LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer is stressing the importance of staying home to flatten the curve during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday the governor gave an update to Michigan’s response to COVID-19 and explained that her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order is not optional and “not a recommendation.”
“It doesn’t mean inviting 10 of your closest friends over for dinner, or hosting a party at your house. It means staying home, with the people with whom you live,” Whitmer said, “We must all be smart for our family, for our neighbors, and for ourselves.”
The governor explained the number of executive orders she has signed amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
Those include:
- Extending the deadline to complete the canvass of the March 10th primary to April 24th
- Temporarily allowing administrative hearings to be held by video conference or phone, and temporarily allowing e-signatures in place of written signatures on related documents
- Clarifying the expansion of how eligibility for unemployment benefits will work during the COVID-109 outbreak
- Allowing pharmacists to dispense emergency refills of prescriptions for up to 60 days worth of supply for patients and requiring insurers to cover them during the pandemic
On Thursday Governor Whitmer also sent a disaster declaration request to President Trump.
If granted this disaster declaration would help provide:
- Meals to families who need them
- Rental assistance and temporary housing to families
- Counseling and therapy to residents whose mental health is affected by COVID-19
- Additional capacity in the state for field hospitals or other facilities
Whitmer also stressed that they need more donations of critical hospital equipment.
So far the state has secured:
- 13 million masks
- 226,000 surgical masks
- 4 million gloves
- 250 hospital beds
- Thousands of gallons of hand sanitzer
The most needed items still are:
- Hospital gowns
- Ventilators
- Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes
- Gloves
- Surgical masks
- N-95 to N-100 masks
- No-touch thermometers
Any donations can be directed to the Michigan Community Service Commission at COVID19donations@michigan.gov or 517-335-4295.
Chief Medical Executive with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Joneigh Khaldun says Michigan is still “in the up slope of the spread.” On Wednesday there were 2,295 coronavirus cases in the state and 43 deaths.
The governor says if everyone does their part they can flatten the curve. “If we all kept our distance, scientists are telling us this would sputter to a halt,” Whitmer said.
The best prevention for COVID-19 is to:
- 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.
- Stay at least six feet away from others when in a public setting.
More information can be found at michigan.gov/coronavirus.
