A recent survey found that U.S. senior care facilities are facing or have recently faced staff shortages amid a tumultuous year.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a briefing with the coronavirus task force at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON – The White House COVID-19 response team held a news briefing on Wednesday morning to provide an update on the nation’s pandemic. The briefing comes as states begin lifting virus restrictions as COVID vaccinations ramp up, and as some states -- like Michigan, New York and New Jersey -- experience another surge in virus spread. The nation has also just cleared President Biden’s goal of administering 100 million vaccinations within his first 100 days in office. President Biden is also assembling the next big White House priority, a sweeping $3 trillion package of investments on infrastructure and domestic needs.

Gretchen Whitmer joined elected officials from Wisconsin and Florida Thursday to discuss the benefits of the newly passed American Rescue Plan during a virtual news conference. Live Stream @ 1:30 p.m.: President Biden signs $1.9T COVID-19 relief billWhitmer, joined Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and St. Petersburg Florida Mayor Rick Kriseman, discussed the federal government’s approved $1.9 trillion virus aid package and its benefits for American families. The House gave final congressional approval Wednesday to the sweeping package by a near party line 220-211 vote precisely seven weeks after Biden entered the White House and four days after the Senate passed the bill. The conference is taking place as Michigan, and much of the country, marks its one-year COVID anniversary. Biden will sign the bill into law on Friday, but the White House didn’t wait, turning the bill signing into a three-day event.

ANN ARBOR – Starting on Monday, April 26, Michigan Flyer-AirRide will be restoring its daily service between East Lansing, Brighton, Ann Arbor and Detroit Metro Airport. The restoration is made possible by funding the bus service secured through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. In order to help prevent the risk of person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus, cash payments will not be accepted. If you’re boarding in Ann Arbor, tickets may be purchased with cash inside the Blake Transit Center during business hours. Cleaning and sanitizing buses daily, with special attention to high-touch areas.

Actress Cecily Strong’s portrayal of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer returned to Saturday Night Live again. The sketch had Whitmer alongside other governors on a fictional game show titled “So you think you can get the vaccine?”Related: Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phases“It’s an honor to be here with my fellow governors,” Strong says as Whitmer. AdIn the sketch, Heidi Gardner portrays a University of Michigan student who comes on the game show in hopes of getting a vaccine. “Do you have any pre-existing conditions?” Strong asks as Whitmer. You can watch the sketch below from SNL’s Instagram channel.

Amid calls for unity, a war of words erupted Thursday as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican lawmakers traded verbal blows just one day after the State of the State address. Shirkey said legislators have not had a productive meeting with Whitmer’s office in the last nine months. When asked about what they’d be willing to compromise on, both Whitmer’s office and Republican leaders seemed to be locked in a game of political chicken. The buck stops with me,” Whitmer said after GOP leaders demanded she cede her powers over schools amid the pandemic.

FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 file photo, President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., to announce key administration posts. U.S. President-elect Joe Biden should bring fundamental change to U.S. policy on human rights and allow criminal investigations of President Donald Trump, the head of Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday Jan. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)President-elect Joe Biden announced a $1.9 trillion economic plan to help stem the virus and provide financial assistance to individuals, businesses and state and local governments during a live event Thursday. Learn more about the economic plan here. Once inaugurated on Jan. 20, Biden has promised to support a new economic plan that would deliver larger stimulus checks and financial relief to individuals and businesses struggling amid the pandemic’s economic fallout.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Friday announced that the tools and practices are in place for public schools to safely bring more students back into the classrooms. The governor wants schools to have their own in-person learning plans in place by March 1 after many Michigan schools shifted to remote learning amid the coronavirus pandemic -- and parents and students are eager to return to school. Whitmer encourages Michigan public schools to reopen for in-person learning by March 1“As a parent, I know how hard it has been to not have children engaged in in-person learning,” said the state’s chief medical executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun Friday. Still, parents like Michelle Phillips -- who has five kids in K-12 schools -- are cautiously optimistic about students returning to in-person instruction. “My children will be very happy to be back in school, but we also want to be safe,” Phillips said.

DETROIT – A hospital in Indiana is promising a full review of the treatment of a Black doctor who died from coronavirus days before Christmas. READ: Black doctor who grew up in Michigan dies of COVID after racist treatment complaintsMoore got her medical degree from the University of Michigan in 2002 and studied engineering at Kettering University in Flint. Moore was admitted to Indiana University Health North Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. Dennis Murphy, President and CEO of Indiana University HealthThe coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black men and women. In response, the state of Michigan started the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities and required implicit bias training for health professionals.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan lawmakers voted Thursday to prohibit water shutoffs across the state through March, reinstating a moratorium that was upended by a court ruling. Negotiations over $100 million in aid for small businesses and laid-off workers continued between the Democratic governor and the Republican-led Legislature. Whitmer had barred water shutoffs in an order last spring. “Water is a human right and, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is essential to hydration, hygiene and public health,” said the bill sponsor, Democratic Sen. Stephanie Chang of Detroit. Republicans remain frustrated by the state health department's order that has prohibited indoor restaurant dining and in-person instruction at high schools while also closing entertainment venues.

Leaders from across Michigan believe school districts will require $1 billion in state and federal support in order to recover from the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Since the onset of the pandemic, schools, teachers and students have been forced to adjust to an ever-changing learning landscape. Michigan schools have had to apply various learning models and implement health and safety protocols in an effort to prevent students and staff from catching or spread COVID. School leaders are worried that there could be tens of thousands of students who fell all the way through the cracks because of the pandemic. Leaders say Thursday, however, that that’s only a small fraction of what they’ll need moving forward.

Michigan residents between the ages of 30-49 years old continue to record the highest new virus cases per million residents. Specifically, daily new COVID cases have been the highest among those 30-39 years old on average in recent weeks. However, in the last four weeks, COVID cases per million have decreased for all age groups in the state. Michigan COVID hospitalizationsMore than 18.7% of available inpatient beds were filled with COVID patients in Michigan over the last week. Michigan residents over the age of 80 years continue to see the highest virus deaths per million residents.

In response to rising COVID cases and deaths throughout the U.S., some states are ramping up restrictions to help curb virus spread -- like in California, for instance, where residents are heading into another sweeping lockdown. Update Dec. 7: Michigan COVID restrictions extended through Dec. 20: What to knowUpdate Dec. 7: Michigan hospitals urge state to extend COVID restrictions ‘to see meaningful change’In Michigan, the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a “three-week pause” in November that bans indoor dining at bars and restaurants, in-person learning at high schools and colleges and more through Dec. 8. As of Dec. 6, Michigan is beginning to see a slowing growth rate of daily new COVID-19 cases following a surge in recent weeks -- but virus deaths are still rising across the state. COVID hospitalizations in Michigan have also been steadily increasing since October, including upticks in critical care and ventilator use. We want to know: Are you in favor of extending Michigan’s current coronavirus restrictions beyond Dec. 8?

The Trump administration on Friday suspended all federal student loan payments through the end of January and kept interest rates at 0%, extending a moratorium that started early in the pandemic but was set to expire at the end of this month. By extending payments by one month, the administration is effectively leaving it to the Biden administration or Congress to decide whether to provide longer-term relief to millions of student borrowers. In announcing the extension, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rebuked Congress for failing to act. DeVos won praise for using her authority to pause federal student loan payments in March. A federal lawsuit filed against DeVos in April alleged that thousands of overdue borrowers were still getting pay withheld despite the mortarium.

On Friday, Dec. 4 the CDC published in a weekly report updated guidelines that recommend “universal use of face masks” as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths climb across the nation at dangerous rates. “Face mask use is most important in indoor spaces and outdoors when physical distance of 6 feet (or less) cannot be maintained,” the CDC’s report reads. Read more: What the CDC says about face masks -- a refresherThe updated guidelines come amid recent research that shows face masks not only prevent a person from spreading COVID-19, but they also provide some protection to the wearer -- though to a lesser extent. In light of the new guidelines, the CDC is encouraging state and local governments to “issue policies or directives mandating universal use of face masks in indoor (nonhousehold) settings,” and to provide face masks to populations in need to help prevent the spread of COVID. Majority of the CDC’s previously-issued mask guidelines have not changed, however, including what types of masks to wear and how to wear them.

A Michigan task force has been conducting research and implementing new protocols to help improve conditions for minority communities who have been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic -- and they have seen some notable progress so far. Gretchen Whitmer established the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities to address issues leading to the disproportionate havoc the pandemic has wreaked on communities of color compared to white communities. Since the task force was created, more than 20 “Neighborhood Testing sites” have been established in previously-underserved communities throughout Michigan, the state reports. Moving forward, the group intends to close the “digital divide” by ensuring minority communities have better access to internet, telehealth services and virtual learning. “It’s clear that the work of this task force ... has made significant progress in protecting families, frontline workers, and small businesses in communities of color,” said Celeste Sanchez Lloyd, task force member and community program manager for Strong Beginnings at Spectrum Health.

As the U.S. settles deeper into the holiday season, so too is it settling into a dangerous trend of coronavirus spread. The cold winter months are pushing people indoors, where the airborne virus can spread easier than outdoors. He was referring to the country’s current battle with increased coronavirus spread. Pfizer formally requested an emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine on Nov. 20. Related: Details on when COVID-19 vaccine could be made public for useWhile it’s not totally clear who will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and when, it is likely that school-aged children will be among the last groups in the U.S. to receive them.

With election week upon us, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she is “confident” that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden will win Michigan. Both Biden and President Trump have been focusing campaign efforts in Michigan over the last week in an effort to appeal to voters ahead of Tuesday. In an interview with Dan Harris on Good Morning America Saturday, Whitmer said that she believes Biden and his character will win over Michigan voters. They’ve been contact-traced back to the rallies,” Whitmer said Saturday. Trump and Biden have both focused campaign efforts on the “battleground” state just days before Election Day.

The regulations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, will also increase what Medicare pays hospitals for COVID-19 treatments. Under Wednesday’s announcement:Seniors with traditional Medicare will pay nothing for COVID-19 vaccines, and any copays and deductibles are waived. The government will pay private Medicare Advantage plans to administer the vaccine to seniors. Workplace and individual health insurance plans will cover the COVID-19 vaccine as a preventive service, with no cost sharing. State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance plans will have to provide vaccines for free for the duration of the coronavirus public health emergency.

Before the election, The Associated Press is examining some of his immigration policies, including restrictions on international students. Roughly 5.3 million students study outside their home countries, a number that’s more than doubled since 2001. The pandemic has only exacerbated things, including a short-lived Trump administration rule requiring international students to leave if their schools held online-only classes. The Trump administration has floated curtailing Optional Practical Training, a popular program allowing international students to work. NAFSA estimated that since 2016, the decline of new international students cost the U.S. nearly $12 billion and at least 65,000 jobs.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is sounding the alarm as COVID-19 cases rise rapidly across the state. Within the last 24 hours, 1,597 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Michigan. Whitmer addressed the surge in cases during a news conference Wednesday, where she said that Michigan is at a “dangerous moment” regarding coronavirus spread. COVID-19 numbers are on the rise throughout the entire U.S. Experts are looking at Wisconsin’s coronavirus numbers in an effort to predict -- and prevent -- a similar pattern in Michigan.

DETROIT – From the very beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, while countries around the world were closing down to flatten the curve, Sweden took a different route. READ: Michigan coronavirus cases up to 125,578; Death toll now at 6,781There are reasons their approach can’t be compared to Michigan’s. Sweden has a population of about 10 million people, which is similar to the population of the state of Michigan. Their approach was to simply let the novel coronavirus run its course with minimal intervention in the hope that eventually most of the population would develop immunity. Sweden has seen more than 9,000 cases-per-million people compared to Norway at 2,500 cases-per-million.

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) approved the second amendment of the 2019 Program Year Action Plan for $41.9 million to be incorporated in Community Development Block Grant’s (CDBG) Coronavirus Response funds. Related: Macomb County offering $5,000 small business grants; applications due June 24MSF approved an amendment to the Program Year Action Plan in May, adding $20.5 million for COVID-19. With the funding, counties would be reimbursed for unbudgeted expenditures allocated for prevention and preparation in response to COVID-19. Small business restart programThe MSF also adopted amended guidelines to the Michigan Small Business Restart Program. With the amendment, small businesses that received grants through the Michigan Small Business Relief Program would be eligible for grants from the restart program.

WASHINGTON U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a White House coronavirus task force news briefing at 5 p.m. on Tuesday for the first time since April. The task force has held news briefings since then, but President Trump has not participated in them. Trumps resumption of the coronavirus task force news briefings comes as coronavirus (COVID-19) cases are spiking across the country. COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have been increasing by about 400,000 new cases each week since June 29. Texas reported an increase of 74,000 cases and California reported an increase of 64,000 additional cases in the last week.

Central Michigan UniversityCentral Michigan University will welcome students back to campus for the Fall 2020 semester. The college will then offer online courses, online and in-person hybrid courses and web-enhanced courses -- which are mainly for health and occupational students and consist primarily of in-person classes with online educational tools. Northern Michigan UniversityNorthern Michigan University will resume in-person classes in the fall one week early beginning August 17. The college says that enrollment for classes is open, but it is unclear if in-person classes will resume in the fall. Western Michigan UniversityWestern Michigan University has not yet announced a plan for the upcoming fall semester.

People walk at the Cheonggye Stream during launch time in Seoul, South Korea, on May 22, 2020. South Korea on Wednesday still reported 40 new cases, its biggest daily jump in about 50 days. South Korea launched widespread testing fairly early, and in early February it had open public testing, which was available to asymptomatic people, and pursued contact tracing for all confirmed patients. South Korea has recorded a total of 11,265 cases with 269 deaths. South Korea will face a second virus wave, too.

DEARBORN, Mich. The Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) has granted $80,000 to Arab American organizations throughout the U.S. to support their response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As we all collectively face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Arab American organizations across the country are in need of flexible, immediate support, says Maha Freij, CAAP Director. CAAP is proud to provide funding to these organizations that are doing incredible work in the areas of arts and culture, and direct services." -- it is a sigh of relief to know that CAAP is able to lend a hand. In times of crisis, every penny counts, but most importantly to know that we have shoulders to lean on has been the most comforting.MORE: Coronavirus News

LANSING, Mich. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Tuesday that $1.5 million will be provided to Michigan to provide housing to non-elderly people living with disabilities. This funding will provide vital housing options for some of the most vulnerable among us, individuals with disabilities across Michigan, said HUD Midwest Regional Administrator Joseph P. Galvan. It will also prevent homelessness and promote independent living in the least restrictive setting while diverting from more costly institutionalization.The following organizations will receive the following allocations:Ann Arbor Housing Commission - $421,648Grand Rapids Housing Commission - $242,200Housing Services Mid-Michigan - $215,974Michigan State Housing Development Authority - $205,423Detroit Housing Commission - $180,839Wyoming Housing Commission - $68,490Pontiac Housing Commission - $63,232Port Huron Housing Commission - $59,135Melvindale Housing Commission - $56,398Michigans $1.5 million allocation is part of a nearly $77 million distributed throughout the country. You can see a list of how much funding each state will be allocated here. HUD also recently allocated $11 million to Michigan Public Housing Authorities earlier this month in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS released figures on the current status of U.S. economic impact payments on Friday. The federal government is providing economic impact payments -- also known as stimulus payments -- to residents in response to financial hardships faced by Americans amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Officials expect to deliver more than 150 million payments in total. The Treasury released a document that shows the number of economic impact payments provided within each state and their total dollar amounts. The document says 4,081,884 payments have been distributed among Michiganders amid the pandemic, totaling $7,045,417,642 as of Saturday.

DEARBORN, Mich. – Ford Motor Company is beginning to ship powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) to health care facilities across the U.S.With design and testing consultation from 3M, Ford designed and built PAPRs to help meet frontline workers’ need for personal protective equipment amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. MORE: Ford teams with 3M, GE, UAW to speed production of respirators, ventilators“Ford could not stand by while health care workers in this country placed their lives on the line to help others without even having proper protection,” said Jim Baumbick, Vice President of Ford Enterprise Product Line Management. Ford and 3M have developed the PAPRs over the last month with the approval from the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, officials said. RELATED: Ford produces 10 million face shields for health care workersVirginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle is the first customer to receive the equipment. Ford has also produced reusable gowns, face shields and ventilators for health care workers amid the pandemic.

LANSING, Mich. – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Friday that $685 million in COVID-19 relief funds will be allocated to Public Housing Authorities (PHA) across the country. MORE: Coronavirus in Michigan: Here’s where we stand as of SundayThe funds, made available through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, will help residents living in public housing by supporting coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak prevention and response measures, officials said. RELATED: HUD to begin allocating $3 billion to help low-income familiesMichigan PHAs will receive $11 million in funding from HUD. “Public Housing Authorities have a vital role to play in our COVID‑19 recovery efforts,” said Joseph Galvan, HUD Midwest Regional Administrator. “We will continue working diligently to overcome this as expeditiously as possible.”Click here to read the official announcement from HUD.