(WXYZ) — All of the updates on the coronavirus and the incredible impact it's having on our lives can be hard to keep up with. To help you keep up, we'll post this daily blog on our homepage. You can find all of our stories on our coronavirus page.
3:13 p.m.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the creation of the Return to Learning Advisory Council to formalize a process for how schools may be able to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic.
The council will be comprised of students, parents, frontline educators, administrators and public health officials. They will provide the COVID-19 task force on education with recommendations on how to safely, equitably and efficiently return to school in the fall.
“It’s critical we bring together experts in health care and education, as well as students, educators, and families to think about how and if it’s possible to safely return to in-person learning in the fall and how to ensure the more than 1.5 million K-12 students across Michigan get the education they need and deserve,” Whitmer said in a release. “This panel will use a data-informed and science-based approach with input from epidemiologists to determine if, when, and how students can return to school this fall and what that will look like.”
2:50 p.m.
There are now 4,825 deaths and 50,079 cases of coronavirus in Michigan, according to numbers released from the State of Michigan on Friday afternoon.
That's up 38 deaths and 497 cases from Thursday when there were 4,787 deaths from coronavirus and 49,582 cases.
The state saw a massive spike in cases on Thursday as they got backlogged results and saw increased testing at correctional facilities in the state.
Overall, 22,686 have recovered from the virus, according to the state. That number will be updated Saturday. Recovery includes confirmed COVID-19 cases who are 30 days out from their onset, but the pool will expand as the pandemic continues.
Michigan also tested a record 23,647 people on May 13, nearly 10,000 more than the previous testing record set on May 12.
8:41 a.m.
The Michigan State University Board of Trustees unanimously voted to freeze housing and tuition rates for 2020-21. The board voted on Friday morning via Zoom call as they continued their meetings during the coronavirus pandemic.
5:13 a.m.
A lawsuit against the governor heads to court Friday. GOP lawmakers claim Gov. Whitmer violated her use of emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic.
4:45 a.m.
State leaders are meeting virtually Friday morning to address a major budget shortfall due to COVID-19. Projections paint a grim picture, including likely dire cuts to public education.
A senate fiscal report released Thursday shows Michigan is facing a budget gap of nearly $2.7 billion.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Read our daily Coronavirus Live Blog for the latest updates and news on coronavirus.
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
Find out how you can help metro Detroit restaurants struggling during the pandemic.
See all of our Helping Each Other stories.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.