LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) —
SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH
The number of coronavirus cases rises to 53. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced on Sunday that officials had tested 20 new individuals positive for the respiratory illness.
The increased number reflects changes to how the numbers are confirmed. The federal government is now letting states and localities confirm cases to the public, while they previously requested relaying test results to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The most recent cases involve the following individuals according to MDHHS:
- Washtenaw County, three adult males, all with a history of international travel.
- Detroit, adult female with unknown travel history.
- Oakland County, adult female with contact with a person with COVID-19.
- Detroit, adult female with contact with a person with COVID-19.
- Macomb County, adult female with unknown travel history.
- Oakland County, male child with contact with a person with COVID-19
- Kent County, adult male with unknown travel history and unknown contact history.
- Oakland County, adult male with unknown travel and contact history.
- Wayne County, adult male with unknown travel and contact history.
- Ottawa County, adult female with unknown travel and contact history.
- Clair County, adult female with contact with a person with COVID-19.
- Macomb County, two adult males with no travel or contact reported.
- Wayne County, adult male with no travel or contact reported.
- Oakland County, adult male with international travel history.
- Oakland County, adult male with no history of travel or contacts.
- Detroit, adult female with no history of travel or contacts.
- Kent County, adult male with history of domestic travel.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order that aims to curb price gouging in the wake of the viruses spread. The order temporarily puts tightened restrictions on excessive costs for goods, emergency supplies, and groceries going into effect on Monday, March 16th. The enhanced restrictions will be in place until April 13th.
The Michigan Attorney General’s Office says it has received more than 75 complaints statewide of price gouging.
After imposing a temporary ban of any gatherings and events over 250 people on Friday, Whitmer is hoping to put a pause on state casino activities.
The governor says the Gaming Control Board is in progress to close three casinos located in Detroit. While Michigan’s 24 tribal casinos are outside of its jurisdiction, FireKeepers Casino in Calhoun County and Gun Lake Casino in Allegan County said that they would be closing for the time being.
There still has not officially been a decision by Whitmer on whether to temporarily close bars and restaurants, but she has advised customers to be cautious and for businesses to operate at partial capacity.
Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, California, and Washington state have all temporarily closed down bars and restaurants to customers in an attempt to limit exposure.
SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH
On Saturday Michigan health officials confirmed 8 more positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases to 33 in the state.
That number rose starkly since the first positive case was reported on Wednesday, but the MDHHS says it’s due to increased testing with the count expected to climb.
Michigan’s medical director Jonleigh Khaldun says the state is now testing seven days a week and increasing cooperation efforts with the CDC and local health departments.
FRIDAY, MARCH 13TH
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced Friday that nine adults tested presumptive positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), bringing the number of statewide cases to 25.
The specimens will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation testing.
The cases include:
- An adult male from Bay County with history domestic travel.
- An adult female from Charlevoix County with history of international travel.
- An adult female from Detroit with history of international travel.
- An adult male from Macomb County with history of international travel.
- Two adult females and an adult male from Oakland County, one with history of international travel two with unknown travel history.
- Two adult females from Wayne County, one with history of domestic and the other with no history of travel.
COVID-19 symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus.
They include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Updates will be posted to Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
