Michigan unemployment surges; record 1 in 10 workers have filed claims
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) LANSING — More than 300,000 Michigan residents filed unemployment insurance claims last week, an unprecedented surge amid the coronavirus pandemic that has forced business closures, prompted mass layoffs and overwhelmed the state filing system. Both Michigan and the United States posted record jobless claims for the week ended Saturday, March 28, surpassing […]
Beaumont chief blasts Michigan for lack of hospital data during coronavirus
by Robin Erb (Bridge) John Fox, CEO of Beaumont Health, the state’s largest hospital system, lashed out Sunday at a lack of communication among hospitals and state health officials as Michigan struggles with a surge of patients during the coronavirus crisis. With COVID-19 cases and death counts rising steeply, particularly in metro Detroit, Fox cited […]
Trump grants some disaster aid to Michigan; state also gets N95 masks
by Robin Erb (Bridge) President Trump approved in part Michigan’s request for federal disaster aid after a week of finger pointing with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over who was, or wasn’t, doing enough as the state battles a surge in cases of the coronavirus. Whitmer separately announced Saturday that the state received 112,800 N95 masks from […]
Detroit hospital: We’re nowhere near ‘worst-case’ coronavirus decisions
by Robin Erb, Kelly House (Bridge) Henry Ford Health System officials on Friday offered assurances that their resources aren’t at capacity and have yet to consider “worst-case scenario” care decisions amid the coronavirus epidemic. The assurances followed the release Thursday of a single-page draft policy to patients and families that offered grim guidelines for providers […]
Coronavirus, an ‘almost perfect killing machine,’ hits Michigan nursing homes
by Robin Erb (Bridge) Michigan’s nursing homes and senior living communities are losing ground in their uphill battle against COVID-19. At least 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been detected at the Beaumont Commons in Farmington Hills, Beaumont Health spokesman Mark Geary told Bridge. Advantage Living Center in Roseville on Friday acknowledged multiple suspected cases. […]
For some recovering addicts, Michigan’s stay-home order sparks fear of relapse
by Ashley Wong (Bridge) Michigan’s stay-home order, meant to protect the health of state residents, could be a challenge to the health of recovering alcoholics and addicts who’ve found in-person support meetings canceled and services like methadone dispensaries modified. Now, they’ll have to navigate a world where many paths to recovery have become digital. Many […]
Michigan, United States set records for weekly unemployment claims
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge) Michigan and the United States set records for unemployment insurance claims last week as the global coronavirus pandemic prompted a spike in business closures and wreaked havoc on the economy. In Michigan, 129,298 residents filed initial claims for the week ending Saturday, up more than 2,300 percent from the 5,338 filed […]
Northern Michigan to downstate residents: Stay home during coronavirus!
by Bob Campbell (Bridge) The resort havens of Traverse City and Petoskey are among the jewels of Michigan tourism. But not this week. From the mayors in these lakefront towns, to a mother of two young children in Manistee County and members of a Facebook group in Leelanau County, the message to downstate Michiganders is […]
Michigan scrambles to salvage school year in wake of coronavirus
by Ron French (Bridge) Government and school leaders are meeting to decide whether schools will reopen this spring, if instruction will be extended into the summer, what that would look like, and how it would be funded. Legislators, members of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration, and officials from school associations had a conference call Wednesday to […]
Michigan has coronavirus testing supplies ‘through another week’
by Robin Erb (Bridge) Testing for the coronavirus in Michigan, which the state said has ramped up to nearly 2,000 tests a day, may soon slow again because of what the state’s medical chief calls a “dire need” for swabs, reagents and other testing materials. Based on current testing supplies in Michigan, “we could probably […]
