HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) –Gov. Gretchen Whitmer imposed temporary restrictions on visits to health care facilities, residential care facilities, community care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities.
She’s asking managers of those facilities to postpone what public meetings they can or convert them to virtual or remote meetings.
Under Whitmer’s order, health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities must bar any visitors that are not necessary for medical care, support of activities of daily living like bathing or eating, unless there’s an extreme situation, such as an impending death.
By 9 a.m. Monday, March 16, 2020, those facilities must assess for COVID-19 symptoms and risk factors for all individuals not under their care who want to enter their facilities.
Anyone with these symptoms or risk factors must not be allowed to enter. These restrictions will remain in place until 5 p.m. April 5, 2020. Guidelines encourage people at affected facilities to use electronic communication, such at phones or videochatting, so residents can get some form of visitation.
Whitmer signed a second order, this one for public bodies of departments and agencies of the state, including boards, commissions, committees, subcommittees, authorities, and councils, must consider postponing public meetings that may be moved to a later time.
The order notes that department and agency public bodies subject to the Open Meetings Act must continue to meet as required by law, but in a way that ensures adequate notice and access for all participants. Options include remote participation by conference call, real-time online streaming, or other platforms, as long as public access and participation is preserved.
“We are taking every measure we can to mitigate the spread of coronavirus and protect Michigan families,” Whitmer said in a statement emailed to media. “This is a hard time for families, and we will continue to put their health and safety first when making these decisions. During this crisis, we must ensure that state meetings remain open and accessible to the public. I also want to remind everyone to continue doing everything they can at an individual level to protect themselves and their families, like washing their hands and practicing social distancing. We will get through this together.”
“We believe these actions, along with those the governor has announced in the past few days, will help us slow the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan and protect our communities,” said Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Chief Deputy for Health and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. “We encourage every Michigander to remain flexible and take care of each other at this time.”
Patients with confirmed infection typically have mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
The best prevention for viruses, such as influenza, the common cold or COVID-19 is to:
- Call your health care provider if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, If you do not have a health care provider, call the nearest hospital. (Helpful hotlines.)
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- If you are sick, stay home, and avoid contact with others.
- Replace handshakes with elbow bumps or other socially distant acts: shoe bumps, a wave, a salute, or a slight bow.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others in a public setting.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
To view executive order 2020-6 and executive directive 2020-2, visit:
