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Coronavirus

MDHHS issues guidance encouraging colleges and universities to require COVID-19 testing for on- and off-campus students

LANSING — Today, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) released new guidance encouraging colleges and universities to require COVID-19 testing of students who live in the immediate university community, even if the students do not live on campus. “We know there have been outbreaks of COVID-19 on college campuses across the country, and it has an impact on disease spread beyond the campus community,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health, “Colleges have stepped up throughout this pandemic to slow disease spread ...

MDHHS identifies first Michigan case of new COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.7. in Washtenaw County

LANSING — The first Michigan case of new COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.7. was identified in an adult female living in Washtenaw County by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Bureau of Laboratories today. The person recently traveled to the United Kingdom, where this variant originated. Close contacts of this individual have been identified and are in quarantine. At this time, two new cases have been identified from close contacts with the person, but it is not known if they are infected with the variant. B.1.1.7. is believed to be more contagious, but there has been ...

Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program to provide $55 million in grants for COVID-19 relief efforts

LANSING - The Michigan Strategic Fund today approved two grant programs - the Michigan Small Business Survival Grants and the Michigan Stages Survival Grants - totaling $58.5 million in relief to help meet the urgent needs of small businesses and live event venues impacted by the COVID-19 virus, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced. The State of Michigan appropriated the funds through SB 748, signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Dec. 29, to implement the programs to support Michigan's small businesses that have been especially impacted as a result of the ...

FinnU MLK Day of Service altered due to COVID-19

HANCOCK — The annual tradition of Finlandia University students taking the day off from classes and participating in community service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is being altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of testing and social distancing guidelines, many of the opportunities that students normally have for community service, like visiting nursing homes and reading to school-aged children, are no longer available. “COVID has created many challenges in regards to upholding the traditions we value so much. This includes our MLK Day of Service,” said Director of ...

Treasury: Certain businesses affected by COVID-19 epidemic orders provided tax assistance

LANSING – Businesses that require social gatherings for customers and have experienced disrupted operations due to COVID-19 epidemic orders now have even more time to make monthly or quarterly sales, use and withholding tax payments, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury. Restaurants that depend on indoor dining and most entertainment and recreational venues scheduled to make sales, use and withholding tax payments for December 2020 and January 2021 or for the last quarter of 2020 can postpone filing and payment requirements until Feb. 20, 2021. The state Treasury ...

Western Upper Peninsula advances to Phase 1B; additional planning underway

HANCOCK — The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department (WUPHD) announces that the agency is set to begin COVID-19 vaccination of residents age 65 years or older. The first clinics will be held beginning Monday, Jan. 11, at both the Hancock and Bessemer locations, with limited appointments available. Due to the lack of a sufficient supply of vaccine, clinics are by appointment only. No walk-in clinics will be held. WUPHD has launched on online scheduling tool for appointments. The tool can be found at https://westernuphealthdepartmentscheduler.as.me/schedule.php. People are ...