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Michigan Legislature
The legislature adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 today. Both chambers started session at 10:00 a.m., with the Senate adopting the resolution and adjourning by 10:15 a.m. The House of Representatives subsequently adopted the resolution shortly and adjourned shortly after 1:00 p.m. The move extends the governor’s disaster declaration to April 30th. The resolution is attached.
Michigan Executive and State Departments
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that Michiganders should expect an additional “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order to extend the order beyond the original end date of April 13th. More details are expected in the coming week.
Federal
Our colleagues at Cornerstone Government Affairs in Washington, D.C. have highlighted some updates on the federal level:
- The CDC is now urging all Americans to wear a face covering (ideally a non-medical mask or scarf covering their mouth and nose) when they leave their homes. They have published a Q&A page for cloth face coverings and have updated the prevention page to include guidance on the use of cloth face coverings as a means to mitigate spread of COVID-19.
- The FDA held a webinar with device manufacturers and industry partners to discuss its guidance on enforcement policy for PPE during COVID-19. Recording and transcript of the webinar can be found here.
- HHS announced upcoming action by the CDC to provide $186 million in funding for resources to state and local jurisdictions in support of the COVID-19 response.
- HHS also reported its planned purchase of the ID NOW COVID-19 rapid point-of-care test, developed by Abbott Diagnostics Scarborough Inc. The ID NOW test, which provides results in under 13 minutes, will be distributed to public health labs in every state and territory.
- CMS released a video providing answers to common questions about the Medicare telehealth services benefit.
- CMS approved a number of additional state waivers to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including Section 1135 Medicaid waivers, Appendix K waivers for programs that care for elderly, and blanket waivers that permit Medicare-enrolled Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) to temporarily enroll as hospitals.
- HUD has allocated $200 million in Indian Housing Block Grants to American Indian Tribes across the country to aid their response to COVID-19.
- CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report includes an article highlighting the impact of COVID-19 in children. The preliminary description of pediatric U.S. COVID-19 cases shows that relatively few children with COVID-19 are hospitalized, and fewer children than adults experience fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Severe outcomes have been reported in children, including three deaths.
- The CDC released updated COVID-19 guidance for transit maintenance workers.
- The CDC also updated its collection of webinars providing COVID-19 training for healthcare professionals.
- Education Secretary Betsy DeVos authorized new funding flexibilities that allow schools to repurpose existing education funds for technology infrastructure and teacher training on distance learning.
- Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and other members of the COVID-19 Task Force from Sunday’s White House press briefing are available here.
- Members of Congress are now looking ahead to a fourth supplemental funding package. House Dems are expected to take the lead on a fourth package, and Speaker Pelosi has indicated that the infrastructure framework from January will be the starting point of whatever bill they introduce. Yesterday, she added that the next government aid package could top $1 trillion.
- No new members of Congress have tested positive for COVID-19. Reps. Nydia Velasquez (D-NY), Joe Cunningham (D-SC), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), and Ben McAdams (D-UT) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) remain the only members to test positive (or be presumptive positive) at this point. Eight other members are in self-quarantine and 29 have completed a self-quarantine.
