Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak in Michigan on Monday, May 18, 2020:
-- State officials plan on re-opening a portion of Michigan later this week. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday is expected to announce a partial reopening of the Upper Peninsula, and other parts of northern Michigan, including bars and restaurants, this Friday, May 22. LATEST HERE
-- There were 773 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Michigan Monday, and 24 new deaths — bringing the totals to 51,915 cases and 4,915 deaths, according to the health department. While this is a bit of an uptick over recent daily counts, officials say 513 of the new cases are due to enhanced testing in Michigan Department of Corrections facilities. DETAILS HERE
-- While many Big 3 autoworkers are glad to be back on the job Monday, an industry analyst says it's going to be "a nightmare" to get plant operations back up and running after the 10-week coronavirus shutdown. READ MORE
-- President Trump is planning to tour a Ford assembly plant in Ypsilanti this week, where they've been making ventilators and PPE to help the U.S. respond to the COVID-19 crisis. But will Gov. Gretchen Whitmer be there to greet him? READ MORE
-- Could an on-off school schedule prevent a massive spread of coronavirus this fall? That's the way some educators are leaning as schools work with public health officials and the governor's office to develop a plan for the reopening of classrooms -- or at least learning -- this fall. DETAILS
-- More than 28,200 Michiganders are now considered survivors of COVID-19. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says 28,234 Michiganders are deemed recovered from the virus. That's up from 22,700 last Saturday. SEE THE NUMBERS HERE
-- A Pontiac man is facing charges for allegedly assaulting and spitting on a doctor and nurses while being treated for COVID-19 at McLaren Oakland Hospital.MORE HERE
-- Sports returned! Well, sort of. NASCAR ran its first race this weekend, and two Henry Ford Health System nurses will have their names displayed on the cars of two of NASCAR's star drivers this Sunday in a salute to frontline workers. MORE HERE
-- A photo of a Michigan priest using a water gun filled with holy water has gone viral. SEE IT HERE
-- Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and other community leaders are working hard to make testing available close to home for city residents. "It is really important we stop the spread in the city," Duggan said during Friday's press conference. "Separating the infectious from the non-infectious is the centerpiece." MORE HERE
-- A Detroit man is is facing up to 20 years in prison after prosecutors say he threatened to kill Gov. Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel. "You can disagree with their positions or their methodology, but you absolutely cannot act as this defendant allegedly acted..." MORE HERE
-- Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature urged a judge to strike down stay-home orders, and others related to the coronavirus, saying Gov. Whitmer trampled their authority. LATEST HERE
-- Saying, "all jobs are essential," the organizer of protests that have drawn the national media and thousands of angry residents to Lansing in recent weeks are putting together another display of dissatisfaction with Gov. Whitmer's stay-home order. This time, it's about hair. DETAILS
-- No one's in class right now, but if the Mitten State was in a room with a chalkboard at the front of it, a great big D- would be circled on it. Why? Because that's the grade the entire state just got from Unacast for its current efforts to stay home and follow social distancing guidelines to avoid spread of COVID-19. DETAILS
-- He's been in business for 59 years and went 6 weeks without a paycheck. A Michigan barber who refused to keep his shop closed has had his license suspended. "Our whole constitutional system and everything's getting turned on its head — all in the name of good intentions." READ MORE
--- More than 31,000 state employees are impacted by a belt-tightening move by the government Michigan due to COVID-19. Non-managers will be forced to take two layoff days period, which is expected to save the state around $80 million. DETAILS HERE.
-- Crowd-funded billboards seen around metro Detroit are encouraging everyone in Michigan to reopen their businesses next week — regardless what the governor's executive orders say. The man behind the push is calling it "Take Yourself To Work Day." READ MORE.
-- Officials at MGM Grand say things will look a lot different when they are finally able to reopen in Detroit. MGM on Tuesday released a seven-point safety plan for facilities that include the MGM Grand Detroit casino. READ MORE.
-- Whitmer says she knows Michiganders have a lot of questions about the state's response to COVID-19. At a news conference, she offered answers to the top six questions her office is asked the most. READ MORE.
-- How soon will you feel comfortable dining out? A bar and restaurant group in Michigan is asking Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to let them reopen on May 29, laying out a plan to do it safely. READ MORE.
-- Many businesses have temporarily closed their doors as the coronavirus pandemic rages on, but there are plenty of restaurants still open across metro Detroit for carryout and curbside pickup. Hungry? CHECK THE LIST.
-- The three main symptoms of coronavirus are fever, cough and shortness of breath. In order to mitigate risk of spreading COVID-19, everyone is encouraged to take action to reduce the spread, including: wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer; avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands; cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; avoid handshakes; avoid contact with people who are sick; and stay home when you are sick. Officials are urging social distancing -- staying at least six feet away from other people -- to help flatten the curve.
This is a rapidly evolving situation. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 where we will remain live, local and committed to bringing you the latest information during this outbreak. >>LISTEN LIVE!
