| Dear Friends and Neighbors,
With 12 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Michigan (including one in Ingham County), we all must take precautions to keep ourselves healthy and slow the spread of the virus.
My Office and the Capitol
Out of an abundance of caution, my office has postponed all upcoming events. This includes the Agriculture Town Hall scheduled for March 16, coffee hours through mid-April, and “March is Reading Month” school visits.
In addition, the House of Representatives will be operating in a limited capacity through April 20. The Speaker of the House and the House Business Office have asked that employees work remotely when possible. At this time, House session and committee meetings are still scheduled. However, public access to the House Office Building will be limited, and access to the Capitol will be limited as well. Capitol tours are cancelled through May 1, but the House gallery will still be open to the public while the House is in session.
My team and I will be working remotely whenever possible, but we will continue to serve you to the best of our abilities. We will make every effort to respond to voicemails and to reply to emails in a timely manner.
The Governor’s Response
Last night, Governor Whitmer announced that all K-12 school buildings will be closed to students starting Monday, March 16, through at least Sunday, April 5. Schools are tentatively scheduled to reopen on Monday, April 6, but the governor may re-evaluate this date as circumstances warrant.
Earlier this week, Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency to make extra assistance available to local units of government to help slow the spread of the virus.
Steps You Can Take to Protect Yourself and Others
Everyone is urged to take the following actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
- Learn more about the symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough and difficulty breathing.
- STAY HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK. Individuals at greater risk of severe illness (e.g., those age 60 and older and those with underlying chronic conditions or compromised immune systems) should consider staying at home to avoid others who are sick.
- Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, cell phones and light switches.
- Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds, and cover coughs and sneezes.
- Keep a supply of medications, food, and other essentials in your house.
- Avoid large gatherings and events (i.e., gatherings of 100 people or more). Individuals at greater risk of severe illness should avoid all contact with others whenever possible and practical.
- Use tele-learning or tele-work opportunities if possible.
- Limit all non-essential travel, including non-essential work travel.
- Limit visits to hospitals and long-term care facilities. (Call before your visit to see if visitors are allowed.)
More Information
For more information, see the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service’s list of interim migration recommendations. The latest information about this rapidly evolving situation is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
Below are a few links to additional information that you might find useful:
Please contact my office if you have questions or if you need help with resources related to COVID-19.
This is not a time to panic. But by taking sensible precautions, we can keep ourselves, our families, and our communities healthy. |
