Michigan - Coronavirus COVID-19

[BetteDavisEyes]

Detroit Three autoworkers to mask up again starting Wednesday (detroitnews.com)

Detroit — Autoworkers at Detroit Three plants will have to wear masks again beginning Wednesday.

The COVID-19 Joint Task Force with representatives from the union, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Stellantis NV have "determined that personnel will be required to wear masks at all plants, offices and warehouses, regardless of vaccination status," the group said in a statement...

Workers at Ford, GM, Stellantis facilities required to wear mask regardless of vaccination status, UAW says (clickondetroit.com)

Masking rules take effect Aug. 4

DETROIT – Autoworkers at all plants and offices at the Big 3 will be required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status, the UAW confirmed on Tuesday.

The new mask policy starts Wednesday, Aug. 4, for all Ford, General Motors and Stellantis personnel at all plants, offices and warehouses. The mask requirement is in response to the revised CDC guidance on masks released last week, recommending masks in places were COVID-19 spread was high...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

EMU to require masks in classrooms, encourage COVID-19 vaccine (detroitnews.com)

Eastern Michigan University announced Wednesday a classroom mask mandate for students regardless of vaccination status.

In a letter to the campus community, EMU President James Smith outlined the university's policies for the fall return to campus amid the continued spread of COVID-19. He noted masking and social distancing would be required but also said that students who report their vaccinations to the university could go without a mask in indoor areas outside of the classroom. When outdoors, masks would not be required.

Smith stopped short of mandating the vaccine as many colleges and universities have recently announced.

"The best way to defeat COVID-19 and work together as a community is to get vaccinated," Smith wrote...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Washtenaw County issues advisory as COVID cases near ‘substantial’ levels (clickondetroit.com)

ANN ARBOR – The Washtenaw County Health Department issued an advisory on Wednesday morning, strongly recommending mask use in indoor public settings as COVID cases continue to rise.

According to the CDC COVID Data Tracker, local transmission may soon reach “substantial” levels.

The Health Department is urging anyone eligible to receive the vaccine but who hasn’t yet done so to get the shot as soon as possible...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan reveals updated COVID guidance for return to in-person learning (clickondetroit.com)

MDHHS recommends layering multiple prevention strategies

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan has revealed its updated COVID-19 safety guidelines to protect students from the virus when they return to in-person learning.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services updated its recommendations to reflect the current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on asking and COVID prevention.

“We are committed to ensuring Michigan students and educators are safe in the classroom, including those who may not yet be vaccinated,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS. “MDHHS is issuing this guidance to help protect Michiganders of all ages. We continue to urge all eligible residents to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible as it is our best defense against the virus and the way we are going to end this pandemic.”

MDHHS officials said the best way to keep students safe is to layer multiple COVID prevention strategies...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan health officials recommending masks in K-12 schools (detroitnews.com)

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration on Wednesday endorsed a recommendation for universal masking in K-12 school buildings, calling it a prevention measure to maximize in-person learning.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services updated recommendations for schools, saying the guidance for the 2021-22 academic year reflects the most current recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on masking and prevention strategies for COVID-19 to help operate schools more safely.

State health officials said the updated recommendations are designed to help prevent transmission of the virus within school buildings, reduce disruptions to in-person learning and help protect vulnerable individuals and people who are not fully vaccinated...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Will masks be mandatory part of back-to-school gear in Michigan this year? (detroitnews.com)

Andrea Daniell says she is tired of talking about whether kids should mask up when they return to school for the new academic year.

"Kids are resilient. For the most part, they’re also way more flexible than adults," Daniell said. "(My daughter) wants to go to school in the fall, so if masking gets her there, we’re in."

Daniell is waiting for her daughter's district, the Grosse Pointe Public School System, to decide whether students and staff will be required to wear masks. She wants masks required for younger students who are vaccine ineligible and is open to older students making their own choice.

"We have become too rigid in expecting an end date for this," Daniell said about the pandemic. "We are still in that period where we have to show some flexibility."...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Oakland University will offer $100 vaccine incentive, require masks (detroitnews.com)

For those who attend, work or teach at Oakland University and get the COVID-19 vaccine, there is $100 waiting.

OU officials announced this week that they are offering $100 incentives to students, faculty and staff who get the vaccine and offer proof to the university.

It's part of the university's effort to fight coronavirus, especially the delta variant, and, effective Aug. 5, OU also will require students to wear masks on campus...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Hundreds rally at Michigan Capitol against vaccine mandates (clickondetroit.com)

LANSING, Mich. – Hundreds of people gathered outside the Michigan State Capitol on Friday to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Carrying signs with slogans such as “Jab or Job? Wrong!” and “Let me call my shots,” the demonstrators heard speakers criticize government officials and urge their audience to contact elected representatives to express their opposition.

“We’re here today to fight for individuals’ rights to choose — that’s all — in the employment area, in the student area, in the schools, in the universities . . . or wherever else it is mandated,” said Ron Armstrong, president for Stand Up Michigan, one of the organizers of the rally...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Doctors agree on benefits of face masks for students when school starts – The Oakland Press

With the start of the school year fast approaching and COVID-19 cases on the rise, the debate on whether school children should wear masks has once again heated up.

“We’ve been working with the schools, regular weekly meetings with the school superintendents. Basically our guidelines will be similar to the CDC guidelines,’’ said Dr. Russell Faust, Oakland County Medical Director this week.

“Frankly each of the schools do what they believe is best regardless of what our recommendations are. Some of them follow our recommendations to the letter, some say ‘ No, there’s just too much pressure from parents, we’re just not going to mask or we’re not going to do whatever. That’s their choice.’’

Districts are coming up with their guidelines The Archdiocese of Detroit issued a guideline on July 21 not requiring masks at the Catholic schools in its jurisdiction.

The Troy School District will not mandate masks which has drawn criticism from a group of parents who have started a petition...

I was looking at the Covid precautions for several local school districts and didn't notice mask mandates on any of the sites. In the above article, I see that Troy (where we lived for 19 years while DD was growing up) is already encountering parental pushback on masks for students. I have a feeling that the start of the school year will not be pretty. Strong teacher unions in these parts which could also factor in to the melee.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun: Optional school mask policies not consistent with CDC recommendations (clickondetroit.com)

DETROIT – With the start of school around the corner, many districts have released their plans regarding mask policies.

Some Metro Detroit school districts claim to be consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state guidelines, but don’t appear to be.

“While the state is is making recommendations and not mandates, the actual recommendation is that schools have universal masking and that means all students, all teachers, all staff wear masks in the school,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. “That would actually be following the CDC recommendations.”...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Deadline Detroit | Popular Detroit weatherman Ben Bailey quits WDIV

WDIV's lead meteorologist Ben Bailey, who has been at the station for seven years, announced early Saturday morning that he's leaving immediately.

"This really hasn't been a spur-of-the-moment decision for me," he told viewers. "I've been talking to management for a while and we decided as the Olympics came to a close this would probably be a good time for me to say so long."

He did not provide a reason, and the station said the split was amicable.

Sources familiar with Bailey's work situation said he had differences with the NBC affiliate's workplace Covid policy, which requires the unvaccinated to wear masks. They said he's not vaccinated...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

University of Michigan: Face coverings required indoors starting Aug. 11 (clickondetroit.com)

Mandate includes all U-M campuses, properties

ANN ARBOR – Face coverings will be required indoors at all University of Michigan-owned properties and campuses starting on Wednesday, U-M President Mark Schlissel announced in a letter to the school community on Monday morning.

The measure applies to everyone entering a U-M building, despite vaccination status.

Schlissel cited rising COVID cases involving the delta variant both on campus and throughout the country as the reason behind the mandate. He said face coverings will continue to be required on campus transit but not outdoors...

UM to require face masks in all campus facilities starting Wednesday (detroitnews.com)

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Oakland University’s lack of broad vaccination mandate has some faculty concerned (clickondetroit.com)

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – On Monday, the University of Michigan announced it is joining Michigan State University in requiring face coverings indoors on campus.

Both schools are also requiring all students and staff to be vaccinated.

Oakland University is on board with the masking, but so far the college only has a vaccine requirement for some students.

“I know it is for the greater good, but where is our choice too,” said Veera Attisha whose daughter is an incoming freshman at Oakland University...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Parents protest lack of virus mandates in Grosse Pointe schools; others applaud (detroitnews.com)

Grosse Pointe Farms — Parents worried about increased COVID transmission rates and their children's return to school in the fall, and those who support relaxed policies lined up Monday night with familiar positions: follow the numbers or let parents decide.

Hours into a Grosse Pointe Public School System Board of Education meeting, parents yelled out as the superintendent, Jon Dean, announced that the district would not be enforcing a mask mandate in schools. News emerged Friday that in addition to not requiring masks, the district also would not mandate social distancing.

"Show us the data!" some parents said as others joined in agreement, pressing the district to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.

Others balked at a return to strict mandates, saying parents should be allowed to choose whether or not their children mask up...

Parents divided on Grosse Pointe Public Schools’ mask policy for K-12 students (clickondetroit.com)

 

[MrX]

You'd think, at some point, an enterprising entrepreneur would recognize a market opportunity here. We have been so long into this mask debate that it's kind of surprising there aren't fun, kid-friendly, vented (K)N95 masks. Vented masks, from my experience, were way more comfortable to breath through, and it seems like we are past the point where anyone needs to feel guilty about the vent. This way, if you want Junior to wear a mask, at least it's bearable, and if the other parents don't, who cares, because it's no longer about "my mask protects you."

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Catholic schools in Detroit won't require vaccines or masks for upcoming school year (fox2detroit.com)

DETROIT - Catholic schools in Detroit won't require masks or vaccinations among staff or students for the upcoming school year, but strongly recommends that eligible individuals get the COVID-19 vaccine and wear a face covering if they are more comfortable.

The schools also won't mandate any testing protocols and recommended any schools abide by their county health department's quarantine protocols in the event of a positive coronavirus infection during the school year.

However, schools that feel it's important to increase or add additional rules are permitted to do so.

Those parameters are part of the PreK-12 Health & Safety Guidance for the 2021-22 school year...

It will be interesting to see if parents of students in private and/or parochial schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit raise a ruckus over masks/no masks like public school parents are doing as the school year approaches. There have always been children in my neighborhood who attend a variety of private/parochial schools instead of the local public schools. These parents were thrilled that their children had a normal in-person school year in 2020-21 when their public school counterparts were forced into remote learning.

 

[MrX]

Catholic schools in Detroit won't require vaccines or masks for upcoming school year (fox2detroit.com)

DETROIT - Catholic schools in Detroit won't require masks or vaccinations among staff or students for the upcoming school year, but strongly recommends that eligible individuals get the COVID-19 vaccine and wear a face covering if they are more comfortable.

The schools also won't mandate any testing protocols and recommended any schools abide by their county health department's quarantine protocols in the event of a positive coronavirus infection during the school year.

However, schools that feel it's important to increase or add additional rules are permitted to do so.

Those parameters are part of the PreK-12 Health & Safety Guidance for the 2021-22 school year...

It will be interesting to see if parents of students in private and/or parochial schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit raise a ruckus over masks/no masks like public school parents are doing as the school year approaches. There have always been children in my neighborhood who attend a variety of private/parochial schools instead of the local public schools. These parents were thrilled that their children had a normal in-person school year in 2020-21 when their public school counterparts were forced into remote learning.

That is so bizarre. In AZ it is the opposite - people have pointed out that, while the Governor has banned mask mandates at public schools, the Catholic school (where his kids went) requires both mask and vax. What a strange world!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan board of education clash over mask rules during meeting (clickondetroit.com)

Some for, some against requiring children to wear masks at school

As K-12 schools prepare to resume in-person learning in Michigan and across the nation this fall, many are discussing whether children should be required to wear face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that all students and school staff wear face masks. In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her chief medical officer, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, are also recommending that face coverings are worn this fall.

But their recommendations are not mandates, and face masks are not currently required for children at Michigan or U.S. schools...

Michigan Board of Education OKs local school district control of masking rules (detroitnews.com)

Let the games begin! Things are going to get ugly as the school year commences.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Parents demand no mask or vax mandate in Michigan schools (audacy.com)

"We believe in choice and parental rights"

(WWJ) More than 100 parent groups representing a couple of hundred thousand parents in Michigan have a message for the powers that be:

They do not want their children required to be masked, tested, vaccinated, or quarantined in order to attend public schools or play school sports in the fall.

In an open letter addressed to President Joe Biden, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the CDC, state health department leadership and school administrators, the groups (school down for the list) say they've "had enough" of such mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although public health officials continue to stress the importance of face coverings, routine testing and vaccinations in keeping the virus and its variants from spreading, these groups contend that this "government overreach" is unnecessary, and in fact harmful to students...

 

[MrX]

It is fascinating how this has worked, throughout the pandemic. Where an Authority has the power to take something away, there is Compliance without a peep. In most places, the only real hammer was the ability to suspend liquor licenses - that's why you heard of dozens of bars and restaurants being raided in NYC, but no stories of a grocery store being shut down due to mask and distancing violations. Same with Nevada - only reason they have a mask mandate is because Sisolak can have the Gambling Commission shut down casinos. Any place where the government does not have that ability to inflict pain, people have told them to go jump in the lake.