Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is pictured. (Photo courtesy of the Michigan Executive Office of the Governor)

MARQUETTE — On Friday at a press conference with leaders in health care, business and labor, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-70 as part of her MI Safe Start plan. The executive order will allow the resumption on Thursday of some types of work that present a very low risk of infection, including construction, real estate activities, and work that is traditionally and primarily performed outdoors.

Michigan has also been approved by the U.S. Department of Education for nearly $390 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, the Michigan Department of Education announced.

The $13.2 billion ESSER fund provides emergency relief funds to address the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has on U.S. schools. The funding was included as part of the $2 trillion federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

“Schools can use the funds to meet a variety of current education needs, but must recognize that these funds are one-time revenues,” said Dr. Michael Rice, MDE state superintendent, in a news release.

MDE will use the allowable reserve to establish an educational equity fund, which will be allocated to eligible school districts to reduce the digital divide across the state’s school communities.

Workshare program expanded

Whitmer has announced she is expanding the state’s Workshare Program to allow employers to reduce employee hours to receive weekly unemployment insurance benefits as well as the additional $600 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance weekly benefit. Both benefits will be funded through federal dollars. Through July, the program can act as supplemental pay for critical infrastructure workers by allowing them to collect the extra $600 per week. 

Whitmer also called on leaders in Congress to support Sen. Gary Peters’ Heroes Fund to provide hazard pay for frontline workers to ensure access to life-saving care, food and other critical services during the pandemic. It is estimated that more than three million of these essential workers are currently on the job in Michigan. 

Supported by Peters, D-Michigan, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, the Heroes Fund proposal would provide these workers with an additional $13 per hour, up to $25,000, with an additional potential recruitment incentive of up to $15,000 for essential medical workers.  

Online assistant made

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has launched Robin, a new automated online assistant that can help state residents access the latest information about the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Information about this outbreak is changing rapidly and there’s a great deal of misinformation online,” said Robert Gordon of MDHHS in a news release. “Robin, our new chatbot, is an easy, interactive way for Michiganders to get their questions answered without frustrating wait times. Every moment counts in our fight to increase awareness and education and slow the spread of the virus.”

The online assistant also is expected to reduce calls to the COVID-19 hotline, which means decreased wait times for those who have more complicated questions and need to speak with a staff person. Since March 14, the COVID-19 hotline team has answered more than 26,000 calls, according to the State Emergency Operations Center.

For any questions that cannot be answered, Robin will direct users to email COVID19@michigan.gov, or call the COVID-19 hotline at 888-535-6136, which is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Public health and other experts answer health-related questions about COVID-19, and also can direct residents, providers and others to resources in their local communities.

Webinar planned

Due to Michigan State University policy regarding travel and face-to-face meetings, the annual Swine Health Champions-North Country tour will switch to an online webinar that will stream live from 6 to 7 p.m. May 18 using Zoom.

MSU Extension and the Michigan Pork Producers Association will present the webinar, whose topics include manure management, assisting the farrowing sow, managing the boar, and biosecurity and secure pork supply.

Participants are asked to RSVP at events.anr.msu.edu /SwineHealthChampions2020/.

Refuge modifying operations

The Seney National Wildlife Refuge has suspended some services and operations until further notice.

Visitor center operations will remain closed, and all public events scheduled for May are canceled.

Outdoors space in the refuge remains accessible to the public in accordance with the latest local, state and federal guidelines. More than 10 miles of foot paths are open for hiking, and many miles of backcountry roads are open for hiking or bicycling.

The Marshland Wildlife Drive will open on May 15, the same date the fishing loop and designated pools will open for fishing.

Access to outdoor areas might close if conditions change.