(WWJ) The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued an epidemic order, a “three-week pause” amid skyrocketing coronavirus cases.
The pause takes effect from November 18 (Wednesday) to December 8.
The following will shut down:
-High schools (in-person classes)
-Colleges (in-person classes)
-Bars and restaurants (indoor dining)
-Workplaces when work can be done from home
-Youth sports/organized sports (except pro and college)
-Entertainment venues: Movie theaters, live theaters, bowling alleys, ice rinks, casinos, indoor waterparks, arcades, stadiums
-Fitness classes
The following will remain open:
-Preschool through 8th grade, including in-person classes (will be the choice of local districts if they want to remain open)
-Childcare facilities
-Healthcare
-Police, fire and other emergency/public services
-Personal services by appointment (hair salons, gyms for individualized exercise)
-Construction/manufacturing, and other work that cannot be done from home
-Public transit
-Professional/college sports (without spectators)
-Parks and outdoor recreation
-Retail with reduced capacity
-Restaurants (outdoor, takeout)
Indoor gatherings will be restricted to 10 people from a total of two households. Funerals will be limited to 25 people. Outdoor gatherings are also capped at 25 people.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) said the following decisions are “targeted and temporary” and were made by examining where the majority of outbreaks are occurring.
“By coming together today, we can save thousands of lives,” MDHHS director Robert Gordon said.
He said this is not a “blanket stay-at-home order like in spring” and is aimed at primarily curbing indoor gatherings where the majority of spread occurs.
As for why high schoolers and college students must learn online, Gordon said the decision was made by looking at the data.
“Michigan has seen fewer outbreaks associated with elementary and middle schools, and younger children are most in need of in-person instruction,” he said “In-person K-8 schooling may continue if it can be done with strong mitigation, including mask requirements, based on discussion between local health and school officials.”
Michigan Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said Michigan has seen nearly 1,000 outbreaks since March (defined as 2 or more cases tied to a single setting and time period).
The top categories are long-term care facilities, K-12 schools (with 2/3 of those outbreaks in high schools), healthcare facilities and social gatherings.
Khaldun issued a sobering warning about the days ahead if we don’t act.
“COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire, and we are now at the dreaded surge we have been warning about for months,” she said.
A leading model predicted that Michigan could see as many as one thousand deaths per week in the coming months if we don’t take precautions, according to Khaldun.
Michigan has lost nearly 8,000 people to the virus or complications from it so far. To see the demographics of the people who died from COVID-19, click here.
“These are not just numbers…this is about real people,” Khaldun said. “People who are mothers, sisters, fathers, grandparents, brothers, people’s children…it’s about making sure there are enough hospital beds and staff to take care of COVID and non-COVID patients. Some of our hospitals are just days away from being overwhelmed.”
She urged Michiganders to wear a mask; wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds; avoid gatherings (especially indoors) and unnecessary outings. For CDC information on how to protect yourself, click here.
Khaldun added residents over 6 months old should get a flu shot, and be sure to take care of their physical and mental health.
“This (loss of life) is preventable,” she said.
As of Friday, more than 3,000 adults and 19 children were hospitalized statewide with a confirmed or suspected case of the virus. More than 270 of the adults are on ventilators, while 660 are in the ICU.
While about 1,400 of the hospitalizations are in southeastern Michigan; the rest are spread throughout the state.
Statewide hospitalizations have increased fivefold in the past six weeks, according to MDHHS.
Nearly 139,000 Michiganders of the more than 250,000 confirmed cases are considered recovered after surviving 30 days since testing positive. However, Khaldun said many survivors will live with “long-term” health challenges as a result.
This order stands on the power given to the MDHHS by the Michigan legislature during the flu pandemic of 1918, Gordon said.
“Hope is on the horizon,” Gordon said. “A vaccine will come. Spring will come. This is not forever. What will be forever will be the death of loved ones.”
He likened every Michigander to firefighters rescuing people from a burning building.
“With COVID on track to kill one thousand Michiganders each week in every corner of the state, Michigan’s house is on fire,” Gordon said. “And each of us can be a hero who helps save lives.”
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