♪
♪ >> Devin: THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
IN MICHIGAN AS PARENTS AND
STUDENTS WAIT FOR A BIG
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR,
FIELD HOSPITALS BEGIN TAKING
SHAPE IN THE CITY OF DETROIT AND
POSSIBLY OUTSIDE THE CITY, TOO.
GLAD YOU’RE WITH US FOR LOCAL 4
NEWS AT 6:00.
MINUTES AGO, WE HEARD FROM
PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO SAID MORE
SUPPLIES ARE ON THE WAY TO
MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN. >> I JUST SPOKE WITH GOVERNOR OF
MICHIGAN AND HAD A GREAT
CONVERSATION AND WE SENT A LARGE
NUMBER OF VENTILATORS TO
MICHIGAN AND SENDING THEM TO
LOUISIANA AND SENT ADDITIONAL
VENTILATORS TO NEW YORK,
ADDITIONAL VENTILATORS TO NEW
JERSEY.
JERSEY. >> Sandra: AND IN FACT, JUST A
FEW MINUTES AGO, GOVERNOR
WHITMER TWEETED THIS PICTURE
RIGHT HERE CONFIRMING MICHIGAN
HAS INDEED RECEIVED 400
VENTILATORS FROM THE NATIONAL
STOCKPILE AND SAID THE STATE
NEEDS MANY MORE AND IS WORKING
TO TRY TO GET THEM.
>>> MICHIGAN IS REPORTING MORE
THAN A THOUSAND ADDITIONAL CASES
BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 7615.
75 MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED,
BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 259.
>> Devin: THERE’S ONE POSITIVE
NOTE TO REPORT OUT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
EXPERTS THERE PREDICT AGGRESSIVE
SOCIAL DISTANCING COULD REDUCE
PEAK NUMBERS IN U OF M HOSPITALS
BY 65% BY THE MONTH OF MAY BUT
THAT’S ONLY IF WE CAN FOLLOW
THROUGH WITH THAT.
THE SCHOOL IS EXPLORING OPTIONS
FOR CONVERTING SPACES SUCH AS
RESIDENCE HALLS AND INDOOR TRACK
ARENA INTO FIELD HOSPITALS.
WE GOT A LOOK AT THE FIELD
HOSPITAL BEING SET UP INSIDE THE
TCF CENTER.
TCF CENTER. FEMA AND THE ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS SETTING UP 900 BEDS.
>> Sandra: PATIENTS WILL BE
SEPARATED BETWEEN TWO FLOORS
DEPENDING ON SEVERITY OF THE
CASES.
CASES. MAYOR MIKE DUGGAN SAYING THIS
WAS AN EASY DECISION TO MAKE.
>> TCF CENTER WAS CLEARLY THE
RIGHT WAY TO GET 900 BEDS AT
ONCE.
ONCE. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE ANGRY ABOUT
THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE
HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS
COMMUNITY COME FIRST.
AND THAT’S WHAT WE DECIDED TO
COMMIT TO THE TCF CENTER OUT OF
THE GATE.
THE GATE. >> Sandra: ARMY DUGGAN SAID THE
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ARE
LOOKING AT A DOZEN DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS AROUND SOUTHEAST
MICHIGAN FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES.
>>> PUBLISH HEALTH OFFICIALS
HAVE BEEN SAYING FROM THE START
OF THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK,
THAT MASKS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED
FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
>> Devin: BUT YESTERDAY,
PRESIDENT TRUMP RAISED THE
POSSIBILITY IT MAY BE CONSIDERED
FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
DR. McGEORGE IS HERE TO CLEAR UP
THE CONFUSION, AND THERE HAVE
BEEN SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
MASKS AND THE CONFUSION SINCE
THIS STARTED, DOC.
>> Dr. McGeorge: INDEED.
SO LET ME START OUT WITH A VERY
CLEAR MESSAGE THAT CANNOT BE
MISUNDERSTOOD.
MISUNDERSTOOD. THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR ANY
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT,
INCLUDING MASKS SHOULD BE HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS AND ANYONE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE CARE OF
INFECTED INDIVIDUALS.
INFECTED INDIVIDUALS. NOW, THAT SAID, ESPECIALLY IN
COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH LEVELS OF
SPREAD, MASK USE MIGHT MAKE
SENSE BUT WITH SOME CAVEAT.
>> WE’LL LOOK AT IT FOR A PERIOD
OF TIME.
OF TIME. BUT NOT FOREVER.
WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK.
WE WON’T BE WEARING MASKS
FOREVER BUT IT COULD BE FOR A
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
>> Dr. McGeorge: THAT WAS
PRESIDENT TRUMP YESTERDAY
TALKING ABOUT MASKS IN PUBLIC.
ALTHOUGH THE CDC HAS STATED
THOSE HEALTHY AND NOT IN A
HEALTH CARE ROLE IS UNNECESSARY,
THERE ARE COUNTRIES LIKE SOUTH
KOREA AND JAPAN WHERE IT’S
ENCOURAGED AND MANY EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES ARE CHANGING THEIR
POSITION.
POSITION. RECENT STUDIES IN THE NEW
ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND
THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TAKEN
TOGETHER SUGGEST MICROSCOPIC
PARTICLES EXPELLED BY A COUGH OR
SNEEZE COULD REMAIN INFECTIOUS
AND LINGER IN THE AIR FOR AN
EXTENDED TIME OR TRAVEL A
FURTHER DISTANCE THAN THE 6 FEET
OF SEPARATION THAN RECOMMENDED.
CLEARLY AT A TIME OF MASK
SHORTAGES, PRIORITY NEEDS TO BE
GIVEN ON THE FRONT LINE OF
PATIENT CARE.
PATIENT CARE. MASK USE IS RECOMMENDED TO HELP
INFECTED INDIVIDUALS KEEP THEIR
COUGHS AND KNEESES COVERED AND
PREVENT SPREAD.
PREVENT SPREAD. HERE’S THE THING: NOW THAT
WE’RE IN A TIME OF WIDESPREAD
COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION AND
ASSUME ANYONE MIGHT BE INFECTED,
IT MAKES GOOD SENSE THAT
EVERYONE SHOULD WEAR A MASK FOR
EVERYONE’S MUTUAL PROTECTION.
BUT UNTIL THERE ARE ENOUGH MASKS
FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS, THE
GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD CONSIDER
HOMEMADE MASKS.
HOMEMADE MASKS. THE POTENTIAL DOWN SIDES ARE
IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE.
THEY MIGHT PROVIDE A FALSE SENSE
OF SECURITY.
OF SECURITY. MASK OR NOT, SOCIAL DISTANCING
AND HAND HYGIENE IS ABSOLUTELY
CRITICAL.
CRITICAL. IF YOU USE A MASK, PLEASE BE
SURE TO CLEAN YOUR HANDS BEFORE
YOU TOUCH IT, ADJUST IT, OR WHEN
PUTTING IT ON OR REMOVING IT.
TOUCHING YOUR FACE, EVEN WHEN
YOU HAVE A MASK ON IS STILL A
SOURCE OF SERIOUS AND IMPORTANT
CONTAMINATION.
CONTAMINATION. >> Sandra: I KNOW YOU’VE
SUPPORTED THE MASK POSITION IN
THE PAST, IS THIS A CHANGE?
>> Dr. McGeorge: WELL, NOT
REALLY.
REALLY. I’VE ALWAYS FELT THAT THE CDC
STANDS STRONGLY AGAINST MASKS
FOR THE PUBLIC WAS A LITTLE BIT
EXTREME AND THERE ARE POTENTIAL
DOWN SIDES TO MASKS WHICH I JUST
DISCUSSED.
DISCUSSED. THAT WOULD BE THE RISK.
AND BEFORE, WE LIVED IN A LOWER
TRANSMISSION ENVIRONMENT WHICH
WOULD MAKE IT A LIMITED BENEFIT.
NOW THINGS ARE COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT. THERE IS WIDESPREAD COMMUNITY
TRANSMISSION, SO THE
RISK-TO-BENEFIT RATIO HAS
SHIFTED IN MY MIND IN FAVOR OF
USING MASKS.
USING MASKS. >> Devin: WE’LL CONTINUE TO KEEP
TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS TO DR.
FRANK McGEORGE.
FRANK McGEORGE. THANKS SO MUCH.
TALK TO YOU SOON.
>> Devin: AS WE LOOK ACROSS THE
DETROIT RIVER TO OUR CANADIAN
NEIGHBORS, UP TO THIS POINT IT’S
BEEN WITH ENVY WHEN IT COMES TO
CORONAVIRUS.
CORONAVIRUS. >> Sandra: BUT THERE’S A COMMON
THEME AMONG THE INFECTED
PATIENTS.
PATIENTS. MANY OF THEM WORK IN DETROIT.
JASON COLTHORP IS LIVE ALONG THE
RIVERFRONT WITH THE NEW
RESTRICTIONS BEING IMPOSED.
>> Jason: WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
HEALTH CARE WORKERS, ANOTHER
RESOURCE WE CANNOT LOSE BECAUSE
WE’RE ALREADY IN SHORT SUPPLY OF
FOLKS ON THE FRONT LINES.
BUT THE CHALLENGE IS HOW TO GET
MEDICAL STAFF, DOCTORS, NURSES
WHO LIVE IN CANADA, BUT HELP
PEOPLE ON THIS SIDE, TO BE ABLE
TO KEEP DOING THAT WITHOUT
TAKING THE VIRUS BACK HOME WITH
THEM.
THEM. ALREADY A NATIONAL HOT SPOT FOR
COVID-19, DETROIT IS NOW
BECOMING AN INTERNATIONAL
CONCERN.
CONCERN. THE WINDSOR ESSEX COUNTY HEALTH
SAYS 20 CASES THERE ARE IN
HEALTH CARE AND WORK IN DETROIT.
>> WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MINIMIZE
THEIR MOVEMENTS.
THEIR MOVEMENTS. >> Jason: HE HAD TWO SUGGESTIONS
TO STOP THE SPREAD.
THE FIRST, LIMITING TRAVEL BACK
AND FORTH.
AND FORTH. >> IF PEOPLE ARE GOING, LET’S
SAY, THREE TIMES A WEEK OR MAYBE
EVERY DAY TO MICHIGAN, CAN THEY
GO MAYBE ONCE AND SAY THERE AND
COME BACK?
COME BACK? >> Jason: THAT MIGHT REQUIRE
THEM TO FIND HOUSING ON THE U.S.
SIDE WHEN OPTIONS ARE EXTREMELY
LIMITED.
LIMITED. WHEN THEY RETURN HOME, HE IS
SUGGESTING TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS.
>> AND THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION
IS HOME ISOLATION.
WHEN THEY COME BACK, THEY
ISOLATE THEMSELVES.
ISOLATE THEMSELVES. >> Jason: IT’S ALL IN AN ATTEMPT
TO WALL OFF THE VIRUS FROM
DETROIT WHICH CURRENTLY HAS MORE
CASES THAN ALL OF ONTARIO.
>> WE HOPE THAT WE LOOK AT
CREATIVE WAYS TO STILL GET THE
HUMAN RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO
MAINTAIN OUR OPERATION BUT ALSO
NOT COMPROMISING HEALTH.
>> Jason: IT’S A TOUGH BALANCING
ACT.
ACT. I REACHED OUT TO SEE IF
HOSPITALS ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO
SOLVE THIS, PUTTING IN PLACE A
PLAN TO HOUSEWORKERS FROM OVER
THERE TO BE ABLE TO STAY DURING
THE WEEK AND WASN’T ABLE TO GET
A REAL ANSWER ON THAT.
NO FAULT OF THE HOSPITALS BUT
JUST AS WE SEE ANOTHER NEW
CHALLENGE PRESENTING ITSELF AS
THIS SITUATION CONTINUES.
BACK TO YOU.
>> Devin: SUCH A CRITICAL
COMPONENT OF HEALTH CARE IN
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN.
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. >>> WE’RE ANTICIPATING A
EXECUTIVE ORDER IN THE NEXT FEW
DAYS ENDING THE SCHOOL YEAR IN
MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN. >> Sandra: WE SPOKE WITH
GOVERNOR WHITMER WHO INSISTED
SHE HASN’T YESTERDAY MADE A
DECISION.
DECISION. >> PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS, PARENTS,
STUDENTS, TEACHERS.
STUDENTS, TEACHERS. WE HAVE 1.5 MILLION KIDS IN
MICHIGAN WHO ARE NOT IN SCHOOL
AND VERY DIFFERENT DISTRITS
WITH DIFFERENT CHALLENGES AND
RESOURCES, SO I THINK WE NEED
ANOTHER DAY AND A HALF TO
FINALIZE THINGS AND MAKE -- I
NEED TO MAKE SOME FINAL
DECISIONS HERE AND WE’LL MAKE AN
ANNOUNCEMENT ON THURSDAY.
>> Sandra: THE STATE OF BIM LOW
IS DIFFICULT FOR THOSE ON THEIR
MAKE-OR-BREAK YEARS OF HIGH
SCHOOL.
SCHOOL. PAULA TUTMAN EXPLAINS WHY IT’S
NOT TIME TO PANIC.
>> Paula: THERE’S A COMMON
SAYING THAT THE JUNIOR YEAR IN
HIGH SCHOOL GETS YOU INTO
COLLEGE AND SENIOR YEAR KEEPS
YOU THERE.
YOU THERE. WE MET CARLY AS PART OF THE
CHAMPIONSHIP CHEER SQUAD IN
ROCHESTER HILLS.
ROCHESTER HILLS. AS OF HER LAST DAY OF SCHOOL IN
MID-MARCH, CARLY HAD A 4.1 GRADE
POINT AVERAGE.
POINT AVERAGE. BUT TODAY, HER ACADEMICS REMAIN
INFLUX.
INFLUX. >> SOME SCHOOLS ARE NOT COUNTING
TEST COURSE AND WE STILL HAVE TO
SEE HOW COLLEGES RESPOND TO IT,
LIKE IN THE FUTURE.
>> Paula: SHE AND HER MOTHER
HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO CONTINUE
MAKING GAINS TO GO TO COLLEGE.
>> WE HAD A LIST.
WE HAD AN IDEA OF EVERYTHING SHE
NEEDED AND WHAT THE
QUALIFICATIONS WERE, AND THAT’S
ALL UP IN THE AIR.
>> Paula: TODAY, THE COUNSELOR
AT UNIVERSITY PREP IN SOUTHFIELD
SET OUT GUIDANCE TO STUDENTS,
SPECIFICALLY JUNIORS, EXPLAINING
ALL IS NOT LOST.
>> JUNIORS CAN BE WORKING ON
THEIR S.A.T. TEST PREP.
AND THEY CAN USE
COLLEGEBOARD.ORG AND KHAN
ACADEMY.
ACADEMY. AND THEY GET GET SPECIFIC TEST
PREP.
PREP. BY DOING THAT TEST PREP, THEY’RE
WORKING ON ENGLISH AND MATH.
THEY’RE WORKING ON THE STRANDS
THEY NEED TO WORK ON.
>> Paula: IF YOU ARE A STUDENT
WHO IS BUILDING GRADES TO GO TO
COLLEGE, THE WORK YOU CAN GET
DONE RIGHT NOW DURING THIS
HIATUS COULD ACTUALLY CATAPULT
YOU IN WAYS THAT REGULAR SCHOOL
WORK WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT
TO DO, AND WHILE IT MAY NOT
COUNT TOWARD AN ACTUAL GRADE, IT
MAY COUNT IN OTHER WAYS.
>> WHEN I’M A COUNSELOR WHEN I’M
WRITING MY RECOMMENDATION, I’LL
LOOK BACK AT WHAT THE KIDS CHOSE
TO DO.
TO DO. >> Paula: AND NOW IS A GREAT
TIME TO BUILD THE SCHOLARSHIP
DATABASE.
DATABASE. ALL THE THINGS YOU’RE DOING,
SPORTS, HOMEWORK,
SPORTS, HOMEWORK, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THAT
KEPT YOU AWAY FROM DOING THAT
CONCENTRATED WORK, THEY’RE NOT
THERE NOW AND YOU HAVE TIME TO
MAKE A REAL DENT.
>> Devin: MAYBE YOU SAW THE
TAKEOUT TUESDAY HASHTAG AND
MAYBE GOT TAKEOUT FOR DINNER.
>> Sandra: IT’S ONE OF THE
INDUSTRIES FIGHTING HARDEST TO
SURVIVE THE CRISIS.
VICTOR WILLIAMS FOUND ONE
RESTAURANT WITH ALL THE BUSINESS
IT CAN HANDLE BUT IS CLOSED AND
STILL CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE.
>> Victor: THE RESTAURANT
INDUSTRY DEFINITELY TOOK A LARGE
HIT BECAUSE OF THIS VIRUS, BUT
IT’S NOT STOPPING THEM FROM
GIVING FOOD BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. >> OUR RESPONSE WE’VE GOTTEN
FROM OUR GUESTS IS THANK YOU FOR
STAYING OPEN AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE FOR US.
>> Victor: ANDIAMO EXECUTIVE
CHEF KNOWS HAVING A MEAL AT THIS
POINT COULD BE TOUGH.
>> MONEY IS TIGHT IN FAMILIES.
>> Victor: SO HE IS DOING WHAT
HE CAN TO MAKE THINGS EASIER.
>> WE’RE DOING A BUY ONE GET ONE
FREE ON ALL CARRY-OUT ORDERS
THAT YOU PHONE IN.
>> Victor: AND THEY’RE NOT THE
ONLY ONES.
ONLY ONES. EVEN THOUGH THE DETROIT
RESTAURANT HERE IS CLOSED OFF TO
THE PUBLIC, THE WORKERS DECIDED
TO WORK WITHOUT PAY TO MAKE SURE
THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN THE
MEDICAL FIELD ARE PROPERLY FED.
>> DOING A THOUSAND DINNERS FOR
THE HOSPITALITY STAFF IN DETROIT
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. >> Victor: WITH THE PEAK
BELIEVED TO BE SOME DISTANCE
AWAY, IT’S GOOD TO KNOW SOMEONE
CARES ABOUT THE FOOD GOING TO
THOSE IN NEED.
>> RIGHT NOW, WE’RE ONLY GREAT
AS WE PULL TOGETHER, AS A UNITED
PEOPLE, PERIOD, NO MATTER WHAT
CLASS, CREED, COLOR, IT DOES NOT
MATTER.
MATTER. >> A LOT OF HOURS AND STUFF LIKE
THAT TO MAKE SURE THEY GET A
NICE QUALITY MEAL TODAY FROM THE
HEART.
HEART. >> Victor: AND BOTH RESTAURANTS
WILL CONTINUE TO DO AS MUCH AS
THEY CAN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC
AS IT CONTINUES TO PLAGUE OUR
ENTIRE NATION.
ENTIRE NATION. VICTOR WILLIAMS, LOCAL 4.
>> Devin: I LOVE RESTAURANTS.
I’M MISSING THEM.
>> Sandra: THIS IS HARD FOR YOU.
>> Devin: IT’S TOUGH.
THERE IS SUNSHINE IN THE
FORECAST, I THINK.
RIGHT, BEN?
RIGHT, BEN? >> Ben: I WOULD TAKE SOME MAC &
CHEESE OVER SUNSHINE RIGHT NOW.
WE’LL GET THE SUNSHINE TOMORROW
AND IT WILL EVENTUALLY PUT THE
WARMER TEMPERATURES HERE IN
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN.
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. WE’LL LOOK AT THE INCREASINGLY
WARMER NUMBERS.
WARMER NUMBERS. >> Hank: WE KNOW THE CORONAVIRUS
IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING SO MANY
SMALL BUSINESSES ALL OVER METRO
DETROIT.
DETROIT. BUT RIGHT NOW ONE INDUSTRY IS