THREE-WEEK ‘PAUSE’ EXTENDED FOR 12 DAYS
On Monday, Dec. 7, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) extended the ‘Pause to Save Lives’ epidemic order through December 20 to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Locally, Oakland County health officials reported 3,631 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 for the past week through Saturday, with four deaths. Total confirmed cases this year in the county now number 44,558, with 1,223 fatalities. This surge of cases has created an impossible situation for our health care workers. They are exhausted, and our hospitals are overwhelmed. This week, hospitals across Michigan requested the extension of the ‘Pause to Save Lives’ order because it helped ease the overflow of COVID cases over the last three weeks.
I understand – and don’t take lightly – the impact that these mitigation efforts have on small businesses in our community, and I have been vocal about my frustration with the political gridlock that has created a situation that pushes people to ‘take sides.’ The narrative is that you’re either on the side of small businesses or the side of public health.
We need it to be both.
There can be no healthy economy without healthy people. Promising vaccines are on the way. We just need to get there.
I will continue pushing both my state- and federal-level colleagues for additional, necessary relief to ensure that no one impacted by COVID-19 has to choose between their life and their livelihood. AND that we protect health care workers on the frontlines by ensuring we don’t overwhelm our hospital system.
Right now, there are multiple new resources available for relief for those impacted by these mitigation efforts, including:
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation – Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative to Provide $10M in Grants
- Oakland County – Oakland County to provide $10M to struggling bars, restaurants
There’s hope around the corner with a coronavirus vaccine and we’re even seeing the first doses being given in other nations, but we cannot let our guard down. We are continuing to see a growth of numbers daily in cases and deaths. We can save our neighbors and family by staying home and masking up.
If you are feeling sick, here’s how to find a COVID-19 testing site near you: