Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to reopen construction industry May 7
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is planning to allow residential and commercial construction crews back to work by May 7 as part of her plan to restart the Michigan economy she shut down to battle the coronavirus pandemic, her office confirmed Wednesday morning. The governor signed an executive order Friday, a development first […]
As Michigan economy nears reopening, businesses scramble for protective gear
By Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — The new normal is coming for Michigan businesses, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prepares to begin reopening the economy. And that means the hunt is on for masks. Like hospitals before them, businesses statewide face the prospect of having to compete for personal protection equipment that remains in high demand […]
Northern Michigan University: Campus open in fall despite coronavirus fears
By Ron French (Bridge) Northern Michigan University students will return to campus and in-person classes in September, with the Marquette campus becoming the first state public university to announce a plan for a traditional semester despite the coronavirus pandemic. NMU’s board of trustees approved a plan for students to return to campus late Thursday. The plan, for […]
As coronavirus ravages nursing homes, Michigan records spotty at best
By Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) When Michigan last week released its first list of nursing homes with coronavirus patients, Cathy Wilson scanned it quickly, looking for the facility where her aging mother lives in Royal Oak. It wasn’t on the list, even though just two days before, Wilson said facility operators told her that seven residents had died […]
Patients at 1 in 3 Michigan nursing homes have coronavirus, records show
Search list of Michigan nursing homes for COVID-19 cases here. by Ted Roelofs, Mike Wilkinson (Bridge) Michigan released records on Friday confirming fears that the coronavirus is raging in state nursing homes, with 2,108 confirmed cases and dozens of homes with more than 20 cases apiece. The records show nursing home patients account for at […]
Coronavirus cases rising again in Michigan. That may not be bad news.
by Robin Erb, Mike Wilkinson, Brie Zeltner (Bridge) Michigan’s coronavirus cases climbed again Friday for the fourth consecutive day, but health experts say that may not be cause for serious concern. “The more you test, the more you’ll find,” said Dr. Peter Gulick, an infectious disease expert at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic […]
What Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home executive order means to Michigan
by Riley Beggin (Bridge) Prepare to stay at home until at least May 15. But while you do it, you can now buy gardening supplies, fire up the motorboat, or play a few rounds of golf. These are among the new freedoms allowed under an extended stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday. […]
Coronavirus guts Michigan college budgets. And it’s going to get worse
by Ron French (Bridge) Michigan’s colleges and universities are in “dire” financial straits because of the coronavirus pandemic, with the possibility that some may not survive. Schools have lost hundreds of millions of dollars so far, with the hemorrhaging expected to continue this summer and into the fall. The scale of the budget blows is […]
Rural Michigan hospitals gutted by coronavirus, even those without cases
by Ted Roelofs (Bridge) Just like many urban hospitals in Michigan, the bottom line at Chippewa County War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie has been slammed by COVID-19. With a statewide hold on “non-essential” procedures by a March 10 executive order of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, revenues plunged by $4 million in a month at […]
Coronavirus empties pediatrician offices in Michigan, decreases vaccinations
by Robin Erb (Bridge) The bright and colorful lobby at Children’s Hospital of Michigan — usually packed with youngsters playing on a giant interactive video screen with virtual fireworks and popping balloons — remains quiet these days. The hallways of the Detroit hospital are emptier too. Most of Dr. Kevin Dazy’s young patients now come […]
