All students on the University of Michigan s Ann Arbor campus are being told to stay home, except for a handful of in-person classes, for the next two weeks. The school asked students to limit their time outside their residence following a recommendation from the county health department.
It comes days after the university s athletic department suspended all operations for 14 days to try to slow the spread of a variant strain of the coronavirus.
“We are very concerned about the potential for this variant to spread quickly,” Jimena Loveluck, health officer for Washtenaw County, said in a news release. “We are working closely with the university to take coordinated steps to control the current outbreak and understand the situation more fully. This stay-in-place recommendation will help us reduce the impact of the variant and COVID-19 in general as we investigate.”
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, a frequent critic of how the governor has fought the pandemic, did not say how he believes he contracted COVID-19.
The state is doing everything it can to quickly vaccinate every Michigander who wants a dose, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday, arguing state and federal data that shows a wide chasm between doses distributed and those actually administered doesn t tell the whole story.
“So I want to be crystal clear: The state of Michigan has pushed out every single vaccine that we have received. We ve pushed it out to eligible providers, our local public health departments and our health systems. There are some recipients who have not gotten shots in arms, and we re giving technical assistance. We re including offering the National Guard to assist so that we can get it done, Whitmer said.
DETROIT – The Michigan House of Representatives voted shortly after midnight Friday to repeal a law Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used to issue sweeping safety regulations and business restrictions at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was one of two measures supported chiefly by House Republicans that aims to restrict what the governor and the state health department can do in a time of crisis. While both measures are likely headed to Whitmer s desk, it is unlikely she will sign either.
The House voted 57-43 to repeal a 1945 emergency powers law, a portion of code that drew the ire of opponents to Whitmer s executive orders but one the governor and her supporters argued helped save lives. It voted 59-44 on a separate bill that would limit the length of emergency orders from the state health department without legislative approval and prohibit pandemic restrictions on religious institutions.
Michigan s casinos, movie theaters, bowling alleys and similar venues will be allowed to reopen on Monday, with some restrictions in place, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday. High schools also will be allowed to resume in-person classes next week, she said.
But indoor dining will remain banned, at least through Jan. 15.
The changes amount to rolling back some, but not all, restrictions implemented through controversial emergency orders aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. State health department orders banning in-person classes, indoor dining and many business operations were implemented in November and extended earlier this month, but were set to expire Sunday. The new order was announced Friday but takes effect Monday.