UPDATE: Governor Whitmer COVID-19 Daily Update March 17

• Michigan leaders are applauding the passage of the American Rescue Plan, which, among other important provisions, will make health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace more affordable and more accessible for Michiganders struggling with the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“The pandemic has highlighted a number of important challenges that we face here in Michigan, including a strong need for affordable, high-quality health coverage,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “I appreciate the leadership shown by President Biden and members of Michigan’s Democratic congressional delegation who voted to make sure that this vitally important coverage is more accessible for all Michiganders, including critical policies like providing low-income moms health care for a full year postpartum to reduce health disparities and encourage healthy moms and healthy babies.”  

 

“The American Rescue Plan will help more Michiganders afford the health coverage that is critical to their health and their family’s wellbeing,” said Anita Fox, director of the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS). “We saw nearly 5,000 Michiganders and more than 200,000 Americans sign up for coverage in just the first two weeks of the current Marketplace special enrollment period, and this legislation will help more Michiganders afford the coverage they need.” 

• In a Tweet Monday night, Lt. Governor Gilchrist shared his visit to Grand Ledge Public Schools amid the push for safe, in-person student learning options.  

Known as "The Portal," this new tool enables infrastructure owners in both public and private infrastructure sectors to document future construction. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, The Portal alerts owners of overlapping projects and provides contact information, enabling the opportunity for a "dig once" approach at a work site. 

 

"The Portal is an essential step in ensuring our state's infrastructure is managed seamlessly," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. "Since the first day of my administration, I have prioritized fixing our state's roads and bridges and ensuring all Michiganders have access to safe, clean drinking water. Public and private partners who use this tool will be able to communicate on how to best approach a work site, allowing them to save money and time, while enhancing collaboration on specific projects." 

 

• Michiganders can now begin registering for the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Ford Field in Detroit. The community vaccination site is set to officially open on March 24. 

 

• As warmer weather approaches, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reminding the public to safely use pesticides when gardening and landscaping. A pesticide is any substance intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate a pest. Insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and disinfectants are pesticides.

"When used correctly, pesticides are an effective tool to help control, destroy, and repel destructive pests such as insects, weeds, rodents, germs, and plant disease," said Brian Verhougstraete, MDARD's Pesticide Section Manager. "If applying pesticides, always read and follow the label directions and use the recommended personal protective equipment."