(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.
8:11 p.m.
Henry Ford Health System has started enrollment in a study of the effectiveness of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine in preventing the coronavirus (COVID-19). It's the first large-scale study of the drug in the United States.
The "Will Hydroxychloroquine Impede or Prevent COVID-19" study, also known as "WHIP COVID-19," could provide insight to a solution on slowing the spread of COVID-19, as there's currently no FDA-approved preventions, vaccines or treatments for the virus.
7:20 p.m.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's extended stay-at-home order bans travelbetween residences. The order, which will now be in effect through April 30, comes with extended guidelines from the first order that was announced in March. One particular added guideline pertains to individual travel.
The extended order bans travel between two residences in the state except for with some exemptions, including due to the transporting of a child by court order.
Individuals are also not allowed to go back and forth between vacation homes. This goes into effect after April 10.
3:30 p.m.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a new task force dedicated to addressing racial disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities will be chaired by Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist.
"This virus is holding up a mirror to our society and reminding us of deep inequities in our country," Whitmer said. “From basic lack of access to health care, transportation, and protections in the workplace, these inequities hit people of color and vulnerable communities the hardest. This task force will help us start addressing these disparities right now as we work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan.”
She said the task force will consist of leaders from local communities and healthcare professionals.
3 p.m.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended the state's stay-at-home order until May 1, she announced Thursday.
“Michigan has the third highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, and we’re still on the upswing. We must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread and protect our families,” Whitmer said in a press release. “Data shows that most Michiganders are doing their part by staying home and staying safe. That’s good, but we must keep it up. When we do, we can save lives and shorten the amount of time we’re working through this crisis, which will be good for our families and good for our economy in the long-run. We can also protect critical infrastructure workers like doctors, nurses, grocery store employees, and child care workers. Now more than ever, it’s crucial that people stay home and stay safe.”
Executive Order 2020-42 prohibits all businesses and operations from requiring workers to leave their homes, unless those workers are necessary to sustain or protect life or to conduct minimum basic operations. Businesses and operations are to designate the workers who meet those criteria, and must adopt social distancing practices and other mitigation measures to protect workers and patrons in the performance of that in-person work.
2:45 p.m.
The number of deaths from COVID-19 in Michigan is now at 1,076 while the number of cases is at 21,504, according to the state.
That's up from 959 deaths and 20,346 cases from Wednesday. It is the third straight day with more than 100 deaths reported, and the second-highest number of deaths reported in a single day.
Michigan still ranks third in the country for cases and deaths from COVID-19, behind New York and New Jersey, and ahead of California and Louisiana.
1:56 p.m.
The Cleveland Clinic is sending healthcare workers to metro Detroit and Michigan to help fight COVID-19.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, they have connected with hospitals in Michigan and New York who requested the help of caregivers including critical care nurses, nurse practitioners, board-certified critical care and emergency medicine physicians, physician assistants and CT and X-ray technicians.
"Cleveland Clinic is supportive of providing caregivers to help during this time and we remain well-staffed to handle any anticipated surge in the states where we have hospitals. The decision to serve is completely voluntary for our caregivers," a statement reads.
10:15 a.m.
Four metro Detroit health providers will come together to help staff the temporary hospital at TCF Center in Detroit, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday.
The TCF Regional Care Center is scheduled to accept its first 25 patients on Friday, and will be staffed by Henry Ford Health System, McLaren Health Care, Beaumont Health and Detroit Medical Center.
9:22 a.m.
Michigan saw 384,844 unemployment filings between March 28 and April 4.
This is higher than the 304,335 who filed for unemployment the previous week, according to totals released on Thursday.
The state reported major layoffs in manufacturing, retail trade, construction, administrative, waste management, support, remediation services, health care and more.
9 a.m.
The Department of Labor said Thursday that 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment claims last week as efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus continue to slow the economy.
The new figures mean that about 16 million people have applied for unemployment in the past three weeks.
7:57 a.m.
The Strategic National Stockpile is nearly out of N95 respirators, surgical masks, face shields, gowns and other supplies desperately needed to protect front-line medical workers treating coronavirus patients. Click here.
6:13 a.m.
Delta is taking steps to help customers and employees practice social distancing on the ground and in the air by blocking off middle seats on planes. Click here.
5:49 a.m.
The coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives in many ways, from how we simply walk outside to how we work, but when medical professionals get a leg up on this virus and we turn the corner, will everything just go back to the way it was? Click here.
5:48 a.m.
The bill is signed and the federal $2 trillion stimulus package is on the way. But many people are still confused and wonder if they will get a check for $1,200. Here's who'll get one and when.
4:46 a.m.
If you're a first responder or health care worker battling the COVID-19 crisis, you can now skip to the front of the line at Costco stores. 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.