UPDATE: Governor Whitmer COVID-19 Daily Update September 11, 2020

Michigan Executive Office of the Governor sent this bulletin at 09/11/2020 06:30 AM EDT

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Below is an update on the 2019 Coronavirus outbreak as of 10:00 PM on 9/10/2020                      

 

UPDATE  

 

  • Yesterday, Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist II launched the first of its kind, Futures for Frontliners program that provides tuition-free college to an estimated 625,000 Michiganders who provided essential, frontline services during COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Safe orders between April – June 2020.  

 

The governor was joined by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Jeff Donofrio, Andrea Acevedo, president of SEIU Healthcare Michigan, John Walsh, President of the Michigan Manufacturers Association, Rachel Hurst, Corporate Affairs Manager for Kroger, and Russ Kavalhuna, President of Henry Ford College to talk about how this new program will change the lives of thousands of Michiganders.  

 

“This initiative is Michigan’s way of expressing gratitude to essential workers for protecting public health and keeping our state running,” Whitmer said. “Whether it was stocking shelves, delivering supplies, picking up trash, manufacturing PPE or providing medical care, you were there for us. Now this is your chance to pursue the degree or training you’ve been dreaming about to help you and your own family succeed.” 

 

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The program is a $24M investment funded by Governor’s Education Emergency Relief (GEER) Fund – part of the CARES Act, and supports the state’s Sixty by 30 goal announced at the Governor’s first state of the state address to increase the number of working-age Michiganders completing an a industry certificate, college degree or apprenticeship. A more educated workforce is essential to help businesses grow, make Michigan a more competitive state to attract jobs of the future and help families navigate a changing economy and increase income. 

 

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  • The governor wrote a letter to Michigan’s frontline workers who have put their lives on the line to fight COVID-19:  

 

Detroit Free Press: Whitmer pens letter to frontline workers: It's time for us to take care of you 

BY: GRETCHEN WHITMER 

September 10, 2020 

 

These men and women have emerged as the real heroes of this crisis. But it is not enough to just call them heroes. We must also work around the clock to ensure that long after this crisis is over, our frontline workers have the support they need to get ahead in this country. 

 

That is why I announced the launch of Michigan’s Futures for Frontliners program this week. 

 

Historically, when Americans put their lives on the line to defend the rest of us from a common enemy, a grateful nation afforded them educational opportunities to improve their lives. The G.I. Bill that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed during World War II provided tuition for veterans to attend high school or get their post-secondary degree. It was a path to success after they sacrificed for our country. 

 

In Michigan, I announced a similar plan to honor the people who stayed on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Futures for Frontliners is a tuition-free college opportunity that will help more workers acquire technical certificates, associate degrees at community colleges, and potentially bachelor’s degrees at our universities after this crisis is over. 

 

In Michigan, we have taken a number of steps to ensure support for our frontline workers as we fight this crisis. We have secured millions of dollars for personal protective equipment. We have expanded child care for everyone serving on the front lines. And we are reducing the likelihood of future spread though mask requirements in businesses across the state. We are proud of these steps. However, we still need real leadership at the federal level if we are going to continue protecting our frontline workers and slow the spread of this virus. 

 

Every day, our frontline heroes wake up, mask up, and get to work on behalf of Americans everywhere. They have undoubtedly saved countless lives while putting their own on the line, day after day. 

 

They deserve our endless gratitude, and real, tangible support long after this crisis is over. The first-of-its-kind Futures for Frontliners program will help put our these heroes on a path to success. This is how we continue to honor these men and women long after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. 

 

We are still fighting this war, and we need President Trump and Mitch McConnell to step up and pass a recovery package that supports Americans everywhere. 

 

I will continue to do my part in Michigan. It’s time for the president and Mitch McConnell to start doing theirs. 

 

  • Yesterday, President Trump rejected the governor’s request for him to fully fund the National Guard who have performed widespread testing and screening in local communities, Michigan Department of Corrections facilities, and nursing homes throughout the state as well as distributed personal protective equipment, assisted at food banks, and supported public safety throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. After Governor Whitmer reiterated her request for a phone call with President Trump to discuss National Guard funding, Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Doug Hoelscher left a voicemail for the governor’s Chief of Staff saying that the president has rejected Governor Whitmer's request, and has decided to provide only 75 percent federal cost share through the end of the year. 

 

“Just yesterday, on the day the United States surpassed 190,000 COVID deaths, we learned that the President admitted on tape in February that he knew the dangers of this virus and purposely downplayed it. Now, he is continuing to play political games while American lives and livelihoods are on the line. The president’s blatantly partisan cuts to funding for National Guard units in all but five states is dangerous and could cost American lives. Our Guard members have been vital to our COVID-19 response by testing thousands of people in communities across the state during the height of the pandemic, and will be crucial to our recovery efforts moving forward. It's irresponsible and irrational to fully fund National Guard activities in some states but not others. We need the president to step up and do the right thing for Michigan families, our frontline workers, and our economy. I once again implore President Trump to reconsider his decision and fully fund the Michigan National Guard under Title 32, just like he has in five other states, so our Guardsmen and women can continue to protect us from this deadly virus.”    

 

  • The Michigan Department of Transportation closed today on the first installment of Governor Whitmer’s $3.5 billion Rebuilding Michigan program. The $800 million in bonds closed today will cover the cost of rebuilding some of Michigan’s most highly traveled freeways, including a $60 million project in progress on I-496 west of Lansing. When all of the $3.5 billion bonds are sold over the next few years, they will finance or help accelerate rebuilding or major rehabilitation of 122 major highways across the state.  

 

“For too long, our freeways have been held together with patches and emergency repairs,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “The Rebuilding Michigan program assures Michiganders across the state that they can drive to work and drop their kids at school on safe and reliable roads for many decades to come. It has also allowed us to start moving dirt this year, without an increase at the gas pump.” 

 

  • The governor announced that Michigan Department of Education is accepting nominations of outstanding educational support staff for the state Education Support Staff Professional of the Year Award and national RISE Award. The purpose of these Awards is to recognize and promote the commitment and excellence exhibited by school employees who provide exemplary service to students.    

 

“Every day, Michigan’s dedicated educational support staff work hard to ensure our kids have the support they need to get a great education,” said Governor Whitmer. “And now, as Michigan continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and as our kids return to in-person learning, our support staff are critical in  keeping them safe. As a mom whose daughters grew up in Michigan’s public schools, I want to personally thank all of those who have dedicated their lives to our kids. Our state is home to so many exceptional men and women working in our schools, and I’m excited to recognize them with these awards.”   

 

  • Governor Whitmer ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and upon all public buildings and grounds across the state of Michigan to be lowered to half-staff today, Friday, September 11, 2020, to remember those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia, and those who perished when the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.  

 

“On Patriot Day, we remember the Americans who lost their lives and honor the first responders who put everything on the line as they rushed toward danger,” Whitmer said. “During those tragic moments, our nation came together as a united force to help our fellow Americans in their time of need. It showed us that we can, and will, overcome any tragedy.” 

 

  • The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced 924 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. This brings the total number of positive cases of COVID-19 to 109,519.  

 

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HAPPENING ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT 

 

  • Yesterday, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that more than 2.1 million Michiganders had already requested absentee ballots by Tuesday, eight weeks ahead of the November 3 general election. The 2.1 million requests surpass the total number of absentee ballots requested in last month’s primary – 2 million – which set a new record for absentee voting in Michigan and ultimately resulted in 1.5 million absentee ballots being cast. 

 

“Even in the midst of a global pandemic, Michigan’s citizens enthusiastically want to vote, and are taking advantage of the numerous safe, secure and reliable options they have to do so this year,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “I only wish their enthusiasm was matched by action from their state legislators, who have passed just one minor election law in 20 months, much to the chagrin of election clerks and voters across our state.” 

 

  • This week, the Michigan Department of Transportation hosted MDOT Finance Director Patrick McCarthy on their Talking Michigan Transportation podcast. He talked about the process and work leading up to the sale of $800 million in bonds to finance rebuilding several freeways with the state’s heaviest traffic volumes. 

 

They also focused on the first high-profile project made possible through the bond sales, rebuilding I-496 west of Lansing, with MDOT Lansing Transportation Service Center Manager Greg Losch and Jason Early, MDOT construction engineer on the project. 

 

  • The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) shared that they have started processing payments for Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) for eligible Michiganders. UIA estimates that 910,000 Michiganders will begin receiving LWA payments over the next week to ten days. 

 

RESOURCES 

 

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