 Charlie Johnson delivering instructions during Food Pantry TrueNorth stepping up during Coronavirus crisis By N3 News In these daunting days for our community with many lives turned upside down and some households struggling more than ever the need has become great. And when the need is there? So is TrueNorth. Despite having been reduced to a staff of about a dozen folks at the main offices, TN not only continues to provide services, in many ways they have ramped them up. Food programs have doubled their output with the on-site Food Pantry seeing a steady stream of vehicles, the Weekend PowerPacks continuing to provide good eats to our youth for the weekends with the help of local school districts, and the mobile food trucks upping access from once to twice a month. While a typical week might serve around 108 families this past week saw 212 households pouring into the sites. The organization is providing needed services and, more importantly, providing them safely. TrueNorth continues to follow strict CDC guidelines, including taking temperatures of all staff before starting the workday, requiring all workstations be sanitized every hour, requiring constant hand washing, and ensuring staff are wearing gloves when packing and distributing boxes to families. Each of these measures are undertaken to maintain safety for those who continue to serve the public and to ensure the safety of the public they serve as well. These are difficult times to be sure. Times that require organizations willing to go to bat for those in need. And TrueNorth has indeed stepped up to the plate. For information please go to https://www.truenorthservices.org/
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 Only essential vet services allowed starting Tuesday
LANSING, Mich. March 30-- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-32, which places a temporary restriction on non-essential veterinary procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The order prohibits all non-essential veterinary procedures starting on March 31, 2020, and encourages veterinarians and veterinary technicians to practice telemedicine as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19. "While there is no evidence that pets can transmit COVID-19, we must take additional steps to promote social distancing,” said Whitmer. “If we want to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19, all Michiganders must do their part, stay in their homes, and stay six feet away from others when they’re outside. We’ve taken aggressive steps in the past three weeks to slow the spread of the virus, and I will continue to work every day to ensure we protect the most people we can.” Under executive order 2020-32, “non-essential veterinary services” means all veterinary services other than those that are necessary to preserve the life of a pet, as determined by a licensed veterinarian; necessary to treat serious pain that threatens the health and safety of a pet, as determined by a licensed veterinarian; necessary to euthanize a pet, as determined by a licensed veterinarian; or necessary to treat or prevent the transmission of any infectious disease that can be transmitted between animals and human beings, as determined by a licensed veterinarian.  Qualified Physician Assistants, Nurses to Treat COVID-19 patients
LANSING, Mich. -- Governor Gretchen Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-30, which relaxes scope of practice laws to give hospitals and other health-care facilities the flexibility they need to successfully deploy qualified physician assistants, nurses and other health care providers to combat COVID-19. The order also reinforces an existing law that protects hospitals and health-care workers from liability for taking necessary steps to protect Michiganders during an emergency. “Michigan’s dedicated health care professionals continue putting their lives on the line every day during this unprecedented crisis, and we must do everything we can to empower them to do their jobs,” Gov. Whitmer said. “This executive order temporarily sets aside some existing rules to allow qualified physician assistants, nurses and other health care providers to treat COVID-19 patients and help slow the spread of this virus in every corner of our state.” Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.  LANSING,- Following the recommendation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District the TCF Center (Formerly Cobo Hall) in Detroit will be converted to an alternate care facility.. The decision comes as Michigan continues its effort to address imminent capacity issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) will fund construction and supply the site which will have approximately 900 bed spaces. "The State of Michigan is working around the clock and doing everything we can to slow the spread of the coronavirus," said Governor Whitmer. "We are proud to partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and the TCF Center to expand capacity in Detroit. By mobilizing quickly to construct a large alternate care facility in Detroit, we can help save lives." USACE, Detroit District, at direction of the State of Michigan, continues to conduct initial and in-depth site assessments around the state of Michigan to address possible medical facility shortages as the response to COVID-19 continues. As of 1pm Wednesday March 25
9109 tests completed As of 10am Thursday March 26 2,856 cases confirmed 60 deaths confirmed Confirmed cases breakdown 51% male 49% female Ages 0-19 1% 20-29 7% 30-39 12% 40-49 16% 50-59 19% 60-69 21% 70-79 15% 80-89 7% Stay Home! Stay Safe! Clinicians considering testing of persons with possible COVID-19 should continue to work with their local and state health departments to coordinate testing through public health laboratories, or use COVID-19 diagnostic testing, authorized by the Food and Drug Administration under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) through clinical laboratories. Increasing testing capacity will allow clinicians to consider COVID-19 testing for a wider group of symptomatic patients. Clinicians should use their judgment to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the patient should be tested. Most patients with confirmed COVID-19 have developed fever1 and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing). Priorities for testing include: Other considerations that may guide testing are epidemiologic factors such as the occurrence of local community transmission of COVID-19 infections in a jurisdiction. Clinicians are strongly encouraged to test for other causes of respiratory illness. PRIORITY 1 Ensure optimal care options for all hospitalized patients, lessen the risk of nosocomial infections, and maintain the integrity of the healthcare system
PRIORITY 2 Ensure that those who are at highest risk of complication of infection are rapidly identified and appropriately triaged
PRIORITY 3 As resources allow, test individuals in the surrounding community of rapidly increasing hospital cases to decrease community spread, and ensure health of essential workers
NON-PRIORITY
 Pilots for Christ are offering up their services at the Fremont Airport.
"We have 'auto' pilots that can assist in a safe way. People can call our number at 616-884-6241 to make a request. We are also part of 211. There is a video on You Tube. Pilots for Christ channel. "We can assist by giving free transportation by car or airplane. Each request is individually considered. We can bring food or medical supplies to those in need dropping on porches and avoiding any contact. We can talk with, pray with anyone experiencing isolation issues via the phone. We will also entertain any request as led by the Lord. "We have been asked about missionaries in South America and Guatemala and are working on how best to assist those situations." -In His blessing, Pilots for Christ  NC Treasurer Holly Moon Governor Signs Executive Order Extending Michigan’s Tax Foreclosure Deadline.
Lansing,~ Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, signed an executive order taking emergency action to extend the state’s tax foreclosure deadline because of the COVID-19 National Emergency. Under state law, properties with unpaid 2017 property taxes were subject to foreclosure by county treasurers on March 31. The order moves the March 31 deadline to May 29, or 30 days after the state of emergency ends. The extraordinary measure helps families struggling financially because of the COVID-19 national emergency. The order takes effect immediately. “People are struggling during the mass closures due to the COVID-19 crisis," stated Holly Moon, Newaygo County Treasurer. “This order will give those facing the tragedy of tax foreclosure some needed emergency relief to assure their property is not foreclosed while they work to keep their families safe and healthy. County Treasurers never want to foreclose on property and will work hard during this crisis to help people stay safe and healthy, and pay their property taxes.” Anyone facing tax foreclosure under the new deadline is encouraged to call the Newaygo County Treasurer's Office, if they have questions. The Office is closed to walk-in payments by the public; however, staff is answering phone calls remotely between 10 am and 4 pm Monday through Friday at 231.689.7230. Mailed payments as well as on-line credit/debit card payments are being processed. There is a 2.5% convenience fee charged by the processor. “I want to extend my sincere thanks to our MI Assn of County Treasurers' legislative committee, Michigan Treasury, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer for working to make this happen,” added Treasurer Moon.  MDHHS Issues Emergency Order Regarding COVID-19 Testing and Resource Reporting
LANSING- To maximize Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) sampling and testing capacity and ensure timely reporting of critical resources and needs, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon today issued an emergency order establishing procedures to be followed during the pandemic to ensure continuation of essential public health services and enforcement of health laws. This order is effective immediately. “To save lives, we need to do two things: dedicate our limited lab capacity to the highest priority tests and obtain consistent, timely reports on hospital beds and PPE,” said Gordon. “This order aims to accomplish those goals.” “This is another step the state is taking toward saving lives during this pandemic,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “The ultimate goal is to slow the spread of the virus so our health care system doesn't get overwhelmed and we prevent as much illness as possible.” Pursuant to MCL 333.2253, Gordon ordered that: Facilities in the state of Michigan processing tests for COVID-19 must prioritize sampling and testing for COVID-19 as instructed by MDHHS. This currently includes specimens associated with active investigations of known contacts, individuals with concerning exposure histories and risk profiles and specimens obtained during cluster investigations. All laboratory tests conducted for COVID-19 must be reported to MDHHS via the Michigan Disease Surveillance System within four hours of completion of the test, whether negative or positive. Health facilities must contact the local health officer to inform them of a COVID-19-related death within two hours of the death. Physicians and other health professionals who collect specimens for testing of COVID-19 must label specimens in the manner instructed by the MDHHS. This includes patient name, date of birth, specimen source, collection date, etc. Hospitals in the state of Michigan must abide by MDHHS’ instructions on reporting of information related to the COVID-19 response. This includes reporting the following data:
 Price-gouging Complaints Near 1,600
LANSING- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel this morning sent a cease and desist letter to two related Rockford-based businesses for marketing to consumers the “Coronavirus Defender Patch,” which the companies falsely claim will help protect people from contracting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Meanwhile, price-gouging complaints related to COVID-19 filed with the Attorney General’s office are nearing 1,600. The businesses, Frequency Apps Corp. and Biores Technologies Inc., claim the patch will “help aid the immune system to defend itself against exposure to the virus,” and “can help lessen the effect of the virus if you already have” it. The patch was priced at $49.99, but the companies stated that consumers could receive a 30-day supply of the patch for free when they buy a 45-day supply of any patches the companies sell. “Providing consumers with a false sense of security that these patches could somehow protect them from this virus is simply wrong,” Nessel said. “I will not tolerate deceptive and misleading business practices at any time, but especially not during this time of uncertainty surrounding Michigan’s battle with COVID-19.” The companies are likely in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act because they may be:
A total of 97 price-gouging complaints were received by phone Monday out of 169 calls to the Consumer Protection tip line. Calls may pertain to topics other than COVID-19-related price-gouging. The Consumer Protection tip line usually receives around 80 phone calls daily. However, between March 16 and Friday, the intake team received an average of 280 calls per day – though there were extended hours of operation in place last week. Consumers can file a complaint online or by calling the Consumer Protection tip line, 877-765-8388. Hours of operation are between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. |
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