On Tuesday, March 10, our governor declared a state of emergency as the state’s first positive cases of COVID-19 were identified. The emergency declaration allows the governor to deploy resources to local jurisdictions to support their response efforts in combatting the spread of COVID-19. Read more about Michigan’s response by clicking here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a dedicated section on their website for the Coronavirus. The site includes helpful ways to protect yourself and what to do if you think you are sick. This site will also give you a breakdown of what symptoms you may encounter, symptoms for older adults and people with medical conditions and how to prepare your family. You may also view an interactive map to see what parts of the country are being most effected by the virus. The CDC website can be found by clicking here.

211: 2-1-1 connects you with thousands of nonprofit and government resources in your area such as food pantries, bill pay assistance, family services, utility assistance and more. The 211 system is available by dialing 2-1-1 on your phone or by going to mi211.org.

MI Bridges: Benefits and coverage through the Michigan Department of Health and Human services such as food assistance, health care, and state emergency relief. You may access MI Bridges at michigan.gov/mibridges.

Unemployment: Here is a fact sheet for claiming unemployment benefits – Click here

Guidelines for unemployment benefits were temporarily expanded to cover the following:

You may file an unemployment claim at michigan.gov/uia

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has launched a statewide hotline to respond to health-related questions about COVID-19 and to direct residents, providers and more to the right resources in their local communities and other state government departments. The hotline is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 1-888-535-6136.

Deadly infectious diseases were once common in the U.S., until science conquered them. In today’s crisis, it’s worth recalling those celebrated victories.

By David Oshinsky
March 13, 2020

There’s a reason we’re emotionally unprepared for what may lie ahead: We simply haven’t experienced the extreme cycles of infectious disease that previous generations were forced to endure. We’re in frightening new territory, wondering if there is enough protective equipment for medical personnel and first responders, if there are enough test kits and ventilators for possible victims, if an effective vaccine is really a year or so away.

Many wonder as well about the new dangers unleashed by globalization. Germs travel, and the consequences can be severe. But that’s the way it’s been for centuries, at an admittedly slower pace. Yellow fever and malaria came to North America from Africa; cholera and typhus rode the steamers and “coffin ships” that discharged immigrant cargo at our shores. History assures us that Covid-19 will be conquered by science and that another virus, originating in a bat cave... an open-air poultry market somewhere in the world, will rise up to take its place. That’s the nature of the beast.

In times like this, when anxiety turns so easily to fear, it sometimes helps to focus upon an optimistic vision of the future. For me, it’s the image of a war hero turned president [Eisenhower] tearfully thanking a selfless researcher for helping to save the children of the world.

Click here for the full article at the Wall Street Journal (subscription required)