COVID-19 March Updates: Michigan Legislative Consultants’ COVID-19 Newsletter

MLC March Updates

The Michigan Legislative Consultants (MLC) is sharing the latest updates with our members informed on what’s happening at the State Capitol in our MLC March Updates.

This information is sourced from the Michigan Legislative Consultants’ COVID-19 Special Update email newsletter sent on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

Tuesday, March 30 – Statewide Economic Impact

Statistics

MICHIGAN

• Weekly Cases: 31,159
• Total Cases: 660,771
• Weekly Deaths: 131
• Total Deaths: 16,034

OHIO

• Weekly Cases: 8,175
• Total Cases: 859,423
• Weekly Deaths: 186
• Total Deaths: 18,526

INDIANA

• Weekly Cases: 6,317
• Total Cases: 684,733
• Weekly Deaths: 85
• Total Deaths: 12,622

ILLINOIS

• Weekly Cases: 16,506
• Total Cases: 1,239,589
• Weekly Deaths: 153
• Total Deaths: 21,256

WISCONSIN

• Weekly Cases: 3,274
• Total Cases: 576,044
• Weekly Deaths: 25
• Total Deaths: 6,601

Federal Update From our Partners at Foley & Lardner

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data on the success of current federal vaccination programs, determined by how many doses have been administered thus far through each program; it revealed that the less expensive federal effort to distribute through retail pharmacies is far ahead of the costly FEMA pilot program using mass vaccination community centers in populous states. Since February, just 1.7 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered at these 21 vaccination hubs, which are run by FEMA. Simultaneously, the federal retail pharmacy program administered nearly 6 million doses between March 11 and March 16 alone. The administration is rethinking the mass vaccination hubs but will continue to keep them open.

Symptoms Tracker Surpasses 3 Million Entries

MI Symptoms, a free, online symptom screening tool designed to help organizations screen members and employees for COVID-19 symptoms, has surpassed 3 million entries. Created by the Department of Health and Human Services, the tracker helps businesses stay compliant with symptom screening rules, as required by MIOSHA. It receives more than 20,000 submissions per day from across the state. Participation varies from small businesses to schools, and from law firms to hospitals and other health care settings.

Michigan Articles

• The Michigan Senate passed legislation that would set into place certain parameters that must be used when deciding to close restaurants. Click here to read more.
• MIOSHA has launched an online dashboard providing information related to COVID-19 workplace safety violations. Click here to read more.
• As a result of the pandemic, teacher retirements have increased. Click here to read more.

National Articles

• By Wednesday, President Biden must decide whether to extend the federal eviction moratorium put into place at the beginning of the pandemic. Click here to read more.
• The White House is working with private companies to develop a “vaccine passport” for vaccinated residents to use as businesses continue to reopen. Click here to read more.
• Vaccine Hunters have emerged and are helping members of their communities find available vaccine appointments. Click here to read more.

This information is sourced from the Michigan Legislative Consultants’ COVID-19 Special Update email newsletter sent on Monday, March 22, 2021.

Monday, March 22 – Statewide Economic Impact

Statistics

MICHIGAN

• Weekly Cases: 19,032
• Total Cases: 629,612
• Weekly Deaths: 120
• Total Deaths: 15,903

OHIO

• Weekly Cases: 7,172
• Total Cases: 851,248
• Weekly Deaths: 469
• Total Deaths: 18,340

INDIANA

• Weekly Cases: 5,449
• Total Cases: 678,416
• Weekly Deaths: 83
• Total Deaths: 12,537

ILLINOIS

• Weekly Cases: 12,970
• Total Cases: 1,223,083
• Weekly Deaths: 148
• Total Deaths: 21,103

WISCONSIN

• Weekly Cases: 2,838
• Total Cases: 572,770
• Weekly Deaths: 40
• Total Deaths: 6,576

Federal Update From our Partners at Foley & Lardner

• The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will likely get a two-month extension ahead of its March 31, 2021 expiration date. The House passed the extension last week in a bipartisan vote, and the Senate hopes to do so this week. Since its inception last year, the PPP has provided nearly eight million loans and over $700 billion to small businesses.
• Isabel Guzman, the new head of the Small Business Administration, will prioritize the pandemic’s impact on small businesses. In an interview with AP last week, she said her first focus will be implementing the provisions in the American Rescue Plan that assist hurting businesses.

State Updates Residential Care Facilities Order

The Department of Health and Human Services updated their order to reflect recent changes in Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidance for visitation. Under the new order, testing prior to visitation is strongly encouraged but not required. Visitors will continue to be required to face masks when required by the facility and should maintain six feet from residents. For more information, please click here.

Michigan Articles

• Case numbers in Michigan have increased for the fourth consecutive week. Click here to read more.
• Last Friday, Governor Whitmer provided an update on the state’s response to the pandemic. Click here to view the presentation.
• Michigan has expanded capacity numbers for outdoor stadiums and released new regulations for middle and high school athletes. Click here to read more.

National Articles

• CDC Director Rochelle Walensky warned the nation of an avoidable surge if people take the proper precautions. Click here to read more.
• Where are cases rising and declining throughout the country? Click here to read more.

This information is sourced from the Michigan Legislative Consultants’ COVID-19 Special Update email newsletter sent on Monday, March 15, 2021.

Monday, March 15 – Statewide Economic Impact

Statistics

MICHIGAN

• Weekly Cases: 12,566
• Total Cases: 610,580
• Weekly Deaths: 113
• Total Deaths: 15,783

OHIO

• Weekly Cases: 6,860
• Total Cases: 844,076
• Weekly Deaths: 215
• Total Deaths: 17,871

INDIANA

• Weekly Cases: 5,231
• Total Cases: 672,967
• Weekly Deaths: 139
• Total Deaths: 12,454

ILLINOIS

• Weekly Cases: 10,596
• Total Cases: 1,210,113
• Weekly Deaths: 188
• Total Deaths: 20,955

WISCONSIN

• Weekly Cases: 3,061
• Total Cases: 569,932
• Weekly Deaths: 55
• Total Deaths: 6,536

Federal Update From our Partners at Foley & Lardner

• Last week, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) introduced public health infrastructure bills aimed at dedicating funds to build and maintain the nation’s health system for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Legislation follows the release of the annual Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) report, which recommends improvement on emergency preparedness in all 50 states. Sen. Murray is the Chairwoman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee and her bill, Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act (PHISLA), so far has 19 cosponsors; Rep. Pallone is the Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and his bill, Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s America Act (LIFT), so far has 32 cosponsors. Both are partisan bills. You can find summaries of each bill here. The full report from TFAH can be found here.
• This week, President Biden is expected to launch a new campaign aimed at reducing vaccine hesitancy throughout the country. The campaign will focus on Americans who are skeptical of receiving the vaccine and who are unsure where they should sign up or if they are eligible. It will combat misinformation and make the process even more transparent, hopefully furthering the goal that the Administration has set for universal access for Americans to COVID-19 vaccines by May 1, 2021.

Vaccine Eligibility Opening to Everyone Over 16

Beginning April 5, all Michigan residents over the age of 16 will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. For those with disabilities or medical conditions that put them at risk of negative outcomes, they can begin receiving the vaccine on March 22. With the expanded eligibility, the state is encouraging providers to schedule appointments and allocate vaccinations to residents based on highest risk, essential workers, and frontline workers. For more information, please click here.

Michigan Articles

• Restaurant owners are asking to expand their capacity beyond the current 50%, believing they can do so safely. Click here to read more.
• While Federal stimulus dollars have helped the economy, in Michigan there has been a two-tiered recovery. Click here to read more.
• Ford Field will serve as a mass vaccination site for eight-weeks, able to vaccinate up to 6,000 people per day. Click here to read more.
• A workgroup that will find ways for office workers to safely return to in-person work will start to meet this week. Click here to read more.

National Articles

• President Biden is slated to announce his COVID rescue plan czar in the coming days. Click here to read more.
• In the past year, experts have learned more about the virus and some of their initial beliefs about it have changed. Click here to read more.
• Should we be concerned about homegrown variants of the virus? Click here to read more.
• What will the lasting impact of the pandemic be on the education system? Click here to read more.

This information is sourced from the Michigan Legislative Consultants’ COVID-19 Special Update email newsletter sent on Monday, March 8, 2021.

Monday, March 8 – Statewide Economic Impact

Statistics

MICHIGAN

• Weekly Cases: 8,864
• Total Cases: 598,014
• Weekly Deaths: 136
• Total Deaths: 15,670

OHIO

• Weekly Cases: 7,786
• Total Cases: 837,216
• Weekly Deaths: 2,947
• Total Deaths: 17,656

INDIANA

• Weekly Cases: 5,523
• Total Cases: 667,736
• Weekly Deaths: 153
• Total Deaths: 12,315

ILLINOIS

• Weekly Cases: 11,678
• Total Cases: 1,199,517
• Weekly Deaths: 231
• Total Deaths: 20,767

WISCONSIN

• Weekly Cases: 2,603
• Total Cases: 566,871
• Weekly Deaths: 69
• Total Deaths: 6,481

Federal Update From our Partners at Foley & Lardner

• On Saturday, the Senate passed a $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, 50-49. The legislation will now go to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass on Tuesday with a party-line vote. President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law this week before some COVID relief programs expire this Sunday.
• Republicans opposed the bill largely because of the overall cost and the aid to state and local governments they deemed unnecessary. Some progressives are upset at changes made to the bill by the Senate, including the elimination of a $15 per hour minimum wage increase, lowering the income cut-off for those receiving direct $1,400 payments, and Senator Manchin’s successful demands to lessen unemployment benefits. Public opinion polls show that the bill has broad bipartisan support from the public.

Expanded Vaccine Eligibility Begins

Starting today, those over the age of 50, with medical conditions or disabilities, and those who are caregivers for children with special health care needs, can receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Michigan. Eligibility will open to everyone over the age of 50 beginning March 22. The change came following the announcement by President Biden that ramped-up production of the vaccine will provide enough doses for 300 million Americans by the end of May. Michigan has set a goal to vaccinate 70% of the population over the age of 16. For more information, please visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine.

Michigan Articles

• Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Gary McDowell issued an emergency order. aimed at protecting agricultural workers. Click here to read more.
• Cases in the state have risen the past two weeks, but death rates have declined. Click here to read more.

National Articles

• Is the pandemic causing a rise in procrastination and other changes to our brains? Click here to read more.
• There has been an increase in cases, following some states lifting mask mandates. Click here to read more.

This information is sourced from the Michigan Legislative Consultants’ COVID-19 Special Update email newsletter sent on Monday, March 1, 2021.

Monday, March 1 – Statewide Economic Impact

Statistics

MICHIGAN

• Weekly Cases: 7,747
• Total Cases: 589,150
• Weekly Deaths: 172
• Total Deaths: 15,534

OHIO

• Weekly Cases: 8,414
• Total Cases: 829,430
• Weekly Deaths: 358
• Total Deaths: 14,709

INDIANA

• Weekly Cases: 5,855
• Total Cases: 662,213
• Weekly Deaths: 180
• Total Deaths: 12,162

ILLINOIS

• Weekly Cases: 12,184
• Total Cases: 1,187,839
• Weekly Deaths: 233
• Total Deaths: 20,536

WISCONSIN

• Weekly Cases: 4,270
• Total Cases: 564,268
• Weekly Deaths: 128
• Total Deaths: 6,412

Federal Update From our Partners at Foley & Lardner

• Following the FDA’s approval of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday night, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) convened yesterday for an emergency meeting and voted unanimously to recommend the use of the vaccine. You can read more from the CDC Director, Rochelle Walensky.
• Early on Saturday morning, the House approved Pres. Biden’s COVID-19 aid package with a party-line vote of 219-212. Two Democrats voted against the bill, and zero Republicans voted in favor. Next, the Senate will draft its own version of the bill, followed by hours of debate and a vote-a-rama. Additionally, all provisions of the bill need to pass the “Byrd Rule,” which controls what can or cannot be included in a reconciliation package. Provisions from the package passed in December are set to expire on March 14, 2021.

State Extends Liquor License Renewals

Given the ongoing pandemic, the State of Michigan is giving a three-month extension for liquor license renewals from April 30 to July 30, 2021. Governor Whitmer’s extension will be implemented by an administrative order issued by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. The extension will benefit approximately 19,000 licensees.

For more information, please visit Michigan.gov/Lcc.

Michigan Articles

• Michigan has passed the two million mark for vaccine doses given. Click here to read more.
• For two days, Ford Field is being transformed into a vaccination clinic. Click here to read more.
• The State of Michigan has added race data to the state’s COVID-19 Dashboard, available online. Click here to read more.
• Michigan will receive its largest number of vaccine doses this week. Click here to read more.

National Articles

• Could a vaccination selfie help encourage those who are hesitant to get the vaccine? Click here to read more.
• A new drug has been identified which could help treat the virus. Click here to read more.
• After you received the vaccine, what can you do? Click here to read more.
• The new variants have the potential to wipe out the progress the country has made in combating the virus and experts are urging caution. Click here to read more.

Additionally, the following website is a source for updated information from the administration.

STAY UPDATED

While these are very uncertain times, know the MLC Team, along with POAM, is available to answer your questions regarding this MLC March Updates. Additionally, we will provide regular updates as more information becomes available.

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