Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, joined by Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy director for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and Jeffrey Donofrio, director of the department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, stressed the need for good hygiene, flexible employers and a decrease in gatherings exceeding 100 people.
Whitmer announced a series of recommendations, including, but not limited to, avoiding non-essential travel, having a plan if you find yourself affected, staying at home when you are sick, staying home if you have a chronic illness, and remaining in contact with others by phone versus face to face communication.
Whitmer declared a state of emergency in Michigan Tuesday, following two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wayne and Oakland counties: a female adult from Oakland County who traveled internationally, and a male adult from Wayne County who travelled domestically.
Both individuals are currently hospitalized.
Khaldun confirmed that the individuals from Wayne and Oakland counties have been placed in isolation, though she could not disclose the location of quarantine.
This morning, MSU President Samuel L. Stanley released an alert, stating all classes will transition to online forums as the university “learned of an individual linked to our campus which the Ingham County Health Department is currently investigating and monitoring,” according to the email. This transition is expected to remain in place until April 20.
Donofrio encouraged Michigan employers to educate staff and provide proper hygiene materials. Flexible leave, decreased punishment for absence, as well as flexible notification for absence were also among Donofrio's recommendations.
The Department of Health and Human Services has set up a website to answer questions and provide information at michigan.gov/coronavirus.
"This is a situation that is evolving quickly, we are up to this challenge but it's on all of us to be a part of the solution and to mitigate community spread," Whitmer said. "I ask everyone to do your part."
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