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Coronavirus

MDHHS issues Emergency Order updating gathering definitions, capacity restrictions, mask requirements and worker protections

LANSING – To help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of all Michiganders, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon issued an Emergency Order under section 2253 of the Public Health Code restricting gathering sizes, requiring face coverings in public spaces and childcare facilities, placing capacity limitations on stores, bars and other public venues and providing for safer workplaces. “Our goal is to maintain policies that have made a drastic difference in the fight against COVID-19,” Gordon said. “Cases are ...

COVID affects Tech enrollment less than feared

al University saw only a slight decline in student numbers, ahead of where the university had projected it would be as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Enrollment is at 6,867 students, down 170 students from last fall, John Lehman, vice president for university relations and enrollment, ...

CLK returns to classrooms Monday

CALUMET TOWNSHIP — The Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw (CLK) Schools, as with other districts in Houghton County, will return to in-person instruction on Monday, Oct.12, Superintendent Christopher Davidson said in an email to CLK families. “I want to thank you for the cooperation and support you have provided to your children and their teachers during this two week period,” he said. “We have higher expectations for distance learning this year, and I know this has placed additional responsibility and stress on our families. So, thank you again for supporting your children, their ...

State Health director issues emergency orders to stem virus

DETROIT — A week after Michigan’s Supreme Court ruled Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lacked the authority to act unilaterally to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the state health department issued its own emergency order keeping much of the restrictions she imposed in place. The order Friday from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon comes under the state’s Public Health Code. Michigan Supreme Court justices in a 4-3 vote last week declared the 1945 law repeatedly used by the Democratic governor to respond to the pandemic unconstitutional. The ...

WUPHD: K-12 schools returning to in-person instruction

HANCOCK — After a decline in the rate of new cases over the past two weeks, the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department announced Thursday K-12 schools in Houghton County would be able to resume face-to-face instruction Monday. Schools had moved to remote learning on Sept. 28 after the rate of new cases had spiked. Since then, testing capacity has increased, meaning surveillance testing is more readily available, said WUPHD Health Officer Kate Beer. At the same time, the rate of new cases has gone down. “The fact that the schools will be going under Phase 4, which means ...

Patchin excited for Hancock’s return to classrooms and sports Monday

HANCOCK — The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department (WUPHD) gave the go ahead for face-to-face learning to resume in the Hancock School District on Monday, Oct. 12. In a conference call with area superintendents, WUPHD stated that they were comfortable with students returning classrooms, said Steve Patchin in a Wednesday email. Patchin said the announcement also means that fall sports will resume their seasons on Monday. “On our conference call with the WUPHD were representatives from U.P. Health – Portage and Upper Great Lakes who operate many clinics in the area,” said ...