UPDATE: Governor Whitmer COVID-19 Daily Update August 26, 2020

Michigan Executive Office of the Governor sent this bulletin at 08/26/2020 06:30 AM EDT

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Below is an update on the 2019 Coronavirus outbreak as of 10:00 PM on 8/25/2020                      

 

UPDATE  

 

  • Yesterday, Governor Whitmer was joined by Dr. Joneigh Khaldun and health leaders from across the state to urge all Michiganders to get their flu vaccine this year. The Facing the Flu Together campaign will help prevent an outbreak of a second communicable disease that – with COVID-19 still very much a concern – could put our state's economy and health care system at greater risk. 

 

“It’s more important than ever for Michiganders everywhere to get your flu vaccine. Preventing the flu will help us save lives and preserve the health care resources we need to continue fighting COVID-19,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Every flu-related hospitalization we see this season will put an additional strain on Michigan’s economy and our health care systems and hospitals. Our hospitals are still reeling from the spring COVID-19 hospitalizations and are working to prepare for a potential second wave of the virus. I encourage everyone to get their flu vaccine, and tell your friends and family to do the same.” 

 

Michigan is setting the bar higher than last year with a goal of achieving a 33% increase in flu vaccination this season.  Governor Whitmer showed how easy it is by getting the flu shot during the press conference yesterday. 

 

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  • Governor Whitmer welcomed a $1.2M donation from IKEA Retail U.S. that will go to Michigan’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Initiative. The donation is the largest donation to the fund to date and will help support Michigan’s ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts and other critical services.   

 

“Michigan families, frontline workers, and small businesses have done their part to slow the spread of the virus, but the fight is not over yet. I am grateful that IKEA has stepped up during this difficult time to ensure we have the funding we need to provide critical services to Michiganders impacted by COVID-19,” said Governor Whitmer. “This donation will be crucial to saving lives and providing much-needed support throughout our COVID-19 response.” 

 

  • The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced 779 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. This brings the total number of positive cases of COVID-19 to 98,439.  

 

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HAPPENING ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT 

 

  • Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced yesterday that they are partnering with the Detroit Lions to protect election integrity and promote voter awareness, rights and participation in conjunction with RISE to Vote and the NFL Votes initiative.  

 

"We all desire real and lasting social change, racial healing, abundant opportunity for all, and meaningful social justice progress in many aspects of our democracy," said Detroit Lions Principal Owner and Team Chairman Sheila Ford Hamp and her husband Steve Hamp. "For this to happen, for our democracy to be responsive and to improve, we all need to register to vote, learn about the candidates who are running for office, and then cast our votes in person or by absentee ballot. Our democracy is an inspiring and noble enterprise, but it is not perfect. It's time to fix that." 

 

The Lions have elected to integrate this programming into their Detroit Lions Inspire Change social justice work, first launched in 2018, and historically focused on scholarship funding, social-education programs, and medical aid/health assistance. 

 

  • The Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced that the expansion of the Business Accelerator Fund (BAF) guidelines lasting from April through June – which led to 53 companies being served around the state – the Michigan Strategic Fund has approved the transfer of an additional $700,000 to the BAF to continue supporting business accelerators in Michigan’s statewide SmartZone network that are serving startups and high-tech companies impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, 

 

 

“The level of innovation and resilience that Michigan’s entrepreneurs and high-tech startups have demonstrated over the past five months in the face of a worldwide pandemic has been nothing short of inspiring,” said Fred Molnar, Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at MEDC. “By working with our trusted partners at the Small Business Development Center, we are ensuring Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has the support and resources it needs to maintain and even continue growing throughout this crisis.” 

 

  • The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response (RACER) Trust have finalized a Corrective Action Consent Order that transfers the lead agency role at Buick City, Flint, from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to EGLE. The lead role change will ensure that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are addressed during the cleanup, along with other site contaminants. 

 

RESOURCES 

 

 

MEDIA COVERAGE 

 

 

A BIT OF RELIEF  

 

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