News

Two people in northern Michigan have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

One was tested at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City and the other was tested at Otsego Memorial Hospital in Gaylord, according to Munson Healthcare.

As Michigan’s dine-in restaurants grapple with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order to stop sit-in service, some are switching to takeout and delivery. 

Northern Michigan local health departments are asking residents who recently traveled to Colorado, or were passengers on a cruise ship, to distance themselves from others. 

Northern Michigan school districts are trying to help families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, following an order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday to close Michigan's public schools. 

On top of closures, the following districts have sent messages to students and parents regarding food availability and alternatives to in-person instruction.

Traverse City Area Public Schools:

Update 3/16/20, 11:30 am: In addition to bars and restaurants, Gov. Whitmer’s executive order also closes gyms, spas and health clubs, casinos, as well as theaters and other performance venues across the state. Order restrictions will remain in place until Monday, March 30 at 11:59 pm.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will sign an executive order this morning that closes bars and restaurants in Michigan starting this afternoon. The emergency action is to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus. The ban will only apply to sit-down service.

A resident of Charlevoix County is being treated for a presumptive case of COVID-19 at a downstate hospital, according to the Health Department of Northwest Michigan.

Traffic at Cherry Capital Airport has declined as people cancel trips because of the coronavirus. 

The pandemic is having economic impacts on the airport, says Airport Manager Kevin Klein

Traverse City Area Public Schools are open Friday, but the district plans to close schools starting Monday, March 16 after an order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

"The district will be communicating further with families and staff regarding TCAPS' plan for the school closures later today, Friday, March 13, 2020. In the meantime, learning will continue for the day," Interim Superintendent Jim Pavelka said in an email to parents.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered public and private schools in Michigan to close as part of the state’s effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“In an abundance of caution, I am ordering the closure of all K-12 school buildings in Michigan for three weeks starting Monday, March 16th until Sunday, April 5th,” she said.

The number of presumptive positive COVID-19 cases in Michigan has spiked to 12 – and more are expected. Whitmer says K-12 schools are an obvious nexus where the virus can be spread.

IPR is compiling a list of major coronavirus response actions by tribal governments in Michigan. Staff will update it as often as possible through the pandemic.

The last update was on 03/31/2020 at 2:51 PM. Please refer to tribal government websites and social media pages for the most up-to-date information.

Munson Healthcare is blocking visitors to its long-term care facilities and dialysis centers to protect vulnerable patients from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

McLaren Northern Michigan is also limiting one visitor per patient, unless the visitor appears ill or is under 18.

Interlochen Center for the Arts (ICA) is sending students home as schools and universities across Michigan take precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

No ICA students or staff currently have the disease, but the move is meant to prevent its possible spread. ICA President Trey Devey broke the news to students at a meeting Thursday, which was livestreamed on the academy's website.

A lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday alleges that inmates of the Grand Traverse County Jail can't get prescribed medications from health care officials.

Greg Hall filed the suit with his mother Cheryl Hall and brother-in-law Brad Lafuze, both of whom have been incarcerated at the Grand Traverse County Jail.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer confirmed two people in Michigan tested positive for coronavirus and has declared a state of emergency.

Whitmer announced the development during a press conference late Tuesday night in Lansing. 

Vice President Joe Biden was declared the winner of Michigan’s Democratic Presidential Primary, according to the Detroit Free Press. He took every county in the state.

Update 03/13/2020: Two employees of Bay Mills Indian Community have been cleared of coronavirus (the person they were exposed to has tested negative).

A northern Michigan tribe is stopping Boys & Girls Club activities while it waits to find out if two employees contracted novel coronavirus. 

Bay Mills Indian Community is located in Chippewa County, about 15 miles southwest of Sault Ste. Marie.

The Michigan Primary is Tuesday, March 10, and voters across the state will choose their presidential candidate and vote on ballot proposals.

Michigan has a "closed" primary, meaning you can only vote for a democratic presidential candidate or a republican one, not both.

The democratic presidential candidates are: former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii.) The republican candidates are U.S. President Donald Trump, and businessman William Weld.