2020 coronavirus pandemic in Michigan
 | This article documents a current pandemic. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (March 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
 Counties colored in red have at least 1 confirmed case of COVID-19 as of March 17, 2020 | |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
|---|---|
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Michigan, U.S. |
| First case | March 10 |
| Confirmed cases | 65[1] |
This article details the viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which first appeared in the U.S. state of Michigan on March 10. As of March 17, at least 65 cases have been confirmed.[1] The national outbreak triggered a state of emergency response within the state on March 10, followed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer announcing the closure of all K–12 school buildings for three weeks, extending through April 5.[2][3] On March 16, Governor Whitmer later ordered bars, restaurants, entertainment venues, and other businesses to partially close for two weeks and later banned events and gatherings of more than 50 from March 17–April 5.[4][5] Additionally, major colleges and universities within the state switched instruction to alternate remote learning formats and canceled large social events and gatherings.[6][7] It also caused many corporations and businesses to alter capacity and operations in order to adapt to the progression of cases and many major collegiate and professional sports seasons were postponed or canceled.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
Timeline[edit]
The state's first two confirmed cases were reported on March 10, one each in Wayne and Oakland counties.[3] On March 11, the University of Michigan announced classes would be moving online for the rest of the year and large gatherings would be canceled.[15] Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Lawrence Technological University, Macomb Community College, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Oakland University, and Wayne State University also announced various extensions, postponements, and alterations to academic schedules and formats.[6]
On March 12, ten new presumptive-positive cases were announced, bringing the state's total to twelve cases.[16] Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools identified a middle-schooler in the district who had been exposed on March 7 to a case who tested positive on March 11. The student attended school in the district through March 11.[17] In response to the increase in cases, Whitmer announced the statewide closure of all K-12 school buildings, effective March 16 and extending through April 5.[18]
Thirteen presumptive-positive cases were announced on March 13, bringing the state's total to 25.[19] In addition, the University of Michigan announced all final exams would take place using alternative formats and commencement ceremonies would be canceled.[15] On March 14, eight additional cases were reported, for a total of 33 cases.[20] On March 15, the number of cases rose to 53, with an additional case reported the following day. On March 17, the number of cases rose to 65, after an additional 11 cases were confirmed.[1]
Government response[edit]
On February 3, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services activated its Community Health Emergency Coordination Center to manage the state government's response to coronavirus.[21] On February 28, the State Emergency Operations Center was activated by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to assist with coordination.[22] On March 3, the Governor created four COVID-19 Task Forces: State Operations, Health and Human Services, Education, and Economy/Workforce.[23] As of March 11, all campuses of the University of Michigan, Western Michigan University, Wayne State University, Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University, and Central Michigan University had various restrictions on students and faculty in response to the virus.[7][24][25]
On March 12, Governor Whitmer issued an order to have all K-12 schools closed beginning Monday, March 16.[2] On March 13, Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-05 which banned all gatherings of more than 250 people in addition to the closure of schools.[26] The ban makes exceptions for residential facilities and child care services at schools in addition to exemptions for consumers buying groceries or products, for industrial and manufacturing work, and for public transport and other forms of mass transit.[27] The ban was lowered to 50 people on March 16 per a CDC recommendation and is effective from March 17–April 5.[4]
Additionally on March 13, the Michigan Department of Education was granted a federal waiver by the United States Department of Agriculture. The waiver allows for students who will receive food from the Unanticipated School Closure SFSP to not be mandated to receive the food in a group setting.[28] The Michigan Department of Corrections banned visitors to prisons, along with prohibiting any volunteers from the prison. Staff at prisons will be required to have their temperature tested and be proven to be under 100.4 °F (38.0 °C) along with other measures.[29] The Michigan Career and Technical Institute suspended all programs until April 5.[30]
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued an order starting March 16 to limit all Michigan Secretary of State branch offices to appointment only instead of walk-ins. The only services provided by the offices will be for those applying for new licenses and IDs, for title transfers, and for testing for a license. All branches will no longer be open on Saturdays, with most weekday hours expanding. For those renewing their licenses, the proof of car insurance requirement was waived. Also waived were late fees associated with the change.[31]
On March 10, Attorney General Dana Nessel set up a hotline to report businesses price gouging goods such as toilet paper, meat, milk, bread, bottled water, face masks, hand sanitizers, and cleaning supplies. Sellers will be fined if the asking price is at least 20% higher than it was on March 9. As of March 16, at least 240 complaints have been received.[32]
Economic impact[edit]
On March 13, Delta Air Lines, which has a major hub at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, said it will cancel all flights to Europe for the next 30 days, decreasing flight amounts by 40% and grounding 300 planes. Delta earlier said it would reduce international flights by 20–25% and domestic flights by 10–15%.[12][33] Starting on March 15, several grocery chains that have stores in Michigan, including Meijer, Kroger, and Walmart, began reducing their business hours for cleaning and restocking in response to the pandemic.[13][14] On the morning of March 16, Governor Whitmer announced a temporary order to close all bars and restaurants in the state to sit-down service, effective at 3pm the same evening until March 30. Carry-out and delivery options were excluded from the order, although restaurants were urged to limit in-building carry-out services to five customers at a time. The order also included fitness centers, theaters, casinos, and other venues that encourage large assemblages of patrons, with several exceptions, such as office buildings.[5][34] This order is expected to have significant economic impacts on businesses, and it prompted the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association to call for Whitmer to submit paperwork to qualify Michigan for the U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.[34] The order also expands unemployment benefits to public health workers who become ill, people who need to take time off to care for children, and others, until April 14.[35]
Impact on sports[edit]
Most of state's sports teams were affected. Several professional leagues began postponing or suspending their seasons starting March 12. Major League Baseball cancelled the remainder of spring training on that date, and on March 16, they announced that the season will be postponed indefinitely, after the recommendations from the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks, affecting the Detroit Tigers.[8] Also on March 12, the National Basketball Association announced the season would be suspended for 30 days, affecting the Detroit Pistons.[10] On March 14, Detroit Pistons power forward Christian Wood reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.[36] In the National Hockey League, the season was suspended for an indefinite amount of time, affecting the Detroit Red Wings.[9]
In college sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association cancelled all winter and spring tournaments, most notably the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, affecting colleges and universities statewide.[11] On March 16, the National Junior College Athletic Association also canceled the remainder of the winter seasons as well as the spring seasons. [37]
Statistics[edit]
| 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases in Michigan[1][38]
Updated March 17, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| County | Confirmed Cases | Deaths |
| Bay | 1 | 0 |
| Charlevoix | 1 | 0 |
| Ingham | 2 | 0 |
| Jackson | 1 | 0 |
| Kent | 5 | 0 |
| Leelanau | 1 | 0 |
| Macomb | 8 | 0 |
| Monroe | 1 | 0 |
| Montcalm | 1 | 0 |
| Oakland | 16 | 0 |
| Otsego | 1 | 0 |
| Ottawa | 1 | 0 |
| St. Clair | 2 | 0 |
| Washtenaw | 7 | 0 |
| Wayne | 17 | 0 |
| Total | 65 | 0 |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Live updates: 12 new cases of coronavirus, Michigan total is 65". wzzm13.com. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- ^ a b All Michigan K-12 schools to close through April 6 Fox17Online, March 12, 2020
- ^ a b "First cases of coronavirus confirmed in Michigan. One each in Oakland and Wayne counties". WXYZ-TV. 2020-03-10. Archived from the original on 2020-03-11. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
- ^ a b Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer bans events and gatherings of more than 50 people amid coronavirus MLive.com, March 16, 2020
- ^ a b Gov. Whitmer to temporarily shut down all bars, restaurants to 'eat-in' service Fox2Detroit, March 16, 2020
- ^ a b Amber Ainsworth (March 11, 2020). "These Michigan colleges have canceled classes, moved to online instruction due to coronavirus". ClickOnDetroit.com. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ a b Michigan universities ask students to report traveling to areas with COVID-19 WWMT
- ^ a b Feinsand, Mark (March 16, 2020). "Opening of regular season to be pushed back". MLB.com. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ a b NHL statement on coronavirus NHL, March 12, 2020
- ^ a b "Silver: NBA hiatus likely to last 'at least' 30 days". ESPN.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ a b NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships NCAA, March 12, 2020
- ^ a b Delta Will Cut Flying By 40%, Halt Europe Service And Ground 300 Airplanes Forbes, March 13, 2020
- ^ a b Coronavirus concerns change Kroger store hours, Meijer deli service in Michigan MLive.com, March 15, 2020
- ^ a b Walmart shortens its hours and stores across America close their doors CNN, March 14, 2020
- ^ a b "Announcements › University of Michigan". Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- ^ "WATCH LIVE: Governor Whitmer to speak as Michigan coronavirus cases jump to 12". wxyz.com. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- ^ Winter Keefer. "Carman-Ainsworth middle schooler was exposed to person with coronavirus, district says". MLive.com. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ "Governor Whitmer Announces Statewide Closure of All K-12 School Buildings". NBC25News.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ "Michigan announces 9 more presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, bringing total to 25". WXYZ.com. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- ^ Dane Kelly (14 March 2020). "Michigan announced 8 new positive COVID-19 cases, 33 cases total". ClickOnDetroit.com. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "MDHHS – MDHHS activates Community Health Emergency Coordination Center in response to 2019 Novel Coronavirus – Local health departments coordinating with state to proactively protect public health". Archived from the original on February 29, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020. Michigan.gov
- ^ Governor Whitmer Activates State Emergency Operations Center to Coordinate State of Michigan Response to Coronavirus Michigan.gov
- ^ Governor Whitmer Creates Task Forces to Combat Spread of Coronavirus Michigan.gov
- ^ "Health Alert: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)". Michigan Technological University. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ "Campus Updates - Coronavirus COVID-19 and Influenza". NMU's Office of the President. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ Gov. Whitmer orders to cancel all events, gatherings over 250 people WWMT
- ^ Executive Order 2020-05 - Whitmer Michigan.gov
- ^ MDE Granted Federal Waiver for Meals to be Served During Closure Michigan.gov
- ^ MDOC Halts All Visits at State Prisons Michigan.gov
- ^ Michigan Career & Technical Institute to Close to Protect Against COVID-19 Michigan.gov
- ^ Secretary Benson: Branch Operations Will Move to Appointment-Only for Three Weeks Michigan.gov
- ^ Michigan Attorney General extends hotline hours for coronavirus price gouging complaints MLive.com, March 16, 2020
- ^ "American, United, Delta cut domestic flights as coronavirus saps demand". Philadephia Inquirer. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
- ^ a b Michigan bars, restaurants, gyms, theaters ordered to close by 3 p.m. due to coronavirus Detroit Free Press, March 16, 2020
- ^ Michigan expands unemployment benefits amid coronavirus concerns to include sick workers, caregivers MLive.com, March 16, 2020
- ^ Detroit Pistons say a player has tested positive for COVID-19 WEYI-TV (NBC 25), March 14, 2020
- ^ NJCAA cancels spring sports, basketball nationals amid coronavirus outbreak MLive.com, March 16, 2020
- ^ a b "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)". Michigan.gov. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
External links[edit]
- Coronavirus information from the State of Michigan
- Updated maps: Michigan coronavirus cases and exposure sites from MLive.com
