Following the announcement of the state's first presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are providing recommendations designed to help prevent the spread of the virus. Whitmer urges all Michiganders to take these recommendations seriously and to share them with their friends, families and coworkers. (Photo courtesy of Gov. Whitmer’s office)

MARQUETTE — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency in Michigan in the wake of the state’s first presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, commonly known as the corona virus, on Wednesday.

Whitmer, along with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have provided recommendations designed to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Some of the recommended strategies include:

≤ Learn about the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

≤ Stay home when you are sick and individuals at risk of severe illness should consider staying at home to avoid others who are sick.

≤ Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, keyboards, cell phones and light switches.

≤ Communicate and reinforce best practices for washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes.

≤ Be sure to maintain a supply of medications, food, and other essentials in your house.

≤ Cancel or postpone large gatherings, conferences and sporting events (for example, events with over 100 people).

≤ Reduce in-person gatherings and activities, especially for organizations with individuals at risk of severe illness. Consider offering video or audio of events.

≤ Consider tele-learning or tele-work opportunities, where feasible.

≤ Limit non-essential work travel.

≤If you care for a loved one living in a care facility, monitor the situation, ask about the health of the other residents frequently, and know the protocol if there is an outbreak.

≤ Limit visitors at hospitals and other facilities to only those who are absolutely necessary and implement screening of visitors for temperature and respiratory symptoms.

“I urge all Michiganders to take these recommendations seriously and to share them with their friends, families, and coworkers,” said Governor Whitmer. “It’s on all of us to be safe and be smart for ourselves, our loved ones, our coworkers, and the public at large. We are encouraging schools, universities, businesses, and other organizations to use their best judgment about what steps are most appropriate to keep people safe and slow the spread of the disease.”

The community mitigation strategies are designed to be implemented at the individual, organizational and community levels, Whitmer s release states, and will provide essential protections to individuals at risk of severe illness and to “health care and other critical infrastructure workforces.”

All will play a role, according to the release, including businesses, workplaces, community organizations, health care institutions as well as “individuals of all ages, backgrounds and health profiles.”

“Michiganders have been preparing for COVID-19 for weeks, including by taking basic measures such as washing their hands often, covering their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing, and staying home when they are sick,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health said. “However, Michigan must take further action to avoid a rapid increase of cases in the state. Community mitigation strategies are crucial to slowing the transmission of the virus in Michigan, particularly before a vaccine or treatment becomes available.”

Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a warning to residents to “beware of businesses engaging in potential price-gouging,” and to report those suspected to Nessel’s office.

“The Michigan Department of Attorney General is aware of businesses selling face masks, hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies at exceptionally high prices – likely in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act,” Nessel’s release states. “Other products that consumers might seek to purchase due to the threat of COVID-19 may also be at risk of price-gouging practices.”

“Supply and demand might be a familiar saying for retailers, but price-gouging is against the law and protecting consumers against unfair business practices is a service my office provides to residents,” Nessel said.

Nessel is encouraging residents to report them online at www.michigan.gov/ag or by phone at 1-877-765-8388.

The Michigan Department of Corrections has responded with a series of measures to protect its facilities from the spread of the virus, according to a release from the Michigan State Police State of Emergency Operations Center on Wednesday.

“Until further notice, anyone coming into a prison facility will be asked a series of screening questions and may have their temperature checked before being allowed entrance into prison,” the release states. “This includes all staff, visitors, volunteers and contractors.”

In the case of cancelled visits, prisoners will have increased time for phone calls and for sending electronic messages to family and friends, the release states.

Information around the virus outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest updates can be found at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

According to a release from U.S. Rep Jack Bergman, R, Watersmeet the CDC announced that over $560 million will be awarded to state and local jurisdictions in support of the COVID-19 response.

Congress recently passed over $8 billion in emergency funding to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, Bergman’s release states.

More information on CDC recommendations, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.