It was announced on its website at marquetteontherocks.com that applications will remain open through March 31.

“We are currently planning for business as usual, though we will continue to keep a close eye on the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination efforts over the next few months to ensure that we are able to put together a safe event that abides by all local, state and national guidelines,” wrote Tristan Luoma, Art on the Rocks director.

Applications for the popular event, which features artists from a variety of media, can be found on the website.

Saturday’s MCHD vaccine appointments filled

Cecily Hornady, right, purchases goods from artist Courtney Kent during the July 2019 Art on the Rocks Fine Art Show. While the 2020 Art on the Rocks was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers announced the 62nd annual Art on the Rocks Fine Art Show is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 24 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 25 at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette. (Journal file photo)

The Marquette County Health Department Clinic Services announced on Facebook that all COVID-19 vaccine appointment slots for Saturday have been filled.

The health department will not schedule any more appointments until additional doses have been received. Anyone with a scheduled appointment who is unable to make it should call 906-475-7844.

Letter calls for more funding

The Michigan Democratic congressional delegation on Tuesday called on Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, and Michigan Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth, R-Clare, to act on the funding passed by Congress to help Michigan families and businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.

The letter, led by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing; U.S. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills; and U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, highlights the work of Michigan’s members of Congress to pass funding for vaccine distribution, testing and tracing, food assistance, rental assistance and education in the state.

“All of us want things to return to normal,” the lawmakers wrote. “We share the same goals of wanting our kids back in school, our small businesses back on their feet, and our families safe from threats to public health.

“These goals can only be achieved when we all work together. Now is the time to put politics aside and do what’s right for the people of Michigan by releasing this hard-fought funding. After all, we are all Michiganders first.”

The letter also read in part, “It has come to our attention that the Legislature is attempting to withhold this critical funding that we worked so hard to secure for Michigan as political leverage to limit the governor’s powers in this pandemic. This funding includes billions for Michigan for vaccine distribution, testing and tracing, food assistance, rental assistance and funding to keep Michigan students and educators safe from COVID-19 so that we can reopen schools.

“The plan you recently introduced would leave money on the table that our small businesses and families can’t afford to wait for. It’s simple: appropriating these dollars quickly could save lives and jump start our economy.”

On Tuesday, Senate Republicans introduced a smaller plan.

The Associated Press reported that Republicans who control Michigan’s Senate on Tuesday proposed $2 billion in COVID-19 relief aid, including $500 million in state funding to aid businesses suffering due to the pandemic.

The plan would spend less than what was outlined by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — $5.6 billion — and the GOP-led House, which voted last week to spend almost $3.6 billion, the AP said. The Legislature and Whitmer must agree before disbursing billions of dollars in federal relief enacted by Congress and then-President Donald Trump in late December.

Whitmer on Tuesday urged state lawmakers to allocate billions in federal COVID-19 aid, warning that a delay could slow Michigan’s vaccination rate and efforts to reopen schools and help ailing businesses, the AP reported.

“We may fall on the priority list of supplies and as a result see a slowdown in our vaccination rate,” Whitmer said during a news conference. “This is a very real threat.”

COVID task force making progress on racial disparities

A recent study by the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices found that Whitmer’s Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities has made “significant and sustainable” progress toward its goal of reducing health-based racial disparities associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor’s office announced.

The study, which is led by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, also recommended that the lessons learned from the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities “can be applied in states and territories across the nation to address this longstanding and difficult challenge.”

“Our administration took swift action to address the pre-existing racial inequities in health that were dangerously exacerbated by the pandemic, and we are proud of the progress we’ve made towards eliminating COVID-19’s disproportionate impact,” Whitmer said in a statement. “I want to thank the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities for their excellent guidance that has led to Michigan becoming an example to the rest of the country in how to fairly fight this pandemic and support vulnerable communities.

“We all have a personal responsibility to slow the spread of the pandemic and eliminate the virus as quickly as possible so we can return to a strong economy and get back to normal daily activities.”

Whitmer asked Michiganders to continue following public health guidance by wearing face masks, socially distancing and washing their hands.

The Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities was created in April by Whitmer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s disproportionate impact on communities of color. Although African Americans represent 13.6% of Michigan’s population, during the early stages of the pandemic, they represented 40% of all COVID-19 deaths.

Whitmer created the task force to serve in an advisory capacity to her and recommend actions to address these racial disparities and the contributing historic and societal inequalities.

“We are incredibly proud of the progress the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities has made in reducing the staggering, disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on Black folks,” Gilchrist said in a statement. “While we have come a long way, we are still living in the midst of this pandemic and in the wake of decades of racial injustices that have led to these health disparities. Our administration remains committed to reducing racial disparities of all kinds among our state’s vulnerable populations and continuing to fight this virus.”

Since April, the case study found that Whitmer and the Michigan Task Force have substantially reduced the number of confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths among Michiganders of color. Additionally, under Whitmer’s leadership, racism was declared a statewide public health crisis, 6 million free masks were distributed, more than 24,000 free COVID-19 tests were administered in underserved communities and 30 community organizations were funded to address community needs.

Whitmer also created the Bl

ack Leadership Advisory Council and the Michigan Poverty Task Force, which serve in an advisory capacity to the governor.

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