The NBA Is Suspending The Season Following Conclusion of Wednesday's Games Due To Coronavirus.

Editor in Chief and Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to the National Basketball Association, the NBA is suspending the basketball season following the end of Wednesday's scheduled games until further notice due to the coronavirus. According to a Wednesday night statement from the league, "The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the pandemic."

According To WXYZ News Detroit, Two Cases of Coronavirus Have Been Confirmed In Michigan / Whitmer Declares State Of Emergency.

Editor in Chief & Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to WXYZ News Detroit, two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Michigan. At 10:45 P.M. Tuesday night, Governor Whitmer held a press conference in Lansing announcing the confirmed cases. During the press conference Whitmer announced that she has declared a state of emergency in order to assist local governments to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Michigan.

During the press conference governor Whitmer stated that the two cases of the virus are located in Oakland County and Wayne County. Whitmer also stated that the cases involve a male and a female. Both of the individuals have been hospitalized, according to governor Whitmer.

This is a rapidly evolving story. Stay tuned for updates.

According To WXYZ News Detroit, Eastern Michigan University Students Who Have Traveled To Italy Told To Self Quarantine.

Editor in Chief Jeff Brown.

According to WXYZ News Detroit, approximately ten Eastern Michigan University students are reportedly self-quarantined after they have returned from a trip to Italy. The group of students reportedly returned Sunday. According to an email obtained by WXYZ 7 Action News, two students had symptoms, but have reportedly tested negative for coronavirus.

According to 7 Action News, there is concern on campus about the university's response, and specifically, why the students were allowed to go back on campus.

According to WXYZ, a spokesperson has stated that none of the students are currently on campus. WXYZ reported that the university has contacted the students after receiving new guidance that came from the CDC on Wednesday.

MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories Obtains Additional Coronavirus Testing Kits, More Than Doubles Number of People Possible For Testing.

Editor in Chief & Publisher Jeff Brown.

  According to a March 5 press release from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, as cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) increase in the United States and internationally, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Bureau of Laboratories has increased its testing supplies to test more than 300 Michiganders for the virus, more than doubling its previous testing capacity.

The MDHHS lab received additional test kits from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today. The kits are currently undergoing a validation process but should be ready for use by the end of the week.

According to MDHHS, “We want Michiganders to know that their state laboratory is ready and able to provide testing for COVID-19,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS. “We are currently able to provide same day turnaround for test results.”

The new test kits arrived following news from the CDC that testing criteria had expanded to include any persons, including healthcare workers, who have had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient within 14 days of symptom onset, or a history of travel to one of the affected geographic areas within 14 days of symptom onset. Affected areas include China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea. This according to MDHHS.

The new testing criteria will allow Michigan and other states to confirm COVID-19 cases much quicker and slow the spread of this disease in the United States, Khaldun said.

In addition, the MDHHS state lab is in the process of surveying hospital labs across the state to determine which labs wish to begin providing testing. A Laboratory Leadership Service Fellow has been requested from CDC to help Michigan hospitals with the validation process.

To date, there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan. As of March 4, eight people have been tested for COVOD-19 in the state; five by CDC and three by MDHHS. According to MDHHS.

This is a rapidly evolving situation. For the latest information, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus or CDC.gov/coronavirus.

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell Votes To Pass Funding For Coronavirus.

Editor in Chief & Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to a March 4 press release from the office of Debbie Dingell, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) voted for the House package to provide $8.3 billion in robust funding to respond to the Coronavirus, including support for state and local health agencies, vaccine and treatment development, and loans for affected small business.

The legislation provides $8.3 billion in all new funding for a robust response to this public health emergency. That includes $950 million for state and local health agencies to conduct vital public health activities, including surveillance, laboratory testing, infection control, contact tracing, and mitigation.

According to the press release, “Direct and smart investments are some of the strongest tools we have to keep Americans safe from the Coronavirus,” said Dingell. “Each of us can take commonsense steps, such as Bump – don’t Shake, washing our hands, and staying home when you are sick. This emergency support will help Michigan and local health agencies be prepared for the virus and rapidly develop the vaccines and tests we need. There isn’t Democratic Coronavirus, or Republican Coronavirus, we must address Coronavirus together and treat it like the emergency it is. We must ensure our country has the resources and tools necessary to combat Coronavirus, without taking from other critical programs.”

Among its provisions, the emergency supplemental includes:

• More than $3 billion for research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics;
• $2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness, and response, $950 million of which is to support state & local health agencies;
• Nearly $1 billion for procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, to support healthcare preparedness and Community Health Centers, and to improve medical surge capacity;
• $435 million to support health systems overseas to prevent, prepare, and respond to the coronavirus;
• $300 million to respond to humanitarian needs;
• $61 million to facilitate the development and review of medical countermeasures, devices, therapies, and vaccines, and to help mitigate potential supply chain interruptions; and
• Allows for an estimated $7 billion in low-interest loans to affected small businesses. This according to Wednesday's statement.

The emergency supplemental also contains other strong provisions to ensure a full response and keep Americans safe. The bill:

• Requires that funds are only used to fight the coronavirus and other infectious diseases;
• Allows seniors to access telemedicine services for coronavirus treatment;
• Helps ensure that vaccines and treatments for coronavirus are affordable; and
• Ensures that state and local governments are reimbursed for costs incurred while assisting the federal response.

Additionally, the bill includes a requirement to reimburse $136 million to important health accounts, including mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention and heating and cooling assistance for low-income families, that was transferred by the Trump administration to support its response. This according to the office of Congresswoman Dingell.