Here are latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak in Michigan on March 18, 2020:
-- Beaumont Health says a patient has died of COVID-19. The death Wednesday is the first reported coronavirus death in Michigan. Beaumont said the patient, a man in his 50s who tested positive for COVID-19, had other underlying medical conditions. He died early this morning at a Beaumont Hospital in Wayne County. GET DETAILS HERE.
-- Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun says on top of the 80 confirmed cases reported in Michigan at 2 p.m. today, there were 30 or more additional cases confirmed later in the afternoon, bringing the state total to at least 110.
In the daily 2 p.m. update from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, 15 new cases were reported. All 15 of those cases were in metro Detroit. Here is a breakdown of those cases, by county... (Note: City of Detroit and Wayne County are being counted separately): Detroit - 5; Macomb County - 2; Oakland County - 7; and Wayne County - 1.
The following are the case totals released so far by county: Wayne County -23; Detroit - 13; Oakland County - 23; Macomb County - 10; Washtenaw County - 7; Kent County - 5; Ingham County - 2; St. Clair County - 2. Eight other counties with one confirmed COVID-19 case each.
No information about the 30 additional cases announced by Khaldun was immediately available. The next official update is expected at 2 p.m. Thursday.
-- Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler will close all factories due to the outbreak. Ford will end work Thursday night, while GM says it will vary plant to plant. READ MORE HERE.
This comes after Ford closed the final assembly building at its Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne because a worker there tested positive for coronavirus. This came a couple of hours after FCA closed its Sterling Heights plant for the same reason. The Big 3 has been under pressure from the UAW to take action.
-- Whitmer signed an executive order Wednesday extending the state's tax foreclosure deadline to help mitigate the virus's impact on the Michigan economy. Whitmer's latest executive order, which takes effect immediately, will move the tax foreclosure deadline from March 31 to May 29, or 30 days after the state of emergency declared in Executive Order 2020-4 is terminated -- whichever comes first. GET DETAILS
- The Wayne County Public Health Division on Tuesday announced that AMC Fairlane 21 theaters in Dearborn is a potential COVID-19 exposure site. Health officials are investigating one presumptive-positive COVID-19 case where the person attended a movie on March 10. FULL LIST HERE.
- Somerset Collection in Troy closed at least through March 27, though all full service restaurants will remain open. DETAILS HERE
-- Target, Aldi, Kroger and Walmart are all reducing store hours due to coronavirus concerns. Also — beginning today— Target is reserving a dedicated shopping hour each week for "vulnerable guests." GET DETAILS HERE.
-- In Detroit, DDOT drivers are back at work today after a massive sickout yesterday over fears of contracting coronavirus. Mayor Mike Duggan says bus rides will be free when DDOT bus service will resume at 3 a.m. Wednesday. Passengers will enter, exit through rear doors, and additional cleaning staff will be hired to clean buses following each run instead at end of shift. The city shut down service after drivers didn't show for work on Tuesday, and less than 10% of the buses hit the streets. GET DETAILS HERE.
-- The Michigan Department of Education announced Tuesday that an online map has been developed for families to find locations where FREE meals are being provided during the coronavirus outbreak. These meals are available to all children age 0-18, plus older students with disabilities. GET DETAILS HERE.
-- In Detroit, parents are heading to schools to pick up free meals as well as learning packets for their kids. WWJ's Vickie Thomas reported a "steady stream" of moms and dads are taking advntange of the program.
-- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and President Donald Trump got into a spat after the president tweeted that the Governor must work harder and be much more proactive to get the job done. In response, the governor said "Now that I've got your attention, Mr. President - attack tweets won't solve this crisis. But swift and clear guidance, tests, personal protective equipment, and resources would." She then listed what she has done to stop the spread of coronavirus. GET DETAILS HERE.
-- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued another cease and desist letter for price gouging. A day after hitting home improvement retailer Menards for selling bleach and face masks at unfairly high prices, Nessel's office issued a Notice of Intended Action to a person in Hillsdale who was selling face masks at high prices on eBay. GET DETAILS HERE.
-- Gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited. Gov. Whitmer issued the executive order Monday. In addition, area restaurants are working to enhance their carry-out and delivery services now that restaurants and bars are closed. Those businesses can still offer food and drinks for pickup, delivery and via a drive-through service.
-- Speaking live on WWJ Tuesday morning, Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist said while the state is trying to stop the spread of coronavirus, he can not rule anything out, including quarantine. LISTEN HERE.
-- The state agency that regulates medical and recreational cannabis approved temporary rules that allow curbside pickup and home delivery. Officials say the changes are necessary to protect cannabis businesses, their employees and public health. GET DETAILS HERE.
-- The Tulip Time Festival, which usually takes place in west Michigan at the beginning of May, has been canceled. Organizers say they have volunteers who are largely made up of older people who are most vulnerable to coronavirus and felt the safety of all visitors, and the community was the best decision.
-- The American Red Cross has issued an urgent call for blood donations as it deals with a severe blood shortage due to canceled community blood drives. The blood bank says healthy individuals are urgently needed to donate now to help patients. GET DETAILS HERE.
-- As the coronavirus continues to spread, the Salvation Army is shutting down its thrift stores and donations centers across the state. Residential pickup service is also on pause. GET DETAILS HERE.
-- The State of Michigan is rolling up the welcome mat in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The Michigan Department of Transportation says it is closing all Michigan Welcome Centers during the outbreak. MDOT says it will try to keep the restrooms at some welcome centers open to the public.
-- Just hours after saying it would stay open, the Detroit Zoo announced it was closing until the end of the month. Executives say they had limited the number of visitors at the zoo in Royal Oak and added more than 50 hand sanitizing stations, but decided Monday afternoon to temporarily close. GET DETAILS HERE.
-- While some businesses will be laying off employees during the outbreak, Amazon says it needs to hire 100,000 new employees to keep up with demand. Amazon says a surge of orders is putting its operations under pressure and has warned shoppers it can no longer get two day delivery on some packages due to the amount of orders. GET DETAILS HERE.
-- If you need to handle an issue with Social Security you'll have to do it online or by phone. All Social Security offices are closed starting Tuesday. The federal government says its in an effort to protect the mostly older people they service with underlying medical conditions. The Social Security Administration can be reached by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or online at socialsecurity.gov.
-- With all K-12 school shut down by order of the governor, the classroom has moved into the living room in homes across metro Detroit. While everyone will handle this differently, metro Detroit parents all seem to agree that creating sticking to a schedule is key to home schooling. GET DETAILS HERE.
-- The city of Detroit has been sending medical teams out to shelters to keep COVID-19, coronavirus, from spreading among the homeless. They are checking symptoms and taking temperatures. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person, so city officials are also working to identify additional shelter capacity.
-- 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.
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!
