♪
♪ >> Announcer: LOCAL 4 NEWS
STARTS NOW WITH A "BREAKING NEWS
ALERT."
ALERT." >> Devin: WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING
NEWS.
NEWS. YOU SEE GOVERNOR WHITMER SET TO
GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE
CORONAVIRUS HERE IN MICHIGAN.
A LIVE LOOK AT THE STATE COMMAND
CENTER IN LANSING.
>> Kim: WANT TO GET TO SOME OF
THE BROAD STROKES OF WHAT’S
HAPPENED TODAY AS THE GOVERNOR
PREPARES TO SPEAK HERE.
WHEN SHE DOES START TO SPEAK --
ACTUALLY, SHE IS NOT TALKING
YET -- ACTUALLY, SHE’S TALKING.
LET’S GO TO HER LIVE.
>> THE DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY.
OPPORTUNITY. LAST NIGHT, WE ANNOUNCED THE
FIRST PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE CASES
OF CORONAVIRUS IN MICHIGAN.
WE ARE TAKING THESE CASES VERY
SERIOUSLY AND WILL CONTINUE TO
TAKE EVERY STEP WE CAN TO
MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS
AND KEEP MICHIGANDERS SAFE.
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN
PREPARING FOR THIS FOR WEEKS.
WE’VE BEEN ENCOURAGING
MICHIGANDERS TO PRACTICE
COMMUNITY MITIGATION THROUGH
GOOD HYGIENE PRACTICES.
BUT TODAY, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE
IT IS TIME TO TAKE FURTHER
ACTION.
ACTION. TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO ANNOUNCE A
SERIES OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES,
THAT THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
RECOMMENDS THAT INDIVIDUAL
BUSINESSES, INSTITUTIONS AND
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TAKE TO
PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. WE ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO USE
THEIR BEST JUDGMENT ABOUT WHAT
STEPS ARE MOST APPROPRIATE TO
KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND TO SLOW THE
SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED MINIMUMS.
CONSIDERED MINIMUMS. WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER
GOING FURTHER.
GOING FURTHER. ULTIMATELY, THE RECOMMENDATIONS
ARE ABOUT SLOWING THE SPREAD OF
THE DISEASE TO ENSURE THAT
MEDICAL FACILITIES HAVE ADEQUATE
STAFFING AND RESOURCES FOR
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND THOSE
WHO ARE SICK.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE MUST TAKE
CARE OF THOSE AT RISK OF SEVERE
ILLNESS.
ILLNESS. IF YOU HAVE A CHRONIC ILLNESS
THAT HEIGHTENS YOUR RISK OF
GETTING SICK, CONSIDER STAYING
AT HOME.
AT HOME. AVOID NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL.
HAVE A PLAN FOR IF YOU GET SICK.
AND STAY IN TOUCH WITH OTHERS BY
PHONE OR E-MAIL.
AND THIS GOES FOR EVERYONE.
STAY AT HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK.
AT THIS TIME, WE MUST TAKE EVERY
PRECAUTION TO KEEP OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFE AND PROTECT
THOSE AT RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS.
IF YOU’RE SICK, STAY AT HOME.
THIS IS FOR EVERYONE.
THINK ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE AT
RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS.
THINK ABOUT OUR MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS.
POPULATIONS. WE WANT TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION
NECESSARY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE
AND TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE AND
KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.
I’M CALLING ON OUR BUSINESSES TO
SUPPORT THEIR EMPLOYEES TO STAY
HOME WHEN THEY NEED TO.
IT IS HARDER FOR THE SINGLE MOM
WHO NEEDS TO PAY RENT AT THE END
OF THE MONTH OR WORKERS IN THE
SERVICE INDUSTRY WHO RELY ON
TIPS TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR OWN
TABLES.
TABLES. BUSINESSES MUST STEP UP TO HELP
HOWEVER THEY CAN.
WE ARE MICHIGANDERS FIRST AND WE
MUST TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.
OUR UNIVERSITIES, OUR COLLEGES,
OUR SCHOOLS, AND CHILD CARE
FACILITIES MUST BE FLEXIBLE.
WE ARE ENCOURAGING THESE
INSTITUTIONS TO EDUCATE THEIR
STAFF AND STUDENTS ON PREVENTIVE
HYGIENE PRACTICES.
HYGIENE PRACTICES. WE ENCOURAGE STAFF AND STUDENTS
TO STAY HOME WHEN THEY ARE SICK.
I’VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF ALL
OF OUR UNIVERSITIES AND
COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
COMMUNITY COLLEGES. THEY SHOULD CONSIDER
TELE-LEARNING WHEN POSSIBLE.
SOME HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TAKING
STEPS TO MITIGATE THE SITUATION.
U OF M, CMU, MSU, MANY HAVE
UNDERTAKEN STEPS AND ARE UNDER
WAY.
WAY. LIMIT LARGE GATHERINGS LIKE
ASSEMBLIES.
ASSEMBLIES. AND AFTER-SCHOOL SCHEDULES AND
SCHEDULES AROUND RECESS TIME AND
ENTRY AND DISMISSAL OF STUDENTS,
MIXING LARGE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS
AND STAFF, EFFORTS NEED TO BE
TAKEN TO MITIGATE THAT.
WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. WE’RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SOME
TOUGH CHOICES IN THE COMING DAYS
AND WEEKS.
AND WEEKS. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN
SERVICES IS ENCOURAGING EVERYONE
TO AVOID LARGE GATHERINGS OF 100
PEOPLE OR MORE.
GROUPS SHOULD EVALUATE AND MAKE
DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
TO CANCEL CONFERENCES, SPORTING
EVENTS OR CONCERTS.
THIS IS TO KEEP THE MOST PEOPLE
WE CAN SAFE.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE
FLEXIBLE.
FLEXIBLE. TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.
WE’VE GOTTEN THROUGH TOUGH TIMES
IN MICHIGAN.
IN MICHIGAN. WE’RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.
WE MUST HAVE ONE ANOTHER’S
BACKS.
BACKS. AND THAT MEANS PRACTICING GOOD
HYGIENE.
HYGIENE. I’M GOING TO SAY THIS EVERY
SINGLE DAY: THERE ARE EASY
THINGS WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE
COMMUNITY SPREAD AND TO LOWER
RISK.
RISK. WASHING OUR HANDS OFTEN AND
COUNTING TO 20 WHILE YOU DO IT.
PRACTICE TOUCHING YOUR FACE LESS
OFTEN.
OFTEN. REPLACE HAND SHAKING WITH ELBOW
BUMPS.
BUMPS. AND COVER YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU
SNEEZE OR COUGH WITH THE CROOK
OF YOUR ARM OR UPPER ARM.
I URGE ALL MICHIGANDERS TO TAKE
THIS SERIOUSLY AND SHARE
INFORMATION WITH YOUR FRIENDS,
FAMILY, COWORKERS.
FAMILY, COWORKERS. EVEN IF YOU ARE HEALTHY AND
ASYMPTOMATIC, YOU CAN BE
UNKNOWINGLY CARRYING AND
SPREADING THE DISEASE.
ASSUME THAT YOU ARE, AND TAKE
THOSE PRECAUTIONS.
THOSE PRECAUTIONS. DO IT FOR YOURSELF, FOR YOUR
LOVED ONES, FOR YOUR COWORKERS
AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE
ASTHMATIC CHILD OR THE
30-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WITH M. S. OR
THE GRANDPA WITH COPD.
DON’T PUT YOURSELF OR THEM AT
RISK.
RISK. OUR KIDS, OUR EDUCATION, OUR
ECONOMY, IS COUNTING ON EVERY
ONE OF US TO DO OUR PART.
NOW TO SPEAK MORE ON BEHALF OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN
SERVICES, I WANNA INTRODUCE OUR
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER DR.
DR. JANAE CALDEAU.
>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR WHITMER.
YESTERDAY, WE LEARNED OF TWO
CASES OF COVID-19 IN THE STATE
OF MICHIGAN.
OF MICHIGAN. TODAY, THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION DECLARED THIS A
PANDEMIC.
PANDEMIC. WE EXPECT THERE TO BE MORE CASES
IN MICHIGAN, AND WE EXPECT FOR
THERE TO BE COMMUNITY SPREAD.
WHILE MOST INDIVIDUALS WHO GET
THIS DISEASE WILL HAVE VERY MILD
SYMPTOMS, THIS PANDEMIC IS
SERIOUS AND WE ALL HAVE TO DO
OUR PART TO PREVENT AND SLOW
SPREAD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
OUR TEAM AT THE MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN
SERVICES HAS BEEN WORKING FOR
WEEKS WITH OUR LOCAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS AND HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THEY’RE
PREPARED TO SCREEN AND TEST FOR
THIS DISEASE.
THIS DISEASE. OUR STATE LABORATORY HAS ALSO
BEEN PREPARING FOR SEVERAL
WEEKS.
WEEKS. AND FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS,
WE’VE BEEN RUNNING SAMPLES 7
DAYS A WEEK.
WE HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR SEVERAL
WEEKS AS THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED
THAT THERE ARE SIMPLE THINGS
EVERYONE CAN DO TO PREPARE AND
TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
WASHING HANDS APPROPRIATELY.
CLEANING SURFACES.
CLEANING SURFACES. COUGHING AND SNEEZING
APPROPRIATELY INTO A TISSUE OR
UPPER ARM EVERY TIME.
AND STAYING HOME IF ILL.
WHILE WE DO NOT CURRENTLY KNOW
OF ANY BROAD COMMUNITY SPREAD IN
MICHIGAN, WE’RE RECOMMENDING
EVEN MORE PROACTIVE MEASURES
THAT EVERYONE CAN DO TO SLOW THE
SPREAD OF THE DISEASE AS MUCH AS
WE CAN.
WE CAN. SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE
INDIVIDUAL, THE ORGANIZATIONAL,
AND THE COMMUNITY LEVEL WILL
MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THE
DISEASE AND ULTIMATELY SAVE
LIVES.
LIVES. THIS MEANS EMPLOYERS SHOULD
ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO STAY HOME
WHEN THEY ARE SICK.
STAFF SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO
TELEWORK WHEN FEASIBLE.
AND PARTICULARLY PEOPLE WHO ARE
AT RISK FOR SEVERE DISEASE.
LARGE GATHERINGS, CONFERENCES
AND SPORTING EVENTS OF OVER 100
PEOPLE SHOULD BE CANCELED OR
POSTPONED AND ORGANIZATIONS
SHOULD CONSIDER EVEN LOWER
LIMITS.
LIMITS. SCHOOLS SHOULD LIMIT LARGE
GATHERINGS SUCH AS ASSEMBLIES.
OUR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES,
NURSING HOMES, AND OTHER
INSTITUTIONS THAT TAKE CARE OF
THE ELDERLY OR THOSE WITH
CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS
SHOULD LIMIT NON-ESSENTIAL
VISITORS AT THIS TIME AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE AND SHOULD SCREEN STAFF
AND VISITORS FOR TEMPERATURES
AND RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS PRIOR
TO ENTRY INTO THE FACILITY.
INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF SEVERE
ILLNESS SUCH AS ELDERLY AND
THOSE WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL
CONDITIONS SHOULD STAY HOME AS
MUCH AS THEY CAN AND KEEP AWAY
FROM OTHERS WHO ARE ILL.
COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD REDUCE
IN-PERSON GATHERINGS AND
ACTIVITIES AND CONSIDER AUDIO OR
VIDEO OF EVENTS.
THE FULL SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS
WILL BE AVAILABLE AT OUR MDHSS
WEBSITE:
WEBSITE: WWW.MICHIGAN.GOV/CORONAVIRUS.
WWW.MICHIGAN.GOV/CORONAVIRUS. THE SITUATION IS EVOLVING
RAPIDLY.
RAPIDLY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONDAY FOR
THE SITUATION AND THE NUMBER OF
KNOWN CASES HERE IN MICHIGAN AND
MAKE FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AS
NECESSARY.
NECESSARY. WE NEED EVERYONE TO DO THEIR
PART TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF
THIS DISEASE AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE.
POSSIBLE. AND THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL
HELP US PREVENT THAT SPREAD AND
WILL HELP US SAVE LIVES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I’M THE HEAD
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR &
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. I’M HERE TO REINFORCE FOR
EMPLOYERS WHAT WE SHOULD BE
DOING AND RECOMMENDING TO DO TO
PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THIS
VIRUS.
VIRUS. IT’S ON ALL OF US TO WORK
TOGETHER TO BE FLEXIBLE AND DO
WHAT’S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.
ASKING MICHIGAN’S EMPLOYERS TO
ASK HOW THEY CAN SLOW THE SPREAD
OF THE VIRUS, THAT’S WHAT WE’RE
DOING TODAY.
DOING TODAY. AS MENTIONED AND THE RELEASE OF
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS
DURING THIS TIME, IT INCLUDES
MAKING SURE THAT WE ENCOURAGE
STAFF TO TAKE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE MEASURES LIKE HAND
WASHING.
WASHING. CLEANING FREQUENTLY TOUCHED
SURFACES MORE OFTEN.
ENCOURAGING STAFF TO TELE-WORK
WHEN POSSIBLE.
WHEN POSSIBLE. LIMITING IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND
LIMITING STAFF MEETINGS AND
AFTERWORK FUNCTIONS,
AFTERWORK FUNCTIONS, CONSIDERATION CANCELING OR
POSTPONING LARGE GATHERING OVER
100 PEOPLE LIKE CONFERENCES.
AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STAY
HOME WHEN SICK AND NOTIFY
SERVICES OF ILLNESS AND MAKE
SURE SICK LEAVE POLICIES ARE
FLEXIBLE AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH
CDC GUIDELINES AND EMPLOYEES ARE
AWARE OF THE GUIDELINES,
INCLUDING NOT REQUIRING HEALTH
CARE PROVIDER NOTES TO RETURN TO
WORK FOR THOSE SICK WITH ACUTE
RESPIRATORY ILLNESS AS
CAREGIVERS MAY BE BUSY AND
UNABLE TO PROVIDE THESE.
ALLOW THEM TO STAY HOME FOR A
SICK FAMILY MEMBER,
FRONT-LOADING LEAVE TIME
EMPLOYEES EARN BEFORE BEING
ACCRUED, AND MINIMIZING
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS RELATED TO
ATTENDANCE POLICIES.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES. THIS IS WHAT WE RECOMMEND THAT
EMPLOYERS DO, NOTHING IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF
MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ABOUT
ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER,
THING ABOUT OUR MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS AND DOING THE RIGHT
THING.
THING. WE’LL CONTINUE TO DO ALL WE CAN
TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THIS
VIRUS.
VIRUS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DR. JANAE AND
JEFF, APPRECIATE IT.
WHAT WE’RE ANNOUNCING TODAY WILL
PROMPT A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND
WE’LL ANSWER AS MANY AS WE CAN.
THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS WE NEED
MORE TIME TO WORK THROUGH AS
THINGS ARE DEVELOPING.
I ASK THAT YOU BEAR WITH US AS
WE WORK TO GET YOU THE MOST
ACCURATE INFORMATION AT THE
QUICKEST POSSIBLE MOMENT.
THESE ARE RECOMMENDATION THAT IS
WILL ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS TO
USE THEIR BEST JUDGMENT.
THESE ARE MINIMUM
RECOMMENDATIONS.
RECOMMENDATIONS. IF INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES OR
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WANT TO GO
ABOVE AND BEYOND THIS STANDARD,
WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SO.
WITH THAT, I’D BE HAPPY TO OPEN
IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
>> Reporter: THE FIRST QUESTION,
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE CASES IN
OAKLAND COUNTY AND WAYNE COUNTY
AND GETTING DETAILS ABOUT THESE
PEOPLE, WHERE THEY ARE, WHERE
THEY WENT, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES
SURROUNDING THEIR SITUATION.
WHEN AND HOW AND WHAT CAN YOU
TELL US ABOUT THAT AND WHAT IT
IS THAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE
TREATMENT OF THESE PEOPLE?
>> I’M GONNA ASK THE DOCTOR TO
RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE
BEEN PLACED IN ISOLATION, THE
TWO PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE CASES
FROM YESTERDAY.
FROM YESTERDAY. OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE
WORKING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE
THEY’VE BEEN AND WHO THEY’VE
BEEN IN CONTACT WITH AND THOSE
INDIVIDUALS AT HIGHEST RISK ARE
MONITORING THEMSELVES FOR
SYMPTOMS AND ARE IN ISOLATION,
IF NECESSAR.
IF NECESSAR. >> Reporter: DO WE KNOW WHERE
SPECIFICALLY THEY’RE BEING
TREATED?
TREATED? >> I’M UNABLE TO SHARE THAT AT
THIS TIME.
THIS TIME. >> Reporter: AND ALSO A QUESTION
ABOUT TESTING.
ABOUT TESTING. AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT RIGHT NOW,
TESTING IS ACCOMPLISHED ONLY IN
HOSPITALS.
HOSPITALS. IS THERE AN EXPECTATION THERE
WILL BE EXPANDED TESTING OR
EXPANDED TEST CRITERIA IN THE
FUTURE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
WHO HAVE ISSUES CAN GET TESTED
MORE EASILY?
MORE EASILY? >> ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO BELIEVES
THEY NEED A TEST SHOULD WORK
WITH THEIR MEDICAL PROVIDER.
THAT MEDICAL PROVIDER COULD BE
AN URGENT, A PRIVATE OFFICE,
THAT MEDICAL PROVIDER CAN OBTAIN
THAT SAMPLE.
THAT SAMPLE. SO IT’S A NOSE SWAB, A THROAT
SWAB.
SWAB. IF YOU’RE IN THE HOSPITAL, IT’S
DEEPER IN YOUR LUNGS.
ONCE THEY OBTAIN THAT SAMPLE,
THEY CAN THEN WORK WITH THE
LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEND
IT TO OUR STATE LABORATORY WHERE
THE ACTUAL TEST IS DONE.
SO OUR STATE LABORATORY HAS
CAPACITY TODAY TO TEST SAMPLES.
AND OTHER PRIVATE LABS ARE ALSO
COMING ONLINE TO BE ABLE TO
PERFORM THE ACTUAL TEST
THEMSELVES.
THEMSELVES. >> Devin: YOU’VE BEEN LISTENING
TO THE STATE’S TOP MEDICAL
OFFICER AND HER PORTION OF THIS
NEWS CONFERENCE WE EXPECT WILL
BE DAILY UPDATES FROM THE STATE
ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT’S HAPPENING
WITH THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK.
WE’RE NOT LEARNING A WHOLE LOT
ABOUT THE TWO PEOPLE WHO
YESTERDAY WERE ANNOUNCED AS THE
FIRST CASES IN THE STATE OF
MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN. TODAY, I THINK YOU SAW AN
OUTREACH TOWARD BUSINESSES TO
TRY TO GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME
PAGE.
PAGE. >> Kim: AND ENCOURAGING
EVERYBODY TO HAVE GOOD HYGIENE
AND WASHING THEIR HANDS.
>> Dr. McGeorge: AND A PLEA AT
COMMUNITY MITIGATION, STAY HOME
IF YOU’RE SICK AND AVOID
GATHERINGS, DECREASING THE
COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION EVEN
THOUGH IT’S LIKELY TO OCCUR