**UPDATE 3/17 — Health officials reported 12 new cases Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 65. LATEST INFORMATION HERE.
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LANSING (WWJ) - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is changing how it reports coronavirus case numbers as the statewide total grows to 54.
The department will now issue a daily web update at 2 p.m., with statewide numbers for: cases and deaths broken down by county; cases by age range (in 10-year increments); and cases by sex.
As of 2 p.m. Monday, one additional positive case of COVID-19 was reported in Michigan, an adult female from Macomb County with history of domestic travel.
As new counties get cases of COVID-19 and more labs begin testing for the virus, the epidemiologists who track statewide data are gathering and analyzing information from many sources. Health care providers, local health departments or others may publicly announce cases or deaths before they are included in the statewide count.
In order to provide case counts as quickly and efficiently as possible, the department has also stopped reporting some of the numbers available online earlier in the outbreak. Officials will no longer report the number of persons under investigation, tests pending, referred for assessment/monitoring to date and total assessment/monitoring referrals under active monitoring.
On Monday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a sweeping executive order closing all restaurants to dine-in customers as well as closing all bars, movie theaters, gyms and other sports facilities to curb the spread of the virus. The order is in effect through the end of March.
The order also prohibits large gatherings of more than 50 people. However, the CDC is advising people not to gather in groups of more than 10, and discretionary travel and social visits should be avoided.
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!
