Blossomland News Blossomland News

Four million free masks are being provided to Michigan residents who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 through a partnership involving the state, Ford Motor Company and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today.

Low-income residents, seniors, schools and homeless shelters will benefit from the MI Mask Aid partnership that is part of the Mask Up Michigan campaign.

“Michigan needs to continue to ‘mask up’ to protect us all from COVID-19,” Gov. Whitmer said. “Vulnerable populations may have difficulties buying masks and our schools need face coverings to keep students, staff and community members safe. I am thrilled that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Ford and FEMA are working together to help control the spread of the coronavirus.”

The project is in partnership with Gov. Whitmer’s Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities chaired by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II.

The irony of this pandemic that requires physical distancing is that it reveals how connected we truly are—how much we rely on one another every day,” Lt. Governor Gilchrist II said. “I’m thankful for our partners at Ford, FEMA and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for coming together in a big way to ensure that our communities, particularly those hardest hit, have what they need to get through these tough times. By delivering four million masks at no cost to Michiganders, we can provide a proven, lifesaving device to countless residents as they go back to work, school, and define new way of living during this pandemic.”

The free masks include 1.5 million from FEMA that the state has already sent to organizations that include local Community Action Agencies serving low-income residents, MDHHS offices, Area Agencies on Aging, homeless shelters and Native American tribes.

Another 1 million face coverings from FEMA and 1.5 million from Ford will go to low-income schools, the City of Detroit, Federally Qualified Health Centers, some COVID-19 testing sites and to many of the organizations listed above to reach vulnerable populations – including minority residents who have been affected by the public health crisis as a result of racism.

“Masks are proven to reduce a person’s chance of spreading COVID-19 by about 70 percent. There’s also growing evidence that masks can protect the wearer’s life, by reducing the severity of COVID if they get it,” MDHHS Director Robert Gordon said. “It’s critically important to make sure communities most impacted by COVID-19 have greater access to masks at no cost. The MI Mask Aid initiative is a critical step in this effort.”

Ford’s involvement makes MI Mask Aid a public-private partnership that can provide even more free masks. Ford assembles more vehicles and employs more hourly workers in the U.S. than any other automaker.

“Manufacturing is the backbone of America and from World War II to fighting COVID-19, Ford has a rich history of stepping up in times of crisis to help Michigan and our country,” said Ford Motor Company president and CEO Jim Hackett. “And today we continue in our efforts, with the State of Michigan and in coordination with the Task Force on Racial Disparities, by donating face masks to serve communities especially vulnerable to COVID-19. We also will continue to look for ways to address urgent needs of our communities by leveraging our partnerships through the Ford Motor Company Fund.”

Anyone interested in receiving a free mask can find a distribution location by calling the COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 or looking up their local Community Action Agency online.

On average, each person in Berrien County, Michigan with COVID is infecting 0.85 other people. Because each person is infecting less than one other person, the total number of current cases in Berrien County, Michigan is shrinking.

A significant percentage (3.4%) of COVID tests were positive, meaning that Berrien County, Michigan’s testing meets WHO minimums but needs to be further expanded to detect most new cases. Identifying and isolating new cases can help contain COVID without resorting to lockdowns.

In the region, Michigan and Ohio have slow and contained disease growth. Indiana and Illinois are at risk of an active outbreak.

A cluster of southern states including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida remain at critical levels.

Escanaba, MI (Blossomland News) - An Upper Peninsula bald eagle launched an airborne attack on a drone operated by a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) pilot last month, tearing off a propeller and sending the aircraft to the bottom of Lake Michigan.

The governor continued to protect Michigan’s frontline workers in grocery stores, pharmacies and long-term care facilities by signing Executive Orders 2020-168 and 2020-169. The governor’s orders extend existing safety measures, including 2 hours a week of reserved shopping time for vulnerable populations, to protect consumers and employees at grocery stores and pharmacies.

“For the past five months, Michiganders have stepped up and done their part to fight COVID-19, and frontline workers in our hospitals, grocery stores, nursing homes, and more have put their own lives on the line to protect our families,” said Governor Whitmer. “Our fight is not over yet, and that is why I am extending these protections to ensure employees, residents and customers are able to work and live in a safe environment.”

Executive Order 2020-169 maintains the strong infection control protocols in nursing homes the governor put in place at the outset of this crisis, and protects residents from eviction and employees from retaliatory action for staying home when exhibiting symptoms. From day of the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Whitmer has taken action to protect seniors. In addition to the executive orders implementing these protections, she pushed our inspectors to complete 100% of infection control surveys more than two months before the federal deadline, and they delivered. And she has worked tirelessly to procure tests and PPE to keep seniors safe, and to facilitate testing for all nursing home residents and staff, with little to no assistance from federal authorities. Executive Order 2020-169 extends through September 7.

The health and safety of nursing home residents and staff remains a top priority for Governor Whitmer. On June 26, she created the bipartisan Michigan Nursing Homes COVID-19 Preparedness Task Force within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). She also signed Executive Order 2020-156 which continues the limited and temporary restrictions on the entry of individuals into health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 to vulnerable populations.

Executive Order 2020-168, which continues through September 7, extends the following health and safety rules for grocery stores and pharmacies, among others:

Grocery stores and pharmacies must allocate at least two hours per week of shopping time for vulnerable populations.

If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, the business must notify other employees without infringing on private health information.

Grocery stores and pharmacies must offer accommodations to vulnerable employees, such as low-risk assignments or a leave of absence.

Dan VandenHeede, a retired teacher, Niles City Councilman, and Democratic candidate for State Representative in Michigan’s 78th State House District, nearly quadrupled his Republican opponent in fundraising this past quarter.

“This campaign has always been about bringing together a coalition of people from all sides of the political spectrum who believe that change can happen and are sick of politics as usual. This fundraising quarter, in which 70 percent of my donors contributed $50 or under, proved that we have the support and momentum it takes to go all the way,” VandenHeede said.

Brad Paquette, the current Republican incumbent in the 78th District, raised $3,650, whereas VandenHeede brought in $14,376. Both are vying to represent the District located in the Southwest corner of Michigan, spanning southern Berrien County and a portion of Cass County.

“I’m running a grassroots, people-oriented campaign in the community I’ve lived in my entire life. People from across Southwest Michigan have sent a clear message that they’re ready for change, and recognize that sending a teacher and community leader to Lansing is the best way to make that change possible. From increasing funding for our public education system, to rebuilding Michigan’s economy after this COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve been a proven problem-solver in this District and I can’t wait to represent it and continue to work on these issues come November,” VandenHeede said.

This is the best fundraising quarter for any Democratic candidate in Michigan’s 78th State House District in over a decade. Paquette and VandenHeede will face off in the general election on November 4th.

Photo of Dan VandenHeede from www.danvandenheede.com

Press Release from Berrien County Democratic Party/Facebook

Berrien County is now at low risk as the infection rate has dipped to 0.73 On average, each person in Berrien County, Michigan with COVID is infecting 0.73 other people. Because each person is infecting less than one other person, the total number of current cases in Berrien County, Michigan is shrinking. According to covidactnow.org.*

Over the last week, Berrien County, Michigan has averaged 5.8 new confirmed cases per day for every 100,000 residents. As context, if these rates were to continue, 2-20% of Berrien County, Michigan’s population would be infected in the next year, according to covidactnow.org.*

A low percentage (2.2%) of COVID tests were positive, which suggests enough widespread, aggressive testing in Berrien County, Michigan to detect most new cases. Identifying and isolating new cases can help contain COVID without resorting to lockdowns, according to covidactnow.org.*

Research shows that masks can greatly reduce the chance of spreading COVID-19, especially when approximately 40% of those who have COVID-19 may be asymptomatic. We can only contain the virus and keep Michigan open if everyone stays careful and masks up when they leave home, whether they feel sick or not. (michigan.gov/maskup)

Per recent Executive Order, Michiganders are required to wear a face covering whenever they are in an indoor public space. It also requires the use of face coverings in crowded outdoor spaces. Businesses open to the public will refuse entry or service to those who decline to wear a face covering. (michigan.gov/maskup)

A cluster of southern states is still having an active outbreak. These states include: Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alababa, Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Additionally Nevada and Arizona in the Western U.S. is also having an active outbreak. (covidactnow.org)