Below are the latest developments that impact Michigan residents.
- Trump extends travel ban to U.K. and Ireland. The Trump administration will extend its European travel ban to include the U.K. and Ireland, President Trump said Saturday, before saying he was also looking at the possibility of domestic travel restrictions as well.
- Total number of Michigan coronavirus cases jumps to 25. The number of coronavirus cases in Michigan jumped to 25 as of late Friday, state health officials reported.
- Kent County hospitals, doctors ‘overwhelmed’ by coronavirus worriers. Kent County health leaders say hospitals and doctors are being “overwhelmed” by people concerned they have coronavirus COVID-19 and they ask people to call first for a screening.
- Whitmer bans non-essential hospital visits, urges virtual meetings. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered late Friday night that entry to Michigan health care facilities be restricted to personnel who are essential for medical and daily care. The governor is also urging public agencies to postpone meetings or conduct them remotely to promote social distancing.
- Whitmer bans gatherings of more than 250 people. Gatherings of more than 250 people are prohibited in Michigan under an executive order signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday. The order goes into effect 5 p.m. on Friday, March 13, and lifts on Sunday, April 5 at 5 p.m.
- Diocese of Grand Rapids and Archdiocese of Detroit cancels weekend Masses. The 11-county Diocese of Grand Rapids has canceled all weekend Masses through March 29. Masses were canceled through April 6 in the Detroit archdiocese.
- Kalamazoo, Lansing and Marquette dioceses grant waivers on Mass obligation. Catholic churches in the Kalamazoo, Lansing and Marquette dioceses will continue to have weekend Mass, but the Kalamazoo and Lansing bishops are waiving the requirement to attend Mass and the Marquette bishop granted a waiver for people age 60 or older or with health conditions putting them at risk.
- Michigan private colleges go to online classes. Amid fears over the spread of the coronavirus, Michigan’s private colleges have joined public universities and K-12 schools in the suspension of in-person classes.
- Feds OK school lunch pickup once schools close. Michigan parents will be able to pick up school meals for their children during state-mandated closures after federal agencies approved alternative forms of lunch distribution Friday.
- Michigan expands sick-leave policy for state employees. State of Michigan officials announced Friday, March 13, an expansion of the sick leave policy to include care for a child and for isolation to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, said Janine Winters, state personnel director.
- Michigan State University tells study-abroad students to return home immediately. Michigan State University sent a message to its study abroad students Thursday giving them five days to make arrangements to get back to the United States.
- University of Michigan cancels commencement. The University of Michigan announced Friday it has canceled all spring commencement ceremonies across all three campuses in Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn as a precaution against the spread of the new coronavirus.
- Michigan Secretary of State branches now appointment only. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Friday, March 13, announced the immediate closure of all 131 branches statewide. Offices will now only be accessible by appointment and for limited reasons through April 5. Walk-ins will be turned away; doors will be locked..
- Teacher at Oakland school tests positive for coronavirus. Hillel Day School, an Oakland County Jewish day school, alerted parents in a Friday letter that a teacher at its 1-2 Learning Community tested positive for coronavirus.
- Non-factory GM and Ford employees told to work from home. Non-factory workers with General Motors and Ford are being asked to work from home as much as possible as the auto companies hope to limit the potential spread of coronavirus.
- Possible coronavirus exposure sites listed. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed three people tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19 in Oakland County, prompting the county’s health department to release a list of possible exposure sites.
- Michigan stores running low on hand sanitizer, toilet paper. People across Michigan are heading to stores for things like toilet paper and hand sanitizer in preparation for the coronavirus, and retailers are having trouble keeping shelves stocked.
