Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak in Michigan on Thursday, April 23, 2020:
-- We're getting a better idea of how long Michiganders will be stuck at home under order of the governor. Multiple sources in Lansing tell WWJ that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is poised to extend her controversial "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order through May 15. But certain businesses will be permitted to reopen May 1. READ MORE.
A formal annoucment about the order is expected at 3 p.m. Friday. Stay tuned to WWJ.
-- The president of the United Auto Workers union says U.S. auto plants stalled amid the pandemic should not reopen early next month. It's "too soon and too risky." READ MORE.
-- Detroit kids learning at home will get free tablet computers and internet as part of a $23 million initiative to "bridge the digital divide" for the city's 51,000-student public school district. DETAILS HERE.
-- FBI agents Thursday morning raided a medical office in Macomb County that the feds say has been provided "fraudulent treatments" for COVID-19. READ MORE.
-- The case count continues to grow in Michigan. There are 1,325 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, bringing the total to 35,291. That includes 164 additional deaths recorded, for a total of 2,977 deaths, according to the an update by the Michigan Department of Human Services Thursday. DETAILS HERE.
-- A much smaller protest against Michigan's Stay-At-Home order was held Thursday Lansing, and this one has a twist: Instead of at the state capitol, it was at the governor's mansion. DETAILS & VIDEO
-- Drone footage of last week's massive stay-home protest hows the true scale of "Operation Gridlock," which brought traffic to a halt in Michigan's capital city. SEE IT HERE.
-- Reaction is mixed as ICP's 2020 "Gathering of the Juggalos" has been canceled due to the pandemic. "The bottom line is that we REFUSE to risk even ONE Juggalo life." READ MORE.
-- What does a community do to come together after a devastating loss that's a flashpoint for all the fear and sadness they're facing during a pandemic? In the case of Detroit, a memorial fund and a massive show of support have been launched to support the family of Michigan's youngest COVID-19 victim. MORE HERE
-- Budget cuts are coming in Oakland County, Michigan's richest county, to cover the cost of doing business during a pandemic. DETAILS
-- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday announced that around 6% of state employees will be laid off for ten days, to save the state around $23 million. MORE HERE.
-- Henry Ford Health System in Detroit has annoucned approximately 2,800 employees across 6 hospitals are being temporarily furloughe, after the company lost $43 million amind the pandemic. DETAILS HERE This comes a couple of days after Beaumont said it will lay off 2,475 workers, 450 of them permanently, due to "dire financial effects" of COVID-19.
-- Michigan's biggest craft brewery is laying off 163 employees amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Founders says is hopes the layoffs — in both Grand Rapids and Detroit — hopefully are temporary. READ MORE.
-- Nursing homes coninue to be hard-hit in Michigan and nationwide. Officials say more than 120 nursing home residents and workers have died of COVID-19 in the city of Detroit; and more than 100 more have died in nursing homes elsewhere in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. READ MORE.
-- Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says there is "no way" that the city's annual 4th of July fireworks show — which draws tens of thousands of people downtown each year — will go on as planned. READ MORE.
-- Drinking more these days? A new survey shows orders to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic have led to more adults consuming alcohol and drugs to cope with stress. READ MORE.
-- Police are searching for a woman who assaulted an employee a party store in Detroit with a bag full of empty bottles and cans, after she was told she couldn't return them. They need tips to ID her. MORE HERE.
-- A Michigan senator is calling for an investigation into the Paycheck Protection Program intended to be a parachute for small businesses that some believe quickly became a loan program for already wealthy companies. DETAILS HERE
-- Meanwhile, another $310 billion was approved by Congress to help local workers and small businesses. MORE HERE
-- Amid all the dark and dangerous coronavirus news comes a bright spot: Beaumont Health System revealed it has discharged 2,076 COVID-19 patients, with 154 patients taken off ventilators. DETAILS HERE
-- A new poll reveals more Michiganders like the way Gov. Whitmer has been handling the virus crisis then they like President Donald Trump's response. Also revealed: When people expect the state to reopen, how many people believe they caught the virus and more. POLL RESULTS HERE.
-- The state reports 3,237 people have recovered from COVID-19 as of April 17. The recovery numbers are reported weekly by MDHHS and are defined as those alive 30 days post-onset. (This stat is updated once a week on Saturdays).
-- No cough or fever? That's OK. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says it's time to begin testing essential workers who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 — and they'll be doing it in Detroit at the Fairgrounds site. READ MORE. The mayor said Wednesday that, so far, 400 companies have signed up to test around 10,000 employees.
- Michigan's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said COVID-19 testing is being opened up to first responders, health care workers and all essential employees — even those who do not have symptoms. FIND A TESTING SITE.
-- How does $2,000 a-month on a debit card sound? Then $1,000 a-month for a year after the crisis? A Michigan Congresswoman has a plan to get more money to Americans dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. DETAILS HERE.
-- Michigan Republican Senators are out with their own 5-phase plan to reopen businesses in the state. Part of it: No people at festivals, concerts or sporting events until there's been no spread of the virus or a vaccine is available for 30 days. DETAILS HERE.
-- Need some help figuring out how to get your stimulus check? There's a new website for that. DETAILS HERE.
-- 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!
