LANSING, Mich. (WXYZ) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer provided another update on the state's response to coronavirus on Monday afternoon.
Whitmer will was joined by MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Jeff Donofrio and President of the Michigan AFL-CIO Ron Bieber.
During an update on Monday, Whitmer unveiled the "MI Safe Start Plan" to reopen Michigan's economy. She could elaborate on that plan during Wednesday's press conference.
There are now 3,670 deaths and 40,399 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Michigan, according to the latest numbers released by the state on Wednesday.
8,342 have recovered from the virus, according to the state. Those numbers are updated every Saturday. Recovery includes confirmed COVID-19 cases who are 30 days out from their onset, but the pool will expand as the pandemic continues.
Updates from the press conference below.
3:45 p.m.
Whitmer said that they're making decisions on the future of the TCF Center field hospital.
3:44 p.m.
Gov. Whitmer said the Futures for Frontliners will be funding federal dollars.
3:39 p.m.
Whitmer said no one wants to see a second spike, and they don't want to have to shut the state down again.
3:38 p.m.
Whitmer is asked if she is considering the ban on lifting the ban on elective procedures and possibly doing it in waves and in areas.
She said they've had conversations with public health experts and leadership in various hospital systems.
She says they expect to have something in the coming days.
3:37 p.m.
Dr. Khaldun said they are investigating and looking at data of the increase in deaths but not from COVID-19. She also said that they have seen deaths from people with COVID-19 but from strokes or some other problem caused by COVID-19.
3:35 p.m.
Whitmer said that she will sign the order to open residential and commercial construction but wait until it goes into effect until May 7 so that they can get ready.
3:34 p.m.
Whitmer said that we remain in the state of emergency until the order is rescinded, and she said she doesn't have any intention of rescinding it now.
3:33 p.m.
Gov. Whitmer is asked about negotiating a stay-at-home order with the legislature to extend the state of emergency.
"If the Republicans int he legislature want to negotiate sectors of our economy. They're acting as if we're in the middle of a political problem. This isn't a political problem, this is a public health crisis," she said.
3:29 p.m.
"Michigan workers are tough, gritty people, who appreciate the dignity that a job provides," Bieber said during the press conference.
3:27 p.m.
Bieber urges Sen. Mitch McConnell to pass Peters' Heroes' Fund bill.
3:25 p.m.
Bieber starts by talking about the Workers Memorial Day held on April 28 every year.
He said in virtual memorials, there were appreciation for Gov. Whitmer from workers in the state.
He thanks the governor for saving lives through the actions she has taken during this outbreak, and aiding people who were laid off.
3:24 p.m.
Donofrio said that they will work with organized labor as they get back to work. he introduced Ron Bieber, the president of the Michigan AFL-CIO.
3:23 p.m.
Donofrio said that MIOSHA is working with business and labor leaders as people come back into the workplace during the coronavirus outbreak.
3:22 p.m.
Donorfio said that as employers start bringing back laid off workers part-time, those workers can still get unemployment through the workshare program.
3:20 p.m.
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Jeff Donorfio said that they have paid out more than $2.7 billion in unemployment insurance to more than a million Michiganders.
3:18 p.m.
Dr. Khaldun said people going outside should still maintain social distancing and still encouraged people to wear masks.
3:17 p.m.
Dr. Khaldun said that hospitals, particularly in southeast Michigan, are doing better on PPE.
She also said that hospitals are starting to stabilize, but there are an increasing number of cases in west Michigan.
3:16 p.m.
Dr. Khaldun said that they are averaging about 6,800 tests per day, which is a 50% increase in the number of tests from last week.
3:15 p.m.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun updates the state's numbers and said that they are seeing an overall plateau in the number of cases.
She said that some counties are seeing the rate of cases increases, especially on the west side of the state.
3:12 p.m.
Whitmer said she sent a letter to Congress encouraging them to vote for Sen. Gary Peters' bill establishing the Heroes' Fund which would give hazard pay to frontline workers.
3:11 p.m.
Whitmer said they are expanding the workshare program. People in the program can also apply for unemployment assistance and get the extra $600 in federal funds.
3:10 p.m.
Whitmer talks about the Childcare Relief Fund which will provide grants to childcare providers to get more assistance for people when the pandemic grows.
it will consist of $100 million in federal CARES Act funding and $30 million from the state's childcare fund.
3:08 p.m.
Gov. Whitmer talks about a new plan inspired by the GI Bill to provide secondary education for frontline workers in the coronavirus outbreak.
"Futures for Frontliners" would apply for nurses, those in nursing homes, grocery stores and other essential workers.
They can get associate degrees, potentially bachelor degrees at universities and technical certificates for free.
She said it's the first program of its kind in the country.
3:06 p.m.
Whitmer said that on Friday she'll sign an executive order opening up residential and commercial construction.
She said they are comfortable taking the step because it is a lower-risk enterprise.
3:05 p.m.
Gov. Whitmer outlines different things she has done for working families since the coronavirus outbreak began. She also said that workplace safety hasn't been a focus even before.
"Workplace safety can't be an afterthought," she said.
3:02 p.m.
She talks about how she laid out priorities regarding rengagement in the state in the MI Safe Start Plan and said she wants to expand on that more.
"My goal has been to provide rleief to those who can't go to work and rely on their paycheck to put food on the table.
3 p.m.
Gov. Whitmer highlighted the work of one nurse in our state.
Linda, 57, from Gladstone in the U.P, renewed her nursing license, Whitmer said, because she couldn't stand to sit on the sideline. She volunteered to join a nursing home in Marquette hit hard by the virus.
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