FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2020
Media Contact: [email protected]

Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Ensuring Workers’ Compensation Eligibility for Frontline COVID-19-Response Workers

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-125, which clarifies Workers’ Disability Compensation Act (WDCA) eligibility during the COVID-19 emergency, replacing emergency rules issued by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity in March 2020. Under this executive order, individuals who work within the secured borders of a penal institution, including correctional officers, medical staff, and cafeteria staff who serve prisoners will be presumptively entitled to worker’s compensation if they suffer a personal injury as a result of COVID-19.

“The men and women who work at correctional facilities across our state should be able to report for work knowing they will be covered under Michigan’s Workers’ Disability Compensation Act if they are injured or disabled as a result of COVID-19, and this executive order ensures they are eligible for that much-needed coverage,” Governor Whitmer said. “The real heroes of this crisis are the medical workers, first responders, and other essential workers — like correctional officers — who are putting their lives on the line for us every day. We must all continue to do our part to protect them and their families.”

The WDCA affords important protections to Michigan’s workers and employers. Under normal circumstances, employees seeking entitlement to wage-loss benefits are required to demonstrate, in part, the existence of a work-related injury that prevents the employee from performing his or her job duties. Due to the possibility of asymptomatic transfer of COVID-19, requiring a worker on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic to demonstrate they contracted COVID-19 in the course of their employment unfairly shifts risk to the worker and may hinder Michigan’s emergency response by undermining confidence in the worker’s compensation system among the most critical members of the workforce.

Under Executive Order 2020-125, a COVID-19-response worker who is confirmed as COVID-19 positive on or after March 18, 2020, either by physician or by test, shall be presumed to have suffered a “personal injury,” as defined by the WDCA.

This order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect during the declared states of emergency and disaster.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

To view Executive Order 2020-125, click the link below:

• 2020-125.pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2020
Media Contact: [email protected]

Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Extending Protections for Consumers, Grocery Store Employees

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-126, which extends existing safety measures to protect consumers and employees at grocery stores and pharmacies.

“Michigan has emerged as a national leader in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is more work to do to protect families from this virus. This executive order will help us continue to protect employees and customers at grocery stores and pharmacies,” Governor Whitmer said. “I encourage all Michiganders to practice social distancing and wear a face mask when they are out in public so we can protect the heroes on the front lines of this crisis and avoid a second wave of COVID-19.”

Executive Order 2020-126, which continues through July 15, 2020, extends the following health and safety guidelines, among others:

• Customers who can medically tolerate a face covering must wear one when entering a grocery store or pharmacy.
• Grocery stores and pharmacies must allocate at least two hours per week of shopping time for vulnerable populations.
• If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, the business must notify other employees without infringing on private health information.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

To view Executive Order 2020-126, click the link below:

• EO 2020-126.pdf

Contact: Andrew Layton 517-940-0881

The Michigan National Guard will continue its partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan State Police State Emergency Operations Center, and local health departments to offer no-cost COVID-19 testing this Friday, June 19, in Alpena, Baraga, Ogemaw, and Tawas counties.

 

These drive-thru sites will be open Friday, June 19, only.

 

“As Michigan works to contain the spread of COVID-19 and lower the risk of a second wave, I encourage anyone near these testing sites with a need for testing, to get tested,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “I appreciate the hard work of these professionals from the Michigan National Guard, Department of Health and Human Services, and Michigan State Police to make this testing accessible, safe, and easy.”

 

The Michigan National Guard has more than 45 trained testing teams ready to assist, of which 20 are currently assigned to support the community testing mission. These three-member teams include a certified medic to conduct the testing and two members to assist with paperwork, logistics, and non-medical tasks. All team members from the Michigan National Guard have tested negative for COVID-19 and have been following strict medical protocols to ensure health and safety and to protect Michigan communities.

 

“As Michigan gets back to work, testing remains one of the best tools to assess risk in these communities for COVID-19,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Even as more than 1,100 guard members have been supporting the state’s response to COVID-19, not a single member of the Michigan National Guard has tested positive themselves as a result of their involvement with these missions – proof that the guidance for risk mitigation from public health officials has been effective.”

 

Locations for each testing site include:

 

Alpena County

Besser Elementary School

375 Wilson St.

Alpena, MI 49707

9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

 

Baraga County

Niiwin Akeaa Center

111 Beartown Road

Baraga, MI 49908

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Ogemaw County

Surline Middle School

147 State Street

West Branch, MI 48661

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Tawas County

Tawas High School

245 West M-55

Tawas City, MI 48763

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

The MING has been actively engaged in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through widespread testing and screening, distribution of personal protective equipment, and assistance at numerous food banks across the state. The community testing initiative is a continuation of those efforts.

 

Similar testing has been held in 22 other communities over the past four weeks.

 

For photos of COVID-19 testing last weekend in Alma, click here.

 

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.