DNR: Michigan’s fight against tuberculosis
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Don’t spit. Wash your hands. Don’t share drinking cups. Turn your head away when you cough. These were recommendations made by Michigan public health officials to alleviate the spread of pulmonary tuberculosis at the turn of the 20th century.
The board’s reach and influence lacked authority without backing by Michigan law. In 1895, 22 years after the board was established, the Michigan Legislature passed Public Act 146, an education bill that required public schools to teach children how tuberculosis spread and could be prevented.
The MTA laid out an action plan to engage and educate the public through literature, lectures, publicity, a traveling exhibit and an annual convention using the motto: “the weapon against tuberculosis is education.” Still, some teachers refused to teach prevention, saying “the more you think of the disease, the more there is of it.”
Whitmer Signs $106 Million Relief Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 29, 2020 Media Contact: [email protected]
Governor Whitmer Signs $106 Million Bipartisan Relief Bill, Bills Extending Unemployment Benefits to 26 Weeks Governor Calls on the Republican Legislature to Make Unemployment Extension Permanent
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the bipartisan relief bill that the Michigan legislature passed after she urged them to provide support for Michigan families, frontline workers, and small businesses. The relief bill includes $55 million to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Grants of up to $20,000 will be made available to small businesses across the state that need support this winter. The relief bill also includes $3.5 million for grants of up to $40,000 each for live music and entertainment venues, and includes $45 million in direct payments to workers who have been laid off or furloughed as a result of the virus.
“I proposed this stimulus plan to the legislature in November because I know how much our families, frontline workers, and small businesses need relief. This bipartisan bill will provide families and businesses the support they need to stay afloat as we continue working to distribute the safe and effective vaccine and eliminate COVID-19 once and for all,” said Governor Whitmer. “There is still more work to do to eliminate this virus and grow our economy. All Michiganders have a personal responsibility to do their part and mask up, practice safe social distancing, and avoid indoor gatherings where the virus can easily spread from person to person. We will beat this virus together.”
“After zooming a few weeks ago with Governor Whitmer, we are thrilled that she heard our cry for help,” said Chef Jenna Arcidiacono, owner of Amore Trattoria in Comstock Park. “Many restaurants will not survive without financial support. This gives us hope after the devastating year we have endured.”
“Live entertainment venues are vital to communities across Michigan, they are community gathering spaces and vibrant hubs for culture and arts,” said Xavier Verna, Executive Director of the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts. “These funds will provide critical support to help them get through until we can all gather safely and enjoy entertainment together again.”
“We are grateful that Governor Whitmer has signed a bill that provides some much needed support for entertainment venues and stages like ours,” said Scott Hammontree, President of the Michigan Independent Venue and Promoter Association. “Our number one priority is keeping our staff, patrons, and their families safe, and we encourage everyone in communities across Michigan to do your part to end this virus once and for all.”
The governor also signed bipartisan Senate Bill 604 extending unemployment benefits for Michiganders who have lost work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic from 20 to 26 weeks until the end of March 2021. Senate Bill 604 was sponsored by Senator Curtis Hertel.
“No Michigander should have to worry about how to put food on the table or pay their bills, especially during a global pandemic,” said Governor Whitmer. “These bipartisan bills are an important step in providing immediate relief for working families, but there is more work to do. I urge the legislature to take further action to make this permanent. 40 states, including all of our neighbors, automatically provide at least 26 weeks of unemployment relief. Michiganders deserve better than a short-term extension that expires in March. It’s time to work together on a bipartisan, long-term solution for working families.”
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Whitmer and her administration have worked around the clock to ensure benefits for Michiganders who have lost work because of the virus. Since March 15, Governor Whitmer’s administration has paid nearly $27 billion in benefits to nearly 2.3 million workers.
When she signed the bipartisan relief bill, Governor Whitmer line item vetoed any items not subject to negotiated agreement. That includes a $220 million giveaway of taxpayer money to the employer-owned Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund – a pool of funds designed to help businesses fund benefits for laid off workers. General fund dollars must be used to fund essential services like vaccines and PPE, not to give tax breaks to big businesses. The Unemployment Insurance Agency has also provided more than $900 million in tax breaks to businesses impacted by COVID-19. Today, the governor urged the legislature to return to work in January and pass a permanent extension of unemployment benefits and an increase in weekly benefits that provide unemployed Michiganders the support they need to put food on the table for themselves and their families.
On Sunday, the President signed a COVID relief bill that provides some support for Michigan’s unemployed workers. This bill extends benefits to self-employed and gig workers and provides all unemployment recipients with an additional $300 per week. This extension will bring relief to nearly 700,000 Michigan workers who are currently receiving benefits under the federal UI programs. The continuation of these benefits coupled with the additional $300 per week for all claimants will provide our workers with the emergency financial assistance to buy essential items like groceries and prescription drugs.
To view the governor’s signing message to the legislature, click the link below:
See below for photos from today’s bill signing:
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Attorney General Encouraging Diversity in Broadcast Media
Media Contacts: Courtney Covington FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Attorney General Nessel Joins Coalition Encouraging Diversity and Local Ownership in Broadcast MediaState Attorneys General Argue Before Supreme Court That a Diverse and Local Media Benefit Communities, DemocracyLANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general In an amicus brief filed in FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project before the U.S. Supreme Court, the attorneys general argue that the FCC’s new rules will not only decrease representation of minority communities in local media, but will also lead to greater media consolidation, which threatens local news. Further, they assert that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit—which previously heard this case—correctly concluded that the FCC neglected to consider how repealing these rules would impact diversity in media ownership. The coalition is asking the Supreme Court to affirm the Third Circuit’s holding that the FCC’s pre-existing broadcast ownership rules are in the public interest, and that the agency’s changes to those rules are arbitrary and capricious. “Minority broadcast ownership fosters the The FCC regulates the ownership of broadcast media and has long used its regulatory authority to promote diversity in ownership while limiting common ownership of multiple outlets within a single market. The first goal is advanced in part through ownership rules that give certain preferences to “eligible entities,” which are meant to encourage ownership by women and people of color. Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC must review its rules every four years to determine whether there is enough competition among media outlets to preserve the public interest without the need for federal regulation. Since 2002, the FCC’s performance of its duties under that Act have come before the courts four times. FCC v. Prometheus represents the fourth instance. The case focuses on several recent actions taken by the FCC scaling back many of the rules regulating broadcast ownership. Last year, the Third Circuit heard the case, eventually vacating the FCC’s actions because the Commission did not adequately consider the effects its new rules would have on ownership of broadcast media by women and racial minorities. The FCC has sought review in the Supreme Court, arguing that it took these impacts into account. Further, a group of media conglomerates have claimed that the FCC should not design regulations to accommodate racial or gender diversity. In the amicus brief, the states argue that the FCC’s move was arbitrary and capricious and, specifically, that the conglomerates’ interpretation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is wrong. The coalition collectively supports the effort to protect diversity in broadcast media because:
AG Nessel joins the attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington in filing the amicus brief. |
Michigan AG Helps to Stop Robocalls from Disrupting Hospitals
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Media Contacts: Courtney Covington FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michigan AG Office Helps Craft FCC Advisory Committee’
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COVID-19 vaccinations begin in Michigan
COVID-19 vaccinations begin today in Michigan skilled nursing home facilities; Staff and residents begin receiving safe and effective vaccine
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 28, 2020
CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112
LANSING, MICH. – Skilled nursing home residents and staff began receiving the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna today through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program.
The pharmacy partnership is a national initiative to provide COVID-19 vaccine to the Phase 1A priority groups of long-term care facility residents and staff. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is partnering with CVS and Walgreens through the program to manage and facilitate safe vaccination of this patient population, while reducing burden on long-term care facilities and local health departments.
“This is a great day for older Michiganders, their families and the dedicated men and women who care for them. We know this virus is a killer that preys on our most vulnerable populations, which is why my administration has prioritized testing in our nursing homes from the beginning. Now, we have developed a plan that will help us distribute a safe and effective vaccine to our nursing home residents and staff,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Remember: it will take some time for the vaccine to be widely distributed to everyone. That’s why it’s so important that we all do our part by continuing to properly mask up, practice safe social distancing and avoid indoor gatherings where the virus can easily spread from person to person. We will get through this together.”
“We know the residents of these facilities are at high-risk for severe illness and death from the virus, and early vaccination of both residents and those caring for them is critical to help protect this population,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “We are pleased that more than 5,000 long-term care facilities – including more than 400 skilled nursing facilities – have been enrolled in the program in Michigan to receive the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.”
There are about 91,000 people including residents and staff at nursing facilities, and it is expected to take about three weeks to complete vaccinations. Additional eligible facilities will soon begin receiving vaccinations including assisted living, personal care homes, residential care, adult family home, adult foster home, HUD supportive housing for the elderly and veterans’ homes. The list of sites enrolled in the program is available at Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine.
To ensure the safety of residents and staff, vaccinators are required to adhere to all applicable Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services COVID-19 testing requirements for long-term care facility staff. In addition, the pharmacists themselves will be vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as part of this program.
“Nursing facility providers are eager to begin the process of vaccinating residents and staff,” said Health Care Association of Michigan President/CEO Melissa Samuel. “The coronavirus has been most unmerciful to the residents we care for. We are very hopeful this vaccine will not only be a lifesaver for residents and staff, but also expedite the reopening of our facilities to family members and loved ones.
“We want all our residents and staff vaccinated,” Samuel said. “Until we reach those levels, we will all need to remain vigilant in our efforts to mitigate further spread of the virus. I want to thank everyone that has made this day possible.”
MDHHS is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for prioritization of distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. CDC recommendations are based on input from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the federal advisory committee made up of medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the United States. Phase 1A includes paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home as well as residents in long term care facilities. Additional information on the state’s vaccination phases is available in the prioritization guidance.
Vaccine prioritizations may change as more information on vaccine effectiveness and additional vaccination products become available. MDHHS has provided additional prioritization guidance within these categories. It is important to note that vaccination in one phase may not be complete before vaccination in another phase begins. There may be vaccination of individuals in different phases that occur simultaneously. The timing of the start of vaccination in a phase is dependent on the supply of vaccine from the manufacturer, how vaccine is allocated from the federal level to Michigan and the capacity to administer the vaccine to populations. Decisions on moving to the next phase will be made at the state level.
Even with COVID-19 vaccinations starting in Michigan and worldwide, Khaldun urges everyone to continue to practice preventative measures such as properly wearing masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing to reduce the spread of the virus until the vast majority of people have been vaccinated.
Michigan health officials have set a goal of vaccinating 70% of Michiganders over age 16, about 5.6 million people, by the end of 2021. There will be no out-of-pocket costs to individuals for the vaccine, however, healthcare providers may bill insurance for administrative costs. The COVID-19 vaccine will require two doses, separated by three or four weeks depending on the manufacturer. Michiganders should receive both doses in order to have full protection from the virus. Individuals who receive the vaccine may experience mild side effects such as low-grade fever, sore arm and general discomfort, which indicate that the vaccine is working. There is a robust state and national process for tracking vaccines and reporting side effects.
“Walgreens is very proud to be a part of this historic milestone to begin administering Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to our most vulnerable populations in Michigan and across the country,” said John Standley, president, Walgreens. “With more than a decade of experience administering various vaccines, we have the deep expertise to support this unprecedented effort to allow our nation to emerge from this pandemic.”
Added Larry J. Merlo, president and chief executive officer of CVS Health: “Today’s rollout is the culmination of months of internal planning and demonstrates how the private sector can use its expertise to help solve some of our most critical challenges. I’m grateful for the herculean efforts of everyone involved, including our health care professionals who will be deployed throughout the country to bring peace of mind to long-term care facility residents, staff, and their loved ones.”
Michigan residents seeking more information about the COVID-19 vaccine can visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine.
Information around the COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.