MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University will restrict guests on campus for two weeks beginning today to mitigate risks associated with rising COVID-19 cases in Marquette County and other areas of the Upper Peninsula and neighboring Wisconsin.

NMU officials said the restrictions will run until Nov. 6.

NMU President Fritz Erickson identified the following temporary procedures in an email to the campus community, adding that they will be re-evaluated at the end of the month:

≤ On-campus visits and tours for prospective students, including student-athletes, and their families scheduled for this time period are suspended and will be rescheduled or moved to a virtual format;

≤ Two Saturday events will go on, but with modifications. Make a Difference Day will include only leaf raking for senior residents in the city of Marquette. The Center of Student Enrichment will provide the rakes and bags so there is no contact with the homeowners. The marching band’s performance at the Superior Dome will be streamed live for all, including parents who were scheduled to travel to campus;

≤ Non-NMU individuals engaged in university business must be approved or reapproved by the appropriate division leader before coming to campus. Virtual meetings, presentations and events are strongly recommended as an alternative. On-campus job interviews scheduled for this time period should be moved to a virtual format or rescheduled;

≤ The Physical Education Instructional Facility is being closed to non-NMU users. Only NMU students, faculty and staff rec members will be able to use the facility during this period. Community and family recreation sports members will receive an extension on their memberships to make up for lost access during the restricted period. The Superior Dome community walking program will not begin as it was scheduled to do during this time period;

≤ Reserving NMU facilities space for non-university purposes is suspended and reservations are canceled through Nov. 6. This includes spaces in the Northern Center, Berry Events Center, PEIF, Superior Dome and Jacobetti Complex. Cancellation of space does not include contracted renters, but these areas will need to restrict off-campus clients and visitors as well. Barnes and Noble NMU and the Wildcat Den will remain open to NMU students, faculty and staff.

“Now is when we must be exceptionally diligent in our efforts to keep COVID-19 at bay,” Erickson said in the email. “We are in Week 10 with a goal to not have to switch to remote learning this semester. You know what that means: Wear your mask (properly) indoors and outdoors when you’re near people, social distance and avoid large gatherings, wash your hands frequently, limit your travel and stay home when you do not feel well or are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. Nov. 24, the last day of classes, is 5 weeks — just 35 days — away.”

Prison cases rise

The Michigan Department of Corrections reported that as of Wednesday, 727 inmates at the Marquette Branch Prison have tested positive out of 1,033 tested. There are 699 active cases.

A total of 130 staff have tested positive.

Businesses to get legal protections

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday signed into law legal protections for Michigan businesses and other employers that are sued by infected customers or workers despite having followed all coronavirus safety protocols, the Associated Press reported.

Whitmer also codified rules shielding hospitals and other medical providers from pandemic-related lawsuits except in cases of gross negligence, from late March to mid-July, following the Michigan Supreme Court invalidating her executive orders.

Another new law, which largely mirrors one of those orders, prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who stay home because they have been exposed to COVID-19.

An additional law codifies and augments her administration’s recently announced changes related to the care of nursing home residents recovering from COVID-19. A nursing home can be a designated care and recovery center only if it has a federal staffing rating of at least three out of five stars, a distinct area for infected patients and staff who are solely dedicated to treating them.

Lions Club breakfast

canceled

The Ishpeming Lions Club 17th annual Holiday Breakfast at St. John’s Church, set for Dec. 6 in downtown Ishpeming, is canceled this year due to COVID-19. The Ishpeming Lions holds the event to raise funds through sponsorship, ticket sales and donations. All funds are locally distributed to organizations such as Bay Cliff Health Camp, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, Big Brothers Big Sisters and many others.

To continue to meet local needs, Lions Club members will raise online sponsorships and honor local businesses and community members who have supported the event on the Ishpeming Lions Club Facebook page in the coming weeks up to the planned event date.

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