This UP Health System sign in the city of Marquette recognizes the great work health care employees have provided during the pandemic. (Journal photo by Trinity Carey)

The department had been testing symptomatic prisoners since late March and had done well over 1,000 tests. In mid-April, the MDOC started the mass testing of several facilities on its own as a continuation of its proactive measures to slow the spread of the virus in its facilities.

While the final results will likely not be known until labs process all of the results, 3,263 prisoners have tested positive so far out of 38,130 prisoners who were tested at 29 MDIC prisons. A total of 18,316 prisoners tested negative for the virus, with 16,551 still awaiting test results.

“When it comes to this virus, testing is critical to knowing exactly what you are dealing with and how to address it,” MDOC Director Heidi Washington said in a news release. “The vast majority of the prisoners we found who tested positive had no symptoms, and were making it more challenging to control the spread of this illness.”

The MDOC had reached out to the Michigan National Guard for its assistance.

For Tuesday, May 26.

“We simply could not have achieved this goal this quickly without the assistance of the Michigan National Guard,” Washington said. “Their professionalism, expertise and proficiency were simply invaluable.”

Data reporting changed

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has changed the way it reports data on COVID-19 testing.

The change makes the data more accurate and relevant as the state continues to expand diagnostic testing to help slow and contain the spread of COVID-19, officials said.

The update to the website separates out the results of two different types of tests, serology and diagnostic. Michigan, along with some other states, has not previously separated data for diagnostic and serology tests.

Data on serology testing, also known as antibody testing, is now separated from the other testing numbers. Currently, serology testing can be used to help determine whether someone has ever had COVID-19, while traditional viral diagnostic tests determine if someone has active disease.

MDHHS emphasized that the change in reporting does not affect the number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan. It does lower the percentage of positive tests over the last nine days when serology testing became more common. Michigan’s overall percentage of positive tests since the beginning of the outbreak remains virtually the same, changing from 14.2% positive tests to 14.3%, officials said.

Local arts groups awarded grants

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs has awarded a total of $502,400 in Emergency Relief Fund grants to 176 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations around Michigan to provide relief from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced.

MCACA also leveraged $83,834 in funds from Arts Midwest, a nonprofit regional arts organization and partner to MCACA, to award grants to an additional 28 Michigan organizations.

Marquette County organizations receiving grants are the Marquette Regional History Center. as well as the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, each of which was awarded $3,000, and the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, which was awarded $2,000.

The Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance, based in Alger County, is receiving $3,000.

Watercraft registrations extended

Whitmer has signed Executive Order 2020-101, which extends the validity of watercraft registrations that expired after Feb. 1 to July 31.

“As temperatures continue to warm up, recreational boaters should not have to worry about their watercraft registration expiring at no fault of their own,” Whitmer said in a news release. “This executive order will allow all watercraft users to safely take full advantage of this beautiful weather and Michigan’s pristine lakes and rivers, while minimizing in-person work in order to flatten the COVID-19 curve.”

New watercraft can be operated in Michigan waters until July 31 without displaying an identifying number and decal, provided the operator of the vessel possesses a proof of purchase or equivalent evidence the vessel was acquired after Jan. 1.

Additionally, law enforcement cannot issue tickets as a result of watercraft decals that expired after Sept. 30. The state cannot assess late fees for expired decals as long as boaters renew their registration by July 31.

Boaters are asked to complete their watercraft registration renewals during the state’s emergency and disaster declarations at www.michigan.gov/sos.

Outdoor rec subject of livestream

People are invited to join the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition at a livestream program scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday to hear Conan Smith, head of the Michigan Environmental Council, discuss the work of a statewide outdoor recreation workgroup to develop recommendations for Whitmer and state agencies for a systematic, phased reopening of outdoor recreation activities and facilities to safeguard people from COVID-19 infection.

UPEC was one of several organizations in the Upper Peninsula that participated in the workgroup.

Smith will discuss the workgroup’s recommendations as well as some of the implications, over both the short and long term, of how the pandemic will change outdoor recreation in Michigan. Also discussed will be actions in the Lower Peninsula in terms of coronavirus-responsible recreation.

Smith was named CEO of the Michigan Environmental Council in 2019. Prior to taking the helm at the council, which is the primary coalition of the state’s environmental groups, Smith served for 12 years as executive director of Metro Matters, a southeast Michigan nonprofit, and for 14 years as an elected county commissioner.

For details, visit www.facebook.com/pages/Upper-Peninsula-Environmental-Coalition/195291337192049.

The YouTube link is www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_SGwX-pXW4wCz646OPJDQ. A Zoom link is available at https://upenvironment.org.

Hearing notifications addressed

Whitmer has signed Executive Order 2020-103, which allows local governments to use alternative means, other than mass mailings, to send out hearing notifications.

“It is critical our local governments can continue serving their residents while also practicing social distancing to keep their employees safe,” Whitmer said in a news release. “This executive order ensures employees can continue staying safe at home and local governments can still carry out essential hearings on the creation of tax abatement districts and send out the proper notifications.”

Notice of any public hearing required to take place under a tax abatement statute may be provided electronically and by newspaper. Executive Order 2020-75 already permits tax abatement hearings to occur electronically.

The order takes effect immediately, runs contemporaneously with Executive Order 2020-75, and continues through June 30.

Fuel supplies the focus

Whitmer also has issued Executive Order 2020-102, which extends the temporary suspension of Michigan’s Reid Vapor Pressure standards and permits the transportation and sale of gasolines with a higher Reid vapor pressure across the state.

“By extending my previous executive order, we can ensure we have the necessary supplies needed to fuel our response efforts, as well as ensure Michigan families also have affordable access so they can continue to put food on the table,” Whitmer said in a news release.

Without an extension of the summer gasoline waiver, a shortage of gasoline would result, causing higher prices at the pump and making it harder for families already struggling with the economic impacts to put food on the table. It could also cause longer lines at services stations across the state, increasing in-person interactions and putting lives at risk, officials said in a press release.

To reduce these hardships and suppress the spread of COVID-19, gasoline received at retail on or before Sunday that does not meet the June 1 vapor pressure standard may be sold through June 30.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.