Revised Order Clarifies Symptoms that Require Employees to Stay Home

An Executive Order outlining revised COVID-19 employee protections was signed late last week. The revision addresses concerns that were voiced by business owners as to the expanded definition of symptoms in the previous order.

Brian Calley, former Lieutenant Governor and President of the Small Business Association of Michigan, said, “As we had anticipated, the Governor has issued a new executive order to replace EO 2020-166, which we had concerns with.”

The new order clears up confusion over the need to stay home with symptoms from known medical conditions as required in the previous order. According to Executive Order 2020-172, the possible COVID symptoms include a fever, an uncontrolled cough, and shortness of breath; or at least two of the following not explained by a known medical or physical condition: loss of taste or smell, muscle aches (“myalgia”), sore throat, severe headache, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.  

Governor Whitmer said that the order was necessary as the $600 unemployment benefit was running out and workers may be inclined to go to work sick. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Softball Game Brings Police and Recovery Community Together

Port Huron, MI — Local non-profit Blue Water Recovery and Outreach and the Port Huron and St. Clair Police Departments will be gathering for a family-friendly charity softball game at Pine Grove Park in Port Huron on Sunday, September 13th at 1:00 p.m. 

Members of the recovery community and local law enforcement will be enjoying recreation while providing much-needed entertainment for spectators in the midst of continual event cancellations.

Describing the family event, Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Executive Director Patrick Patterson said, “We are honored and excited to be in a position to play the police as we share a common denominator in trying to make our community a better place.’”

The actual game is limited to hosting under 100 people. Spectators are asked to maintain social distancing. The game will be livestreamed on bwroc.org and the BWROC Facebook page.

Port Huron Police Chief Joe Platzer said, “We’re community partners and when the police can work together it’s a benefit to all involved.”

Proceeds from the game will go to both the Port Huron and St. Clair Police Departments and Blue Water Recovery and Outreach. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Some Michigan College Students Eligible for Food Benefits

Michigan students in college Career and Technical Education programs returning to classes this fall are now eligible to receive food assistance if they meet other eligibility requirements.

The Michigan departments of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) and Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are encouraging students to apply for food assistance benefits online at Michigan.gov/MIBridges.

Close to 16,000 low-income college students in Michigan who are enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are eligible to receive food assistance benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“As Michigan CTE students are preparing for high-demand, critical job openings, they shouldn’t have to worry about how they’ll get their next meal,” said LEO Director Jeff Donofrio. “These SNAP benefits will help them focus on their educational needs and prepare for a successful future.”

Previously, college students enrolled in qualifying CTE programs who attended school at least half-time could not qualify for SNAP benefits, even if they met income eligibility requirements, unless they fell into certain categories such as working at least 20 hours per week, caring for a child, or being unable to work.

College students in Michigan are now eligible for SNAP if they meet income and other program requirements and are enrolled at least half-time in an occupational program that leads to employment under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the Twenty-First Century Act of 2018 known as Perkins V.

 

Blue Water Area COVID-19 Update August 28, 2020

St. Clair County, MI — Lambton County, Ontario

Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 28, 2020 at  9:00 AM are as follows:

  • State of Michigan: 99,958 confirmed cases; 6,440 deaths
  • St. Clair County: 782 confirmed cases; 52 deaths
  • Ontario: 41,813 confirmed cases;  2,803 deaths
  • Sarnia-Lambton: 338 confirmed cases; 25 deaths

St. Clair County currently has 70 active cases of the virus, and 1% of hospital beds in the county are being used for COVID-19 patients.

Governor Whitmer signed an Executive Order 2020-172 yesterday clarifying the principal symptoms of COVID-19 that should cause an employee to stay home from work. The order also mandates that employers treat employees who stay home when they are sick as if they were taking medical leave.

Under order 2020-172, any and all Michiganders who test positive for COVID-19 or who display one or more of the principal symptoms should stay home. A worker should also stay home if they have any one of the following not explained by a known medical or physical condition: a fever, an uncontrolled cough, and shortness of breath; or at least two of the following not explained by a known medical or physical condition: loss of taste or smell, muscle aches, sore throat, severe headache, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.  

Individuals must remain home until 24 hours have passed since the resolution of fever without medication or 10 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared or were tested positive.

Lambton County currently has 4 active cases, and the county hasn’t had a COVID-19 related hospital admission since May.

The City of Sarnia asks for help from the community regarding disposing of personal protective equipment. Masks, gloves, paper towels, tissues, wipes, and plastic bags belong in the garbage, not in the blue box.

 

Please continue to rely on reputable sources for information on COVID-19:

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Discover Sarnia-Lambton Promotes Local Tourism

Sarnia, Ontario – CA — Tourism provides a huge boost to local economies, and the shut down of businesses and enforcement of stay home orders has caused a lot of people to stay put rather than travel. Even as COVID-19 cases decline in the Sarnia-Lambton area, many people may still be reluctant to get too far from home.

In response to this, Tourism Sarnia-Lambton is encouraging “hyper-local” travel with a new Discover Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Blue Coast Travel Rewards Program. The program offers vouchers to those who book stays at local participating hotels and campgrounds, along with enjoying local attractions. Vouchers can be redeemed at a Tourism Sarnia-Lambton industry partners in the retail or restaurant sector.

Vouchers are available for all stays booked for August 17th – December 31st. Details about the program are available at DiscoverSarniaLambton.com.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

DOJ Launches Inquiry into Michigan Nursing Home Deaths

The U.S. Department of Justice is requesting data from governors of four states, including Michigan, regarding orders that may have resulted in the deaths of elderly nursing home residents at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a press release from the DOJ, they are evaluating whether to initiate investigations under the federal “Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act” (CRIPA), which protects the civil rights of persons in state-run nursing homes to determine if data backs up the claim that the ordered COVID -19 admissions caused deaths.

The inquiry is not being well-received by the governors. Governor Gretchen Whitmer accused the DOJ of playing politics.

A joint letter from the four governors involved said, “This is nothing more than a transparent politicization of the Department of Justice in the middle of the Republican National Convention.  It’s no coincidence the moment the Trump administration is caught weakening the CDC’s COVID-19 testing guidelines to artificially lower the number of positive cases, they launched this nakedly partisan deflection.”

The inquiry does not imply wrongdoing, nor have any conclusions been reached at this time.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland