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The latest coronavirus updates: Thursday, April 2, 2020

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(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.

SCHEDULED EVENTS HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THE BLOG FOR WHEN THEY WILL OCCUR

8:41 p.m.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday that people can face up to $1,000 in fines and referral to licensing agencies for enforcement if state executive orders to social distance are not followed during the coronavirus pandemic. Law enforcement agencies will enforce this by jurisdictions.

4:00 p.m.

The total number of COVID-19 cases diagnosed worldwide has passed the 1 million mark. Click here

3:07 p.m.

Henry Ford Health System is looking for volunteers in Southeastern Michigan to take part in a national study looking to assess the preventative capabilities of hydroxychloroquine, the medicine that’s being used to treat patients with COVID after they get it with azithromycin.

According to the City of Detroit, officials are trying to see if the medicine can be used as a prevention against COVID-19. Because first responders come into contact with COVID-19 patients, they are hoping they can analyze the results.

3:03 p.m.

There are now 417 deaths and 10,791 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan, according to new numbers released by the state on Thursday.

That's up from 337 deaths and 9,334 cases from Wednesday.

3 p.m.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is set to give his daily update on the coronavirus response in the city.

Duggan is set to address a study that will be conducted by Henry Ford Health System related to COVID-19, as well as new testing protocols for DPD officer.

12:48 p.m.

Detroit City Council President and Democratic Congressional Candidate Brenda Jones has tested positive for COVID-19.

Jones, 60, is remaining isolated and following doctor's orders, but is not experiencing any strong symptoms, according to her re-election campaign.

10:21 a.m.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order which will close all K-12 school buildings for the remainder of the school year, unless restrictions are lifted. View the full outline of the plan here.

9:49 a.m.

A firefighter in the city of Ann Arbor has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Fire Chief Mike Kennedy. Click here.
9:45 a.m.

Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard plans to host a "tele-town hall" Thursday for residents. Click here.

9:19 a.m.

Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter may not be open during the coronavirus pandemic, but a new online hub is bringing all of Hogwarts magic into the home. Click here.

9:14 a.m.

The 2020 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship – scheduled for Harbor Shores Resort in May – has been canceled, the PGA of America announced. This is due to the COVID-19 outbreak throughout the state and world. Click here.

8:41 a.m.

Unemployment claims have spiked to 6.65 million across the country, the Department of Labor said in a press release on Thursday. Click here.

8:33 a.m.

An MRI technician at a metro Detroit hospital created whiteboard messages showing off the positive numbers of the hospital's fight against COVID-19. Click here.

8:32 a.m.

Have you heard that eating garlic prevents COVID-19 infection? Or, that taking a hot bath will protect someone from the novel coronavirus? These are myths – and they’re running rampant. Click here.

8:19 a.m.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are expanding coverage for services related to COVID-19. Click here.

7:43 a.m.

The total number of deaths linked to the novel coronavirus now exceeds more than 5,000 according to a database kept by Johns Hopkins. Click here.

5:39 a.m.

The city of Detroit will be the first to have specific test kits that could have results in minutes. Click here.

4:06 a.m.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-Michigan) tells 7 Action News she will make the announcement officially on Thursday, answering questions about her plan for students in Michigan. Click here.

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.