Michigan St. in Grand Rapids, MI. /Experience Grand Rapids
Kent County begins May with 1,600 cases, 36 deaths, and 417 recoveries from COVID-19. These numbers, reported by the Kent County Health Department, are as of May 1.
Statewide, there are 42,356 cases, 3,866 deaths, and 8,342 recoveries. Reported by the State of Michigan, case and death numbers are as of May 1 and recovery numbers as of April 24.
Shared in this May 1 update are continued local and state responses impacting West Michigan from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the Kent County Health Department, and the Grand Rapids Community Foundation.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issues executive orders extending several of the state’s pandemic mitigation efforts, reopening construction and other outdoor work
Gov. Whitmer issued several new executive orders April 30 and May 1, extending many of the state’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts already in place, while enabling construction, real estate, and other outdoor work to resume on May 7.
Extended to May 28 at 11:59pm are the state’s emergency and disaster declarations and the limiting of many public gathering spaces. Gathering spaces included in the extension are theaters, bars, casinos, and more.
“Although we are beginning to see the curve flatten, we are not out of the woods yet,” said Whitmer. “We must all continue to be diligent, observe social distancing, and limit in-person interactions and services to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order remains in effect through May 15. Under this order, Michiganders are still required to not leave their homes except to run critical errands, engage in safe outdoor activities, or go to specified jobs.
More details about Whitmer’s April 30 and May 1 orders are available on the Press Releases page on Whitmer’s official website.
Kent County Health Department updates its Data Dashboard with more features
The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) updated its Kent County Data Dashboard with more data features, it announced May 1. New features include cases by zip code and number of recovery cases in the county.
The Data Dashboard consists of four pages, with features ranging from number of confirmed, negative, and pending cases, to breakdowns by race, ethnicity, gender, and age group. It also compares the number of confirmed cases and deaths across the state.
To view the Data Dashboard, select “Kent County COVID-19 Dashboard” on the COVID-19 page of the KCHD’s website.
Grand Rapids Community Foundation joins #GivingTuesdayNow movement to support Kent County COVID-19 Relief Fund
#GivingTuesdayNow, a new global day of charitable giving and unity on May 5 in response to the pandemic, will count the Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) as one of its participants.
The GRCF is encouraging residents to consider donating to its Kent County COVID-19 Relief Fund on this day.
Like the annual #GivingTuesday held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and Black Friday every year, #GivingTuesdayNow also promotes charitable giving to organizations and people residents care about. The difference is its focus: providing an emergency response to organizations and people in light of the financial and health hardships brought on by the pandemic.
The Kent County COVID-19 Relief Fund is a vehicle for the GRCF and its donor partners to pool resources to collectively support the recovery of nonprofits and small businesses serving those disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The fund’s priorities are equity, nonprofit financial stability, and small business support.
“We will prioritize recovery efforts that are led by or reach communities of color, organizations with limited access to financial support through traditional philanthropy or loan opportunities, and those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the GRCF said.
More details about the GRCF’s participation in #GivingTuesdayNow is available in a blog on its website.
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