LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday that people with principal symptoms of the disease caused by the coronavirus should stay home for a minimum of three days after the symptoms fade.
Her order came hours before the state that has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19 reported nearly 2,000 new infections - the largest single-day increase - and 62 additional deaths. Michigan had more than 12,700 confirmed cases and 479 deaths as of Friday.
THE LATEST:
Whitmer’s order applies to all residents who test positive or have at least a key symptom: fever, nagging cough or shortness of breath. They can leave for medical care, outdoor exercise, food and other life-sustaining supplies as long as they wear a mask or face covering.
People should stay home until three days after their symptoms go away and until seven days since they first appeared. Others who have had close contact with infected individuals or those displaying symptoms should stay home for a longer period.
The order prohibits employers from retaliating against workers if they or one of their close contacts have the disease or symptoms.
DETROIT-AREA CASES:
Most of the confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to be in the Detroit area, with 80% in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. The city had 3,550 cases and 117 deaths.
Detroit is about 80% black. African Americans, who make up 14% of the state population, make up 35% of cases statewide and 40% of deaths. The race in 34% of cases and 28% of deaths is listed as unknown.
Mayor Mike Duggan said the higher death rate among blacks is due to health care disparities between whites and African Americans. Starting Monday, any Detroiter who needs a ride to a testing site at the old state fairgrounds can get one for $2 round trip.
SOCIAL DISTANCING:
Detroit Assistant Police Chief James White said officers will enforce state social-distancing restrictions, especially in parks. Violators could face a $1,000 fine. Crews removed basketball hoops from more than a dozen parks where people had been playing.
“We can’t be having these gatherings,” Duggan said.
There’s an itch to shoot the ball outdoors in the Upper Peninsula. Negaunee closed its parks after finding someone had cleared snow at the courts at Bernie Rivers Field. City Manager Nate Heffron told The Mining Journal that it’s too risky even if “some people may have cabin fever.”
OVENS:
Michigan State University plans to use a commercial oven to sterilize N95 masks that protect medical workers from the virus.
Dr. Norman Beauchamp Jr., the school’s executive vice president for health sciences, said the method will allow the reuse of the masks at a time of shortages at hospitals.
“Some are already at this point where they’re reusing the masks in ways that aren’t ultimately going to be safe. And this is a way to reliably make sure that the supply is maintained,” Beauchamp said.
The process began this week at the school’s Food Processing and Innovation Center.
Staff retooled equipment to heat the masks so it kills viruses and bacteria. The masks then are sealed in individual bags and left to further decontaminate for three days. A test confirmed the process was successful.
“The early data on it says you can do it 20 times, perhaps more, but we’re going to start with that,” Beauchamp said.
SMALL BUSINESSES:
State officials and business leaders launched a website to encourage and help small businesses to apply for the federal $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program, which began Friday. It will give low-interest loans that will be fully or partially forgiven if businesses show the money was used to retain or rehire employees and pay expenses such as rent or utilities through June 30.
GRAND RAPIDS TO HELP
Spectrum Health, which has 15 hospitals in western Michigan, said it will accept the transfer of some COVID-19 patients from metro Detroit to two hospitals in Grand Rapids.
Spokeswoman Susan Krieger said Spectrum anticipates the surge in southeastern Michigan could decline “as we increase our patient load and may need hospitals there to help us in a similar way. … We are all in this together.”
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Householder reported from Canton Township and Williams reported from West Bloomfield.
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