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Coronavirus

MDHHS expands rapid response staffing resources statewide for long-term care facilities facing staffing shortages

LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is expanding its Rapid Response Staffing Resources program which offers assistance to long-term care facilities facing staffing shortages due to COVID-19 across the state. “Since this program launched in July, surge staffing has been in high demand due to staff testing positive during regular COVID-19 testing in long-term care facilities,” said Robert Gordon, MDHHS director. “To meet this need and ensure the safety of long-term care residents in Michigan, MDHHS is expanding the program statewide, adding ...

Michigan offers assistance and reimbursement to promote more COVID-19 testing in homes for the aged

LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) urges Homes for the Aged (HFA) to conduct regular testing for COVID-19, and announced today an expansion of state assistance and reimbursement to support more testing in these facilities. HFAs provide room, board and supervised personal care to 21 or more individuals ages 55 or older. Due to the significant risk of outbreaks in long-term care facilities and the higher likelihood of severe health outcomes caused by COVID-19 among the elderly, it is imperative that HFAs provide routine testing to identify infections ...

Michigan launches $10 million COVID-19 in wastewater surveillance grant program

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) today announced a $10 million grant for a three-month pilot program to fund local public health department efforts to coordinate with counties, universities, and other institutions across the state on COVID-19 wastewater testing programs. These local efforts have the potential to be an early warning system for the spread of COVID-19 within a specific community or for coronavirus outbreaks on college campuses and at other densely populated ...

MDHHS order protects patients, employees and visitors at state-run hospitals with staff COVID-19 testing requirement

LANSING – Patients, staff and visitors 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 five state-run psychiatric hospitals and centers. Gordon signed the order today and it has immediate effect. “MDHHS believes that COVID-19 testing is one of the best tools we have in limiting its spread,” Gordon said. “Testing – along with wearing masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing – is especially important in settings such as our ...

New “Spread Hope, Not COVID” campaign urges all Michiganders to join together to safely reopen the state

LANSING — A new public education campaign launched today by Michigan public health officials and a large and growing coalition whose members touch the lives of millions of citizens urges all Michiganders to unite to contain the spread of COVID-19 so the state’s economy, schools and communities can safely reopen – and stay open. The “Spread Hope, Not COVID” campaign already includes about 50 of Michigan’s leading health care, business, education, community, manufacturing, tourism, senior citizen, labor, faith-based, and public safety organizations and is led by the Michigan ...

New MDHHS order will allow outdoor visits at residential facilities while continuing to protect residents from COVID-19

LANSING — People living in residential care facilities such as nursing homes soon will be able to see visitors outdoors under a new epidemic order signed today by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon that also requires precautions to protect against COVID-19. The directive permits additional exceptions to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s order that temporarily restricts visits during the pandemic for the health and safety of residents, visitors and staff at health care, residential care, congregate care and juvenile justice facilities. Based in part ...