Health Center — 2316 S. Cedar St. in Lansing 

(517) 887-4516  

Testing is available on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. Those seeking a COVID-19 test must first be screened by calling the Ingham Community Health Center hotline.   

• Sparrow St. Lawrence Campus — 1210 W. Saginaw St. in Lansing  

(877) 205-1300  

Patients with flu-like symptoms can call Sparrow Health System at (877) 205-1300 to set up an appointment for a COVID-19 test. Call 517-364-1000 for general questions  

Click here to search for another testing site in Michigan. 

And the numbers … 

Ingham County tracked its seventh and eighth coronavirus-related deaths yesterday as the number of COVID-19 deaths climbed by more than 100 to over 2,800 statewide. A total of 19 virus-related deaths have now been reported across the Greater Lansing region to date. 

About two dozen new cases were also confirmed across the tri-county area yesterday, upping the regional total to 560 as the number of statewide cases climbed to nearly 34,000. 

Here are the latest statistics for Greater Lansing, Michigan and the country:           

Ingham County                     

Cases — 352   

Recoveries — 108          

Recovery Rate — 30.7%      

Deaths — 8     

Fatality Rate — 2.3%            

At least 71-75 cases are in southwest Lansing in zip code 48911. Much of the rest of south Lansing, Mason, East Lansing, Meridian and Bath townships each tally 36-45 cases in zip codes 48910, 48823 and 48854. Zip codes 48864 and 48906 each track 26-30 cases. Zip codes 48842, 48912 and 48915 each track 11-25 cases. Zip codes 48840, 48895, 48917, 48819, 48827, 48892, 48909, 48933, 49251, 49624 and 4925 each track 10 cases or less.  

Eaton County                     

Cases — 105      

Recoveries — 60         

Recovery Rate — 57.1%       

Deaths — 5              

Fatality Rate — 4.8%          

Clinton County                     

Cases — 105      

Deaths — 7         

Fatality Rate — 6.7%                     

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

Michigan                     

Cases — 33,966 (+3%)  

Recoveries — 3,237 (as of 4/17/20)       

Recovery Rate — 9.5%     

Deaths — 2,813 (+4.2%)    

Fatality Rate — 8.3%       

State reports show about 76% of cases (and about 83% of deaths) are from Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, including Detroit. Data also shows African Americans accounted for 33% of cases and 40% of deaths. Caucasians accounted for 31% of cases and 44% of deaths; those of an unknown race charted 22% of cases and 11% of deaths.             

At least 655 cases and 25 deaths are among Michigan Department of Corrections inmates.               

U.S.                   

Cases — 846,982 

Deaths — 46,609   

Fatality Rate — 5.5%      

Source: CNN              

Michigan has the seventh most cases in the country, behind New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Michigan ranks third in most virus-related deaths behind New York and New Jersey.