By CHRISTIE BLECK and LISA BOWERS

Journal Staff Writers

MARQUETTE — As a national state of emergency is called, local cancellations or postponements during the COVID-19 outbreak continue to develop.

≤ At UP Health System hospitals, effective immediately all routine visiting is being suspended until further notice. For the safety of patients, their loved ones and medical staff, UP Health System – Bell, Marquette and Portage are expanding visitor restrictions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, including novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

≤ The following actions will be taken by the city of Marquette beginning Monday: Lakeview Arena and the Baraga Gym will be closed to the public; all non-essential Marquette Senior Center programming is canceled, including exercise classes, congregate meals, bridge, cribbage, senior arts and Silver Sampler programs; but the senior center will remain open for social work, foot care and tax services and homemaking services will continue at this time; all non-essential meetings and gatherings are canceled including all city advisory boards and committees scheduled between now and April 6 with the exception of Tuesday’s planning commission meeting, Thursday’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority meeting and any city commission meetings. Upcoming Marquette City Arts and Culture programming has been canceled.

“Residents and city staff are urged to limit in-person interactions and to utilized remote — online and phone — whenever possible,” a city release states. “This includes city bill pay, which can be done by mail, through the drop box on the outside of Marquette City Hall, or via phone or online payment.”

≤ Effective Friday, the Peter White Public Library will suspend all operations to the public until April 6. According to the PWPL Facebook page, library staff will monitor the evolving situation and responding accordingly.

≤ The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office lobby was closed to the public effective 4:30 p.m. Friday. Inmate visitation is available by visiting www.videovisitanywhere.com; inmate bond and commissary deposits can be made by visiting jailatm.com; jail housing and booking ticket payments can be made by mail or calling 225-8477; civil process payments and requests for papers to be served should be mailed with questions directed to 906-225-8463; FOIA requests can be requested by visiting co.marquette.mi.us; sex offenders should call 906-225-8435 to make arrangements with staff to verify, as failure to do so will result in non-compliance; and completed RI-060 forms and completed Permit to Purchase Forms should be mailed to 234 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, MI 49855 — those needing a permit to purchase a firearm immediately should call 906-225-8435.

≤ Other Marquette County operations are continuing as normal. The public is encouraged however, when physical presence is not required for a court hearing, to utilize the county’s numerous online services which are listed at http://www.co.marquette.mi.us/

≤ Both Marquette city fire stations to be closed to the general public. Residents are asked to “always call 911 for all emergencies and the fire department will respond as usual.”

“We would like to share a bit of advice that is not spoken enough. Your primary care provider or regular physician is a great source of guidance for non-life threatening illnesses,” the MCFD release states. “There are various seasonal ailments already circulating and mimicking the symptoms being reported for COVID-19. Your doctor and their staff can help determine if and when an (emergency room) visit is necessary. The idea of this ‘shutdown’ period is to control the spread and allow for a coordinated medical care plan to take effect. The fewer unnecessary ER admissions the better for the entire community.”

≤ The Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum will be closed until April 6.

“We are booking ‘stir crazy private family parties’ if (staying) home just gets too much for you and you need to get out of the house,” the museum posted on Facebook. Email museummrjim@gmail for information.

≤ The museum also said it will clean thoroughly between each party to ensure the public’s safety.

≤ The Negaunee Senior Center will be closed for social activities from Monday through April 6. This includes all cards, meals, fitness classes and other social gatherings. It will continue providing in-home services and social work services with heightened precautions and protocols. Individual services such as legal clinics, foot care appointments and tax preparation appointments will continue as usual.

≤ Community Action Alger-Marquette has closed all its congregate meal sites, but will continue providing Meals on Wheels.

≤ JJ Packs has postponed its Brits and Brews Ore Dock fundraiser, scheduled for April 18 at the Ore Dock Brewing Co. due to the coronavirus concerns. Organizers hope to reschedule the event in the fall.

≤ State Sen. Ed McBroom has canceled a town hall meeting planned for March 20 at Marquette Towship Hall.

≤ Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly is canceling its Easter dinners, home meal deliveries, and holiday visits. For more information call 906-482-6944 or visit www.houghton.littlebrothers.org.

≤ Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is postponing a public hearing on the proposed applications for the Eagle Mine and Humboldt Mill Air Permit set for Wednesday has been postponed to a later date. The public comment period remains open for written submissions. More information can be found at www.deq.state.mi.us/aps/downloads/permits/PubNotice/NSR_PTIs_Open_for_Comment.pdf.

≤ Michigan Secretary of State branch offices will be changing operations during the three-week period from Monday to April 6. During this time frame, branches will “only offer services for critical transactions that must be conducted in-person and only by appointment.” Appointment availability will increase during this time. The types of transactions available in-person at branches during this three-week period will be limited to the following three critical services: new driver’s licenses and state IDs, Title transfers, testing for an original commercial driver’s license, chauffeur’s license, mechanic’s license, motorcycle license, and recreational vehicle license. Appointments can be made online at www.Michigan.gov/ SOSAppointments.

“Some people may not be able to conduct their business with us before their transaction expiration date,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in a release on Friday. “We will waive late fees during this period, and we have notified Michigan State Police of our change in operations, and asked that they convey this information to local law enforcement.”

≤ The Marquette Downtown Development Authority has canceled its MDDA Connect meeting for Tuesday.

≤ The Portage Lake District Library and the Hancock School Public Library will be closed beginning today until April 6. All library programs and public meetings will also be canceled. For more information visit ww.uproc.lib.mi.us/pldl/covid-19.

≤ The Alger County Sheriff’s Office has made the decision to cancel inmate visitation and limit all front office non-essential business to emergencies only.

The Alger County Sheriff’s Office front door will be locked indefinitely to the general public. Visitors are asked to call 906-387-4444, ext. 0, prior to coming to the Alger County Sheriff’s Office.