Debbie's Blog
Coronavirus update: May 17, 2020
Washington,
May 17, 2020
Here is an update for May 17th.
Thought of the day: "Any pursuit of happiness contrary to the common good is doomed to failure." -Alice Hegan Rice This morning, our community lost another leader – Joe Peterson, Mayor of Wyandotte. Joe was one of John’s and my dearest friend. A veteran who served his country during the Vietnam War, who became a victim of Agent Orange – but it never ever dampened his spirit or the work that he did. Joe spent his life working for others, always caring about everyone, watching out for fellow veterans and fighting for his beloved Wyandotte. More than once I would be with him, watch him struggle with his breathing but he wouldn’t take a break or stop working. He just was there, a friend who lived and cared. And the world has lost another good man who made it a better place because he was here.
Michigan’s slow process of reopening goes into fuller mode. This is an important week with auto plants starting again. It won’t be just back to normal, we all still need to be careful and take protocols seriously. Taking temperatures, questionnaires before entering, new floor layouts with spacing and plexiglass installed. In other words… physical distancing, wear protective equipment including masks, and do what the doctors say. Many of you have heard from Dr. Preeti Malani on a few of my town halls. She’s the Chief Health Officer at the University of Michigan and a native of Downriver. Dr. Malani embodies the leaders and the best and is advising Michigan, The Big Ten, and more on how to return to some semblance of normal. The Detroit News has a great profile of Dr. Malani. She understands Michigan, she understands our community, and is using her medical expertise to protect us all while also figuring out how we return to the things we love. Read the story in the Detroit News here. The coronavirus, quarantine, and many other factors are a lot for everyone to handle. Confidential emotional support counseling is now available 24/7 at no cost to Michiganders who call the state’s COVID-19 hotline. Michigan Stay Well counselors are available any time, day or night, and language translation is available for non-English speakers. Call 888-535-6136, and press 8 when promoted to speak to a Michigan Stay Well counselor. Team Dingell is here seven days a week and wants to listen and help. It isn’t as smooth as we want on some issues, but we will never stop fighting for you. Call our office at 313-278-2936 or contact us through Facebook or our webpage. New information becomes available every day. Below is a list of resources and information that can be helpful during this time. Please share this information with your family, friends, and colleagues. Remember, stay home, stay safe, save lives. Coronavirus information File for unemployment Small Businesses can apply for low-interest disaster loans Navigating Social Security Benefits School Based Food Service Interactive Map Food Banks and Kitchens in Michigan's 12th Congressional District Contact numbers for people looking for information are: • Centers for Disease Control, cdc.gov/coronavirus, 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). • Michigan.gov/coronavirus, or 888-535-6136. |
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