(WWJ) After a mind-boggling wave of news and novel coronavirus updates throughout the day Friday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gave an address at 4:30 p.m. Friday to reassure the public and outline the steps the state had taken in recent days.
But she's not calling for martial law.
Whitmer said she requested federal funding for full use of Michigan National Guard to aid in the distrubution of food and supplies for those impacted by the spread of Covid-19.
"I'm asking for funding ... to help distribute food and supplies. I am not calling for martial law. That is a rumor and that is false and that is dangerous for people to foment fear and put out bad information," she said.
She also reiterated that "we are not there," when it comes to the possibility of ordering residents of the state to shelter in place.
At least 549 people in Michigan have tested positive for the coronavirus, and three people have died. Detroit police has 152 officers on quarantine and six officers who tested positive.
Still, stories abound about restaurants helping each other, health care workers coming out of retirement with offers of help, neighbors checking on each other, teachers working overtime to create lessons for homeschooling, grocers working around the clock.
"I've seen some really wonderful things," Whitmer said. "We've seen some remarkable Michiganders do some great things."
Among those things, she said U-M and MSU partnered on a video on how to help stop the spread of COVID-19 -- at a time when the state should be glued to the TV and radio for Cassius Winston to play his final game at MSU.
Coppercraft Distillery will donate 10,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to first responders, and Griffin Claw in Birmingham is providing hand sanitizer to Detroit police officers.
In other Whitmer news Friday, she ordered Michigan doctors and dentists to postpone all nonessential medical procedures. She said medical procedures should be scratched unless necessary to preserve health and safety.
Meanwhile, people who are suddenly out of work because of the coronavirus threat have flooded the state with claims for unemployment aid, and Whitmer ordered a stop to all home and mobile home evictions as of Friday afternoon. Every tenant will be able to remain in their home even if they're behind in rent.
Unemployment claims continue to rise. The state says more than 55,000 people this week filed through Wednesday, an increase more than 15-fold above normal.
"These challenges will be immense, from unemployment to helping businesses get back on their feet to educating our children. This will be a challenge .. but we'll come back stronger," Whitmer said.
