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.

The state Legislature unanimously approved funding to aid the state’s health professionals in slowing the spread of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

House Bill 4729 authorizes $50 million for health care needs and $40 million for other needs, and it sets aside $35 million for additional spending to be made available via legislative transfer if necessary. The funds are in addition to $15 million in set-aside funds and $10 million in readily available funds already passed and contained within Senate Bill 151.

I also voted to access federal funding to help support efforts to combat the impact of the virus on our state.

In total, state funding so far breaks down as listed below:

This funding will allow us to do our best to stay out in front of the issue and slow the spread as our state’s health professionals continue to monitor the situation. The Legislature has now dedicated $150 million toward tackling the spread of the virus.

Despite the many rumors circulating on social media, the state is not currently issuing a “shelter-in-place” order.

Rumors began circulating when it was announced the state’s confirmed cases drastically increased Thursday afternoon. This new information was not unexpected, as testing capacities and available resources have significantly increased. We’re now getting a better idea of the situation and health officials are working around the clock to ensure we have the latest information.

Both Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer dispelled these rumors and confirmed that such action is not being considered at this time.

It is important that everyone remember to stay calm and continue following suggestions from state and national health professionals. Should you have any questions, the state’s COVID-19 hotline is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 1-888-535-6136. The latest information is also available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

There are many resources available for families who need a helping hand during this difficult and unpredictable time. Below you can find some resources that may be able to help you or someone you know in need.

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.

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.

A fact sheet for claiming unemployment benefits can be found here.

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

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

In recent days, the state’s various business and economic coalitions have worked with the governor to secure resources to businesses struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 shutdowns.

The Michigan Strategic Fund recently approved a critical new program called the Michigan Small Business Relief Program, which will provide up to $10 million in grant funding and $10 million in low-interest loans to provide emergency relief to businesses directly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak beginning April 1.

Additional support can be found at michiganbusiness.org/COVID19 or by calling 888.522.0103. You can also visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus to sign up for regular COVID-19 updates and to stay informed on the latest efforts to mitigate the impact of the virus on our state’s residents and economy. There is also a resource on the page specific to employers and workers that businesses and employees may find helpful.

A news release about the Michigan Small Business Relief Program is available here. More detailed information on this grant and loan program can be found on the COVID-19 webpage at www.michiganbusiness.org/covid19.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved her request for a statewide Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration, opening the opportunity to small businesses to access low-interest loans from the SBA.

The EIDL designation means that Michigan small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and nonprofits that have suffered substantial economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak will now have the ability to apply for low-interest loans as part of $1 billion in funding made available to the SBA by Congress earlier this month.

The application for disaster loan assistance is available on their website. For businesses looking for more information on how to apply for an SBA EIDL loan or whether it is something they should consider, visit michiganbusiness.org/covid19.

The Michigan Small Business Development Center can also provide resources for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Visit their website for additional information.

Read the entire news release here.

The Muskegon County Chamber of Commerce and the Employer Association of West Michigan are keeping track of business resources and emergency programs at www.muskegon.org and www.eawm.net.

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. The latest information is also available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

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.

The governor has certain executive authority during times of crisis or emergency. We are currently in the midst of an outbreak and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has initiated several executive orders as more information becomes available. Read more about Michigan’s response by clicking here.

For more specific information on each executive order and to ensure you have the most up-to-date information on newly issued directives, visit this website.