NEW:
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has issued an executive order banning public gatherings of 250 people or more. The purpose is to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The governor says she has this extraordinary temporary power under the Michigan Emergency Management Act. The order takes effect today at 5pm.
The order does not cover industrial or manufacturing work, mass transit, or shopping for groceries and other consumer goods.
Read the governor's order here.
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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered all public and private schools closed starting Monday as an emergency measure to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says 10 more adults have tested “presumptive positive” for COVID-19. This brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan to 12.
Thursday night the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the health departments in Ingham, Kent, Montcalm, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties announced ten adults tested presumptive positive for COVID-19.
Their samples have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control for confirmation.
Nine of the 10 new patients have a history of domestic or international travel.
The state total of COVID-19 cases has risen to 12 with previous cases confirmed in Oakland and Wayne counties.
Tests are pending for 26 other possible cases.
On Tuesday, March 10th Michigan officials announced that two people in the Detroit area tested positive for the coronavirus infection.
A woman in Oakland County had traveled outside the country, while a man from Wayne County had traveled within the U.S.
They are in hospitals and are middle-aged. Both cases will be reviewed by federal health experts. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency and urged people to wash their hands and avoid touching their faces.