(FOX 2) - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer held a news conference Thursday morning in which she announced the launch of the Futures for Frontliners program, which offers essential, frontline workers a tuition-free path to community college in Michigan. The program is the first-of-its-kind in the nation.
The Future for Frontliners program, a modern-day version of the GI Bill that welcomed home veterans of World War II, would pay for the higher education of 625,000 residents that served in an array of professions that aided the state through the early months of the virus's outbreak in the state.
You can continue reading more about the program here.
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Also earlier this week, Gov. Whitmer signed a bill that appropriates $2.8 billion to fund a temporary additional $300 per week for eligible Michiganders receiving unemployment benefits.
Also at the news conference on Thursday, Michigan's chief medical executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun gave context to the state of the pandemic in Michigan right now and is expected to update these numbers again on Thursday.
CASES PER MILLION PEOPLE PER DAY
Overall, Michigan is seeing an average of 55 cases per million people per day, which is a decrease since last week.
The Detroit, Saginaw and Upper Peninsula regions all are seeing more tha 40 cases per million people per day, but trends for new cases and percent positive are declining.
The Grand Rapids, Jackson and Lansing regions also have more than 40 cases per million people per day but trends for case rates and percent positive are increasing.
The Traverse City region is the lowest in the state, at 27 cases per million people per day with a 2.2% positivity. But trends for new cases and percent positive are also increasing.
Information from Gov. Whitmer's 9/10 news conference
TESTING AND PERCENT POSITIVE
Testing continues to look good. Dr. Khaldun said Michigan continues to test more than 30,000 people per day, which is more than 2% of our state's population every week.
The overall percent positive rate in Michigan has slightly increase to 3.2% from 3.1% the week prior.
The goal is to get the percent positive below 3%, which would indicate community spread is not happening.
Information from Gov. Whitmer's 9/10 news conference
OUTBREAKS
Over the past week, local health departments have identified 61 new outbreaks, which is 32 fewer than the previous week and something Dr. Khaldun called "a great sign."
Officials are tracking 157 ongoing outbreaks across the state, which is 65 fewer than officials were tracking the previous week.
Dr. Khaldun said the top five places they're seeing outbreaks are in nursing facilities, manufacturing, health care, social gatherings and restaurants.
Michigan officials are now also beginning to work with local health departments to be able to identify and publicize outbreaks at schools. Dr. Khaldun said the state will be posting information about outbreaks at schools, including colleges, next week.
Information from Gov. Whitmer's 9/10 news conference