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Coronavirus

Baraga schools closed Monday after positive COVID test

BARAGA — Baraga Area Schools appeared on track to reopen Tuesday after a one-day closure due to a staff member’s positive COVID-19 test. The district closed Monday to allow time for contact tracing. Its building includes both the junior/senior high school and the Philip J. LaTendresse Elementary School. “We probably didn’t need to close, but we wanted to make sure we were doing everything right … just make sure we’re catching any places we didn’t think about,” Superintendent Richard Sarau said. ”Today was a pause - let’s take a step back, let’s not panic, and ...

Hancock Schools reports student tested positive

HANCOCK — As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to increase in Houghton County, Superintendent Steve Patchin reported Monday morning that a Hancock Schools student tested positive for COVID-19. “Following directions of the Western U.P. Health Department, we are taking actions to mitigate the spread of the virus” Patchin said in a Monday email. “We continue to follow the strongly recommended protocols recommended by Governor Whitmer’s Return to School Advisory Council, including extensive cleaning, wearing of facial coverings, utilizing the cohort model, and ...

What the Cohort Model includes

HANCOCK — In a Monday email, Superintendent Steve Patchin said that in light of a Hancock school student having tested positive for COVID-19, Hancock Public Schools, among other steps to mitigate the spread of the virus, is following the state of Michigan’s Cohort Model from the Return to School Roadmap for the 2020-21 school year, released on June 30. The roadmap defines a cohort as a mass of students who are grouped together and do not mix with other groups of students. The Cohort Model includes the following: • As able and appropriate, schools should try to cohort groups of ...

Bergman announces major win for cherry growers and other producers in new Coronavirus farm aid

TRAVERSE CITY - Following U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Bill Northey's visit with First District cherry growers, and a letter from Rep. Bergman urging the USDA to ensure direct payments for cherry growers and other crops through the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program (CFAP) - President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced an additional $14 billion of CFAP funds with expanded eligibility - specifically including sweet and tart cherry growers and maple sap producers. CFAP and these additional funds were made available through the ...

MDHHS order protects staff, youth at state’s juvenile justice facilities with COVID-19 testing requirement

LANSING — Youth, staff and community members will be better protected from COVID-19 under an emergency order from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon that requires testing of employees of the two state-run juvenile justice facilities. Gordon signed the order Friday and it has immediate effect. “COVID-19 testing to identify positive cases so that state and local health officials can take quick action to limit outbreaks is an important strategy,” Gordon said. “Testing – along with wearing masks, social distancing and frequent ...

State cites 19 businesses, totaling $51,400 in penalties for COVID-19 workplace safety violations

LANSING — To further protect Michigan workers, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) issued COVID-19 “general duty” citations to 19 different businesses with serious violations for failing to uphold safety and health workplace guidelines, potentially putting workers in harm’s way. “The MIOSHA investigations determined that these employers were not taking precautions to protect employees and their communities from the spread of COVID-19,” MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman said. “Failure to follow guidelines puts everyone at risk and these ...