The three “key metrics” the state is using to guide COVID-19 reopening decisions have improved since the epidemic order issued in November, with the weekly average of cases per million people down 70% since November.

The case rate is on a 54-day slide since Nov. 14, according to the MI Safe Start map, right before the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued an epidemic order that was later extended on Dec. 18.

On Nov. 15, the seven-day average was 687 cases per million residents per day. By Dec. 18, that had dwindled to a weekly average of 295 cases per million people. On Jan. 6, it was at 205 cases per million people.

As for hospital beds occupied by COVID patients, the weekly average first increased from 15% on Nov. 15 to 16.5% on Dec. 18. But by Jan. 6, the rate had come down to 12.3%

When Michigan government closes the books on Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 in a few months, it is projected to have a $2.5 billion surplus in the General Fund and a nearly $1.2 billion balance in the School Aid Fund, the Senate Fiscal Agency reported Friday.

The combined $3.7 billion surplus is a 180-degree turnaround from where state officials projected the budget’s position would be last May, when Michigan was staring into a $2.2 billion hole for FY ’20, which ended Sept. 30.

A combination of mid-year belt tightening, significant federal aid and a better-than-expected economy has Michigan sitting on an amount that’s more than three times the roughly $1 billion balance the state ended FY 2019 with.

“It’s a lot of money,” said Chris Harkins, director of the Senate Fiscal Agency (SFA). “We’re in a very different position than anyone would have believed we’d be at.”

The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) Board Thursday signed off on $58.5 million in aid for concert venues, entertainment venues and other businesses dealing with COVID-19 restrictions with the money approved by the Legislature in the recent supplemental.

One program, the Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program, will send $55 million to local economic development organizations (EDOs) across the state that will then dole out $15,000 or $20,000 grants to businesses “that have realized a significant financial hardship” because of state orders curbing gatherings and requiring face masks.

The other program, dubbed the Stages Survival Grant Program, allocates $3.5 million for grants of no more than $40,000 each for live music and entertainment venues negatively impacted by COVID-19, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC)

These programs will not be a first-come, first-served basis, said Mark Burton, CEO of the MEDC. When the MEDC did that for a program in December, there were 7,997 applications successfully submitted with more than 14,000 people still waiting in line after the application window closed after 12 hours.

This session’s first Senate bill is a second bid to end any statewide public health orders after 28 days unless there’s legislative approval to extend it.

Sen. Lana Theis (R-Brighton) SB 0001 is a reappearance from last session’s SB 1253, which the governor vetoed Dec. 30.

As illustrated in a press release from Theis, DHHS emergency health orders would only be valid for 28 days unless an extension request from the department’s director is approved by a resolution from both the Senate and House.

“Unelected and unaccountable DHHS bureaucrats continue to implement freedom-restricting emergency orders that disrupt and threaten the livelihoods of hardworking Michiganders,” Theis said in her press release. “Senate Bill 1 will ensure the people have a say in the matter, and I urge my colleagues’ and the governor’s support.”

COVID-19 infections are back on the increase in nursing homes, according to AARP Michigan.

The advocacy group for older Americans released a survey Thursday showing 61.4% of responding nursing homes have at least one resident with a confirmed COVID case. Another 89% of homes have at least one staffer out with the virus.

The rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Michigan’s nursing homes have gone from less than 1 case per 100 residents in September to 11 per 100 residents in December. Confirmed cases from staff is up from 1.5 per 100 residents in September to 10.6 per 100 residents.

Deaths among residents is also up, .06 per 100 residents to 2.17. Personal protective equipment shortages are down 30.5%, but staffing shortages are still an issue.

AARP is reporting 42.2% of facilities with a shortage, up from 34.3% in September.

“While vaccines will not make nursing home residents safe overnight, this dashboard underscores the urgency of vaccinating residents and staff as quickly as possible,” said AARP Michigan Director Paula Cunningham.