(WXYZ) — All of the updates on the coronavirus and the incredible impact it's having on our lives can be hard to keep up with. To help you keep up, we'll post this daily blog on our homepage. You can find all of our stories on our coronavirus page.
4:30 p.m.
Ford Motor Company announced Monday it has partnered with GE Healthcare with plans to make 50,000 ventilators in Michigan by July.
According to Ford, it will provide its manufacturing capabilities to quickly scale production, while GE Healthcare will provide clinical expertise and license the current ventilator design from Airon Corp. – a small company that specializes in life support products.
With the support of the UAW, the ventilator production is targeted to start the week of April 20 at Ford's Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti.
4:15 p.m.
On Monday, President Donald Trump approved Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's request for use of National Guard members amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Michigan National Guard members will be utilized for humanitarian purposes under Title 32, United States Code, section 502(f), a release states.
National Guard members, under Gov. Whitmer's command, will distribute food and medical supplies, disinfect public spaces, help run mobile screening facilities, ensure resiliency of supply lines, and support public safety when required.
3:30 p.m.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive order that temporarily restricts all non-essential veterinary procedures during the coronavirus pandemic.
The order prohibits all non-essential vet procedures beginning March 31 and encourages all vets to practice telemedicine as much as possible.
"While there is no evidence that pets can transmit COVID-19, we must take additional steps to promote social distancing,” Whitmer said in a release. “If we want to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19, all Michiganders must do their part, stay in their homes, and stay six feet away from others when they’re outside. We’ve taken aggressive steps in the past three weeks to slow the spread of the virus, and I will continue to work every day to ensure we protect the most people we can.”
3:20 p.m.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has received court approval to subpoena an Ann Arbor business that allegedly price gouged amid the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the AG's office, they will subpoena A.M. Cleaning & Supplies for transaction records in March as well as employee and owner testimony.
The AG's office received 11 complaints against A.M. Cleaning that allege the store increase hand sanitizer costs.
Complaints rolled in after the business allegedly advertised hand sanitizer for $60 for a 12-ounce bottle on social media, as well as an 8-ounce bottle for $40 and a 4-ounce bottle for $20. The AG's office said days before, they were priced at $7.50, $5 and $2.50 respectively.
3:03 p.m.
There are now 184 deaths and 6,498 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to a state map showing the COVID-19 outbreak.
That's up from 132 deaths and 5,486 confirmed cases announced on Sunday. The map, which can be viewed here, is from Michigan State Police's Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division.
The state reports that the reported deaths range in age of 25-97 years old, with the average age of 64.4 and the median age of 65 years old.
2:50 p.m.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says the city is working to make sure every Detroiter can received a COVID-19 test. Click here
Duggan is set to address the situation with the Detroit Police Department, as well as transportation for those looking for coronavirus testing.
2 p.m.
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter unveiled a new interactive map on Monday, showing the breakdown of COVID-19 cases by ZIP code in the county.
12:50 p.m.
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter is expected to update the county's response to COVID-19, and talk about a new map showing the breakdown of cases by ZIP code.
10:45 a.m.
Michigan is still several weeks away from a peak in COVID-19 cases, Chief Health Director Dr. Joneigh Khaldun says.
In a press conference on Monday, Khaldun said several hospitals in Michigan are at capacity, so the state is focusing on utilizing alternative, nontraditional sites of care. Detroit's TCF Center has already been identified as one.
Khaldun also noted that the state needs more medical professionals to respond to the crisis. On Sunday, Whitmer issued an executive order that would temporarily allow physician assistants and nurses to treat patients.
10:15 a.m.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer updated the state's response to COVID-19 on Monday morning.
Whitmer was joined by the state's chief medical examiner, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, around 10:15 a.m.
As of Sunday evening, there were 132 deaths and 5,486 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state.
10 a.m.
Two supplemental budget bills that provide $150 million in state funding have been signed, state legislative leaders announced.
The new funding will help in the response to COVID-19.
Additionally, Whitmer signed executive directives that would temporarily suspend hiring and restrict discretionary spending in state government.
9 a.m.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced new programs for workers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Under the federal CARES Act, Whitmer signed an agreement to implement Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Compensation programs that give benefits to those who don't qualify for state unemployment benefits.
Those include self-employed, 1099-independent contractors, gig and low-wage workers.
The agreement also increases weekly benefits for all unemployed workers by $600 a week for up to six months and extends benefit payments from 26 to 39 weeks.
“The State of Michigan is dedicated to implementing measures to protect the health of all our residents and we understand financial health is critical as we meet this challenge together,” said Whitmer. “This increase and expansion of unemployment benefits will provide a measure of security for Michigan working families who lost their income due to the pandemic. We are committed to ensuring emergency financial relief for unemployed residents who continue to stay home and stay safe.”
8:33 a.m.
Healthcare workers are on the front lines fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, and Henry Ford Health System is asking people to display white ribbons in their window in support of them.
On their website, Henry Ford said to support COVID-19 rist responders and healthcare workers with the white ribbon campaign.
All you have to do is display the white ribbon outside your home or place a white ribbon image in your front window to let all people working know you have their backs.
If you don't have a white ribbon, don't go out and buy supplies. Instead, you can print this white ribbon image and carefully cut it out to display in your window.
8:15 a.m.
MoGo Detroit, the bikeshare program in the city, will be offering its monthly pass for free in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Riders can sign up for MoGo's free monthly pass through the Transit app or on MoGo's website. No promo code is needed.
“These are challenging times for all of us,” MoGo Founder and Executive Director Lisa Nuszkowski said in a release. “Whether you are an essential employee who needs to get to work or are looking to add some physical activity to your day, MoGo is here to continue serving the needs of our community.”
4:41 a.m.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order that relaxes practice laws, temporarily allowing physician assistants and nurses to treat COVID-19 patients.
The order also reinforces an existing law that protects hospitals and healthcare workers from liability for taking steps to protect patients during an emergency.
4:26 a.m.
State Rep. Isaac Robinson has died, the Michigan House of Representatives confirmed to 7 Action News. The cause of death is suspected to be COVID-19.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Read our daily Coronavirus Live Blog for the latest updates and news on coronavirus.
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
Find out how you can help metro Detroit restaurants struggling during the pandemic.
See all of our Helping Each Other stories.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.