UPDATE: Governor Whitmer COVID-19 Daily Update February 17, 2021

Michigan Executive Office of the Governor sent this bulletin at 02/17/2021 06:30 AM EST

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VACCINE UPDATE  

 

  • The state of Michigan has administered 1,657,215 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, with 19,366 being administered on February 15. Every COVID-19 vaccine allocated to Michigan has either been administered or is scheduled to be administered via appointment. 

 

To view the total distribution of vaccines and more vaccine information, visit www.michigan.gov/covidvaccine to view the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard.     

 

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  • Governor Gretchen Whitmer traveled to the DeVos Place vaccine site to see firsthand the collaboration and work being done to achieve the governor’s goal of vaccinating 70% of Michiganders, who are 16 years and older, as quickly as possible. The governor visited DeVos Place in Grand Rapids with Congressman Peter Meijer, State Representative David LaGrand, Major General Paul Rogers, and MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel, and to observe the partnership between Kent County, Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, Spectrum Health, and the Michigan National Guard. 

 

“It is inspiring to see the strong partnerships at vaccination sites across the state between our frontline health care workers and the women and men of the Michigan National Guard who are all working around the clock to vaccinate as many people as possible,” said Governor Whitmer. “While we work towards achieving the goals laid out in our vaccine strategy, I urge everyone to make a plan for how they will get their shots when they are eligible. We all have a part to play in ending this pandemic once and for all, and we must continue to mask up, socially distance, and wash our hands.” 

 

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ICYMI 

 

  • As the first black lieutenant governor of Michigan, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II shared his story of what brought him to serving the state. Read more below! 

 

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  • MDHHS announced 775 cases of COVID-19 from yesterday. This brings the total number of positive cases of COVID-19 to 576,264.     

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HAPPENING ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT 

 

  • With Michigan experiencing snow-covered roads and below zero temperatures forecast to impact the state tonight, the Michigan State Police (MSP) encouraged state residents and visitors to be extra cautious when going outdoors. 

 

“With the National Weather Service forecasting sub-zero temperatures, it’s important that Michiganders take steps to stay safe during this period of cold weather,” said Capt. Kevin Sweeney, deputy state director of Emergency Management and commander of the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD). “If you must go outdoors or have to travel, be sure to dress appropriately and have an emergency preparedness kit in your vehicle.” 

 

  • Yesterday, MDHHS announced that they created a task force to prevent and eliminate systemic racism in the state’s child protection system and transform it to make family well-being and preventing abuse, neglect and trauma the top priority of the department’s Children’s Services Agency. 

 

MDHHS is partnering with MPHI, a non-profit public-private partnership created to support MDHHS, to establish the Child Welfare Improvement Task Force to address racial disparities in child welfare. The action is an acknowledgement of the beliefs of Gov. Whitmer and MDHHS that systemic racism is a public health threat. 

 

MEDIA COVERAGE 

 

 

A BIT OF RELIEF 

 

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RESOURCES