Michigan will have the services of the state National Guard to assist with COVID-19 relief through the rest of the calendar year, the state announced Tuesday.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said President Donald Trump granted her request to authorize National Guard members help with pandemic response through Dec. 31.
“Since COVID-19 was first discovered in our state, the Michigan National Guard has been a crucial part of our emergency response, from conducting testing and screening, distributing personal protective equipment, and assisting at food banks across the state” Whitmer said in a Tuesday, Aug. 4 statement.
“Our dedicated guardsmen and women will continue to be a crucial part of our recovery efforts moving forward. I thank the president for granting my request, and implore him to work with Congress on a bipartisan recovery package that protects American families, front-line workers, and small business owners. The only way we will get through this is if leaders in the federal government put partisan games aside and work together to save lives.”
Previous authorization that allowed members to receive federal pay and benefits was set to expire Aug. 21. The extension, however, comes with a change in funding.
Instead of funding 100% of the Guard’s activities federally, Trump imposed a 25-percent cost share to come from the state for activities Aug. 21 through Dec. 31.
“While I am grateful for the extension, the president’s decision to federally fund Guard activities at only 75% leaves states across the country with an additional cost when we’re already facing severe holes in our state budgets,” Whitmer said. “We need the president and Congress to work together in a bipartisan way to support states like Michigan.”
Whitmer requested the extension in a July letter to the president. She first involved the Michigan National Guard in the state’s response to the pandemic in mid-March.
National Guardsmen have assisted food banks in communities across the state. They’ve also helped set up temporary medical stations to support coronavirus patients, and have assisted with COVID-19 testing.
COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
Read more on MLive:
Fair discussion on hydroxychloroquine made impossible by political climate, Michigan hospital says
How accurate is Michigan’s COVID-19 death total?