UPDATE: Governor Whitmer COVID-19 Daily Update November 24, 2020

Michigan Executive Office of the Governor sent this bulletin at 11/24/2020 06:30 AM EST

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ICYMI 

 

  • Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement after the Michigan State Board of Canvassers voted to certify the results of the November 2020 election:  

 

“I commend the three members of the State Board of Canvassers who voted to follow the law and certify the 2020 election results today. The people of Michigan have spoken. President-elect Biden won the State of Michigan by more than 154,000 votes, and he will be our next president on January 20th. I also want to thank Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and the local clerks across Michigan who made sure this year's election was free, fair and secure, and the voters who turned out in record numbers to make their voices heard. Now, it’s time to put this election behind us and come together as a state to defeat our common enemy: COVID-19.” 

 

  • Today, the Whitmer Administration announced promotions and a new staff hire within the executive office. Tiffany Brown, who previously served as the governor’s Press Secretary, has been promoted to Communications Director. The governor also hired Korey Hall to serve as Director of Community Affairs who previously served as Political Director for U.S. Senator Gary Peters.   

  

“During her time in the Whitmer Administration, Tiffany Brown has worked tirelessly  around the clock to keep the public informed. She is a dedicated, valuable member of our team and is exactly the right person to lead our communications division as we continue working to protect the people of Michigan from COVID-19,” said JoAnne Huls, Chief of Staff to Governor Whitmer. “We are also excited to welcome Korey Hall to our team, who has spent his career working on behalf of the people of Southeast Michigan. In the Whitmer Administration, Korey will work directly with leaders across the state to ensure every Michigan community has a voice in Lansing.”  

 

  • The governor 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 yesterday, Monday, November 23, 2020, in honor of Firefighter Michael Buitendorp who died in the line of duty responding to a fire.  

 

“This is a solemn day as we honor the service and bravery of Michael Buitendorp by lowering the flag across Michigan,” said Governor Whitmer. “The entire state of Michigan is indebted to Michael who answered the call to protect Michigan families. I wish his family, friends, and all those who knew him peace and love as they lay him to rest.”   

 

  • The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced 11,511 cases of COVID-19 from both Sunday and Monday. This brings the total number of positive cases of COVID-19 to 314,216. 

 

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HAPPENING ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT 

 

  • The Michigan State Police (MSP) and Kroger have partnered to provide Thanksgiving dinners to 200 families in central and southeast Michigan. Meals provided by Kroger will be distributed to families identified by MSP Community Service Troopers through collaboration with local schools and organizations.   

 

“At Kroger we are committed to ending hunger in the communities in which we live and serve. Our goal to donate three billion meals by 2025 with our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan, takes partnerships across the state to achieve. We continue to partner with the MSP to help us identify families in need during the Thanksgiving Season and look forward to another year helping to provide hope during the holiday season. Much like the MSP, we are committed to serving our neighbors and building strong bonds with the community,” said Rachel Hurst, Corporate Affairs Manager for Kroger.   

 

  • The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and MDHHS announced that over $6.5 million  in grant funding and an additional $3,087,431 in laboratory equipment has been awarded to 20 recipients across the state to support a three-month pilot program to test for the COVID-19 virus in wastewater. These pilot programs are being run by a network of 29 local health departments, 18 laboratories, and 125 university, municipal and other partners across Michigan. 

 

MEDIA COVERAGE 

 

 

A BIT OF RELIEF 

 

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https://twitter.com/MIWildlife/status/1329466880348868609 

 

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