COVID-19 September Updates

POAM is sharing the latest COVID-19 September updates affecting our great state of Michigan. We will consistently update this post as additional updates come in.

This information is from the Michigan Executive Office of the Governor’s email newsletter. Below is an update as of 10 p.m. on September 14, 2020.

Monday, September 14, 2020 Update

Spread Hope, Not COVID Campaign

Yesterday, MDHHS announced its new “Spread Hope, Not COVID” public education campaign which urges all Michiganders to unite to contain the spread of COVID-19 so the state’s economy, schools, and communities can safely reopen – and stay open. The “Spread Hope, Not COVID” campaign already includes about 50 of Michigan’s leading health care, business, education, community, manufacturing, tourism, senior citizen, labor, faith-based, and public safety organizations whose members touch the lives of millions of citizens. The campaign calls on all Michiganders to join together to “Spread Hope, Not COVID” by taking actions that will significantly reduce the spread of the virus including wearing masks, washing and sanitizing hands, practicing physical distancing, and more.

“This virus has devastated families across the state and had an unprecedented impact on our economy. We are not out of the woods yet, and we must all continue to step up and do our part to fight COVID-19,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said today. “Our ‘Spread Hope, Not COVID’ message is for all Michiganders to do everything in their power to reduce the spread of the virus and protect our families, frontline workers, educators, and small businesses.”

New Cases

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced 1,088 cases of COVID-19 from the past two days. This brings the total number of positive cases of COVID-19 to 112,612.

COVID-19 Cases in Michigan | September Updates

Happening Across State Government
  • Two additional Neighborhood Testing Sites were announced yesterday by MDHHS. The testing site in Detroit opened yesterday and the Muskegon site will open on Tuesday, bringing the total number of community sites offering COVID-19 testing to 19. MDHHS is working with trusted community partners including churches, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations to launch the sites.

“More than 1,500 Michiganders have been tested at one of the Neighborhood Testing Sites since they opened at the end of August, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy or health and MDHHS. “We have worked to make these sites as accessible as possible to the communities most in need and encourage residents to take advantage of testing available right in their community.”

  • The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has continued to work around the clock to make sure Michigan employers and workers are safe from COVID-19. Yesterday, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) conducted a programmed inspection of Sodecia Automotive Detroit Corp in Roseville, MI, resulting in 16 citations with penalties totaling $108,200 for failing to uphold a safe and healthy worksite, potentially leading to serious injury.

“When the employer is not taking the appropriate steps to protect employees and comply with applicable rules serious injury can happen,” MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman said. “Preventing exposures to hazards for hardworking Michiganders is our top priority. These citations reinforce that employers need to take the necessary precautions to establish and maintain work environments that are safe for their employees.”

  • The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) launched the Democracy MVP Varsity Challenge today, an initiative of the Democracy MVP election work recruitment campaign, targeted at high school varsity athletes. The challenge pits varsity athletic teams within schools and across the state against each other in a competition to recruit the most poll workers for the November 3rd general election.

“Democracy is a team sport, and we know our student-athletes are up to the challenge,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “We have many young people across the state eager to participate in our democracy. This challenge provides them an opportunity to do that by taking on a leadership role to recruit their teammates and classmates to be poll workers.”

  • Also, Secretary of State offices are now offering special appointments every business day 4 – 7 p.m. for people whose driver’s licenses or state IDs expired between Jan. 1 and Oct 31. Due to the pandemic, the legislature extended the expiration of Secretary of State credentials through Sept. 30. However, after that deadline, late fees will again be charged for late renewals and police will no longer be asked to use discretion when enforcing expirations. More information is available here and appointments can be made at Michigan.gov/SOS.
  • MDHHS also announced plans to conduct aerial mosquito control treatment in certain high-risk areas of Michigan to prevent the spread of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
    • In order to prevent the loss of life and protect public health, MDHHS has determined a targeted aerial treatment plan is necessary. When there are high rates of animal infections, humans are just as at risk. EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the United States, with a 33 percent fatality rate in people who become ill. People can be infected with EEE from one mosquito bite carrying the virus. Persons younger than age 15 and over age 50 are at greatest risk of severe disease following infection. More than 25 percent of the nation’s EEE cases last year were diagnosed in Michigan.

September Updates Resources

If you have any questions or concerns, please visit one of the resource links below:

STAY ALERT

Please use this post as an informative guide for the COVID-19 September updates. Share with others through text messages, social media, and email.

Related Post: Washington, D.C. Report – September 2020

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