Coronavirus came to Michigan earlier than thought, records show
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer first learned the coronavirus had come to Michigan shortly after 8:49 p.m. March 10, with the confirmation of two cases in metro Detroit, internal emails show. Since then, state officials have learned there already were likely 500 infections in Michigan at that time. And nearly 10,000 people […]
Lots of rain, few fireworks at latest protest of Michigan’s stay-at-home rules
LANSING — Renea Knight stood behind cardboard prison bars on a sidewalk in front of the Michigan Capitol on Thursday to protest what she called the “tyranny” of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order. Knute Hill formed a counterprotest on the Capitol lawn, offering a lonely voice of support for Whitmer from inside a circular safe […]
Coronavirus is isolating children. How to help them thrive.
by Brie Zeltner (Bridge) In the Sterling Heights condominium complex where Mary Johnson lives with her 9-year-old son and husband, kids began playing together outdoors as soon as the weather improved. The sounds of shouting and giggling drift in through Johnson’s windows, a siren call to play that is nearly impossible for a child to […]
Gretchen Whitmer, GOP square off in court over Michigan emergency powers
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Is Gretchen Whitmer using her just authority as governor to protect Michigan amid a once-in-a-century crisis or setting a dangerous precedent by illegally ignoring the Legislature? That was the question before Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens on Friday morning in a showdown between Whitmer and the GOP-led Legislature that could determine […]
Inflammatory syndrome tied to coronavirus sickens two dozen Michigan kids
by Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press (for Bridge) At first, they might not seem that sick. A child might have a fever and a rash that lasts a few days, or cracked lips, red, irritated eyes and a bright red tongue. There might be swollen lymph nodes or stomach pain, gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea […]
In Michigan, 23K are ‘recovered’ from COVID. Many still feel like hell.
by Robin Erb (Bridge) As a data point on the state’s coronavirus dashboard, Nancy Blodgett has moved to “recovered.” And yes, she’s home after getting whomped full-force by COVID-19. But recovered? Not even close. “Heavens no. ‘Recovered’ is when you can go back to work [and] when you can walk to the mailbox and not […]
Michigan’s definition of coronavirus ‘recovery’ looser than other states
Editor’s note: Washtenaw County and the State of Michigan use different definitions of “recovered”. In Washtenaw County’s COVID-19 numbers, “recovered” is defined as no symptoms/fever for over 72 hours and at least 7 days since symptoms started. Robin Erb (Bridge) Not dead. In the crassest of terms, that’s how the state of Michigan defines the 22,686 […]
Whitmer reopens Michigan from coronavirus in phases: What that means to you
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday announced details of a six-phase economic restart plan and announced that Michigan is already in the third phase because coronavirus case counts are “flattening.” That means manufacturing firms, which represent approximately 19 percent of the state’s economy, will be permitted to reopen Monday with new workplace safety rules. With Detroit’s Big Three automakers […]
Part nurse, part detective: A day in the life of a Michigan contact tracer
by Kelly House (Bridge) Christina Zilke’s first interaction with her patients is often unpleasant. As a contact tracer with the Washtenaw County Health Department, she must ask them to relive the onset of an illness that has made them a statistic in a global pandemic. Zilke knows how important it is to interview COVID-19 patients […]
Michigan launches coronavirus contact tracing. Here’s what you need to know.
by Kelly House, Riley Beggin (Bridge) Successfully reopening Michigan’s economy requires government officials to know who has COVID-19 — and to whom they could have spread it. Without that, health experts say, reopening the state may be a major gamble marked by waves of new infections spread by people who don’t yet know they’re sick. As […]
