Michigan government selects alternate COVID-19 care facility in Novi
April 6th, 20200 NOVI — Michigan has selected the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi as the site of a second alternate care facility to expand medical capacity during the state’s response to COVID-19. This decision comes days after Governor Whitmer announced the state’s first alternate care facility at the TCF Center in Detroit. After...
Important information about drive-through testing in Detroit (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County)
April 6th, 20200 DETROIT - To ensure that all residents have access to COVID-19 testing, the Coronavirus Community Care Network has opened a drive-thru testing site at the Joe Dumars Fieldhouse at the State Fairgrounds. The entrance to the testing site is at East State Fair across from Bauman Avenue. Beginning Wednesday, April 1, 2020, testing hours for...
Whitmer announces FEMA help on the way to tri-county hospitals, says “stay home” order likely extended
April 6th, 20200 LANSING - On Monday, Governor Whitmer warned of shortage in major hospitals in Michigan amid a week of increasing COVID-19 cases in the state and said the state is now looking to expand the “stay home” order past its April end-date. Speaking from her capital office on Monday, April 6, Whitmer said the state was running...
Highest number of employment claims in U.S. history filed as coronavirus cases, deaths continue to rise
April 3rd, 20200 The United States reported more than 265,000 cases of coronavirus along with more than 6,700 coronavirus-related deaths on Friday afternoon , as the number of global cases surpassed the one million mark according to Johns Hopkins University. Of those deaths, nearly 3,000 have occurred in New York state, where Governor Andrew Cuomo...
In the face of pandemic, profits are protected, “essential” workers have no recourse
April 3rd, 20200 DEARBORN — A strange yet familiar scene plays out at grocery stores in Dearborn on most days, one that has been commonplace since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the state reached a critical level. Customers stand in line outside the double door, waiting for an employee in a face mask and gloves to let them in one at a time. At...
Dearborn-based 3D printing company steps up to fulfill demand for COVID-19 testing swabs
April 3rd, 20200 DEARBORN — Al Siblani, the owner of the 3D printer and liquid manufacturer EnvisionTEC in Dearborn, has recently stepped up to contribute to the battle against COVID-19 in the country. EnvisionTec is doing what it does best, using 3D technology to create an essential tool on the front-lines: Testing swabs. Siblani decided that...
Dearborn and Crestwood School Districts respond to school building closure order
April 3rd, 20200 Dearborn/Dearborn Heights — Superintendents from Dearborn Public Schools (DPS) and the Crestwood School District responded on Thursday to Governor Whitmer’s latest executive order, which closes all school buildings for the remainder of the school year, but continues distant-learning and other remote services. DPS Superintendent...
Emergency order issued for Michigan residents: Follow COVID-19 social distancing orders or face fines up to $1,000
April 2nd, 20200 LANSING – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued an emergency order on Thursday that sets a civil fine of up to $1,000 for violating orders related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The order also outlines the process of referral to licensing agencies for violations made by entities that are regulated by a...
Coronavirus: Can business owners that are forced to close or limit operations recover their income losses?
April 2nd, 20200 By Rabih Hamawi, JD Over the past week, I have received many calls from business owners asking if they may recover business income losses because they have been forced to temporarily suspend or limit their business operations due to COVID-19. The answer is simple: It depends. It depends on the language in the insurance policy,...
Whitmer signs executive order suspending face-to-face learning at K-12 schools for remainder of school year
April 2nd, 20200 LANSING — Today Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-35, which orders all K-12 school buildings to close for the remainder of the school year — unless restrictions are lifted — and ensures continuing of learning by setting guidelines for remote learning. District facilities may be used by public school employees and...
60 and older in the time of COVID-19? Read on
April 1st, 20200 By Jennifer Leach I know, 60-year-olds. You’re not old. In fact, we’ve found that, when people think “old”, they think of someone about 10 years older than they are right now. But, because we’ve been warned about the effects of the Coronavirus on people 60+, listen up. Because scammers follow the headlines and know...
Men lag behind women in following social distancing measures according to new Michigan-based survey
April 1st, 20200 ANN ARBOR — A survey released this past Friday has found that men are less likely to follow social distancing guidelines and orders compared to women, according to survey data released by Altarum, an Ann Arbor-based research firm supporting Michigan's public health, surveillance and outbreak management systems. More than 16,000...
Ford partners with General Electric to produce 50,000 ventilators in 100 days
March 31st, 20200 DETROIT — Ford Motor Company is partnering with General Electric to produce 50,000 ventilators in the next 100 days to help with the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan, according to a report from ClickonDetroit.com. The automaker will utilize the design of Airon Corp.'s FDA-cleared ventilators. After the original...
Community mourns the loss of Isaac Robinson, a fearless advocate and friend
March 31st, 20200 DEARBORN — State Rep. Isaac Robinson (D-Detroit) passed away from a suspected coronavirus infection on Sunday morning at a Detroit hospital. Robinson was beloved and respected by many in the Arab American community in Metro Detroit. Friends and colleagues called Robinson an advocate ally of working class residents of the Fourth...
Trump grants Whitmer’s request for use of National Guard for aid
March 30th, 20200 LANSING — On Monday, President Trump authorized the use of National Guard members under Title 32, United States Code, section 502(f), granting Governor Whitmer’s request for a formal Mission Assignment (MA) to allocate and order up to 3,000 members of the Michigan Army and Air National Guard for up to 90 days to perform humanitarian......
Benefits increased for all unemployed workers, self-employed and low-wage workers now covered
March 30th, 20200 LANSING — Michigan has increased its unemployment benefits for all unemployed workers by a set amount of $600 a week for up to four months. The change applies to workers already in the unemployment systems and eligible employees about to apply for benefits. Governor Whitmer announced the new programs for workers on Monday, after...
Trump approves Whitmer’s request for major disaster declaration, state secures more masks
March 28th, 20200 LANSING - President Trump has approved Governor Whitmer’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in Michigan. The declaration means that Michigan is now eligible for participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programming to provide relief for Michiganders impacted by the COVID-19 virus and measures to slow...
Governor Whitmer signs executive order changing city, state income tax filing deadlines to July 2020
March 28th, 20201 LANSING – Governor Whitmer has signed Executive Order 2020-26 which pushes all April 2020 state and city income tax filing deadlines in Michigan to July, as a part of continued efforts to help Michiganders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective immediately, state of Michigan and city of Detroit income tax returns and payments due...
Unemployment filing in Michigan to be scheduled by name
March 28th, 20201 LANSING - Due to an overwhelming increase in claims, resulting in heavy website and telephone traffic during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has developed a schedule for workers to file for benefits based on the first letter of their last name. The agency says this new schedule will improve......
Nessel provides guidance on executive order violations, investigates price-gouging, informs employees of their rights
March 26th, 20200 LANSING — On Wednesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel provided guidelines on how to report and file complaints about individuals and businesses that aren’t complying with Governor Whitmer’s executive orders. The AG office’s Consumer Protection intake line is now flooded with phone calls related to violations of the...
Whitmer urges Michiganders to do their part, requests federal disaster declaration
March 26th, 20200 LANSING — Governor Whitmer gave a further COVID-19 related update this week from her offices in the state’s capital, this time focusing on the urgent need for equipment for healthcare staff currently fighting the pandemic. Grim statistics of the virus’ exponential spread set the tone of her serious address on late Thursday......
As claims skyrocket, unemployment agency gives update, asks for patience
March 25th, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) today acknowledged the high call volumes and increased traffic on its claims website, as an unprecedented number of people take part in the state's expanded unemployment compensation program in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. In a press statement, the agency said that...
Cease and desist letter sent to businesses for selling phony COVID-19 protection patch
March 24th, 20200 LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel this morning sent a cease and desist letter to two related Rockford-based businesses for marketing to consumers the “Coronavirus Defender Patch”, which the companies falsely claim will help protect people from contracting the coronavirus disease 2019......
