YPSILANTI, Mich. – University of Michigan students who live on or near campus are being asked to “stay in place” as the coronavirus -- particularly a new, more contagious strain -- continues to spread throughout the region. Students are asked to stay inside their residences between Jan. 27 and Feb. 7 to help curb the spread of the virus. Michigan health officials say that while the variant does appear to spread more easily, it doesn’t appear to cause more severe disease. Rob Ernst, executive director of the University Health Service at U-M. “We encourage all students to stay in place and only leave their residence for essential activities, including getting tested weekly for COVID-19.”The county’s recommendation is directed at all University of Michigan students, including undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Local coronavirus updates can be found on the Washtenaw County Health Department’s website here.

(Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)TORONTO, ONT – Ontario on Monday announced a province-wide shutdown because of a second wave of COVID-19 in Canada’s most populous province. The lockdown will be put in place for southern Ontario from Dec. 26 until Jan. 23, but will lift for northern Ontario on Jan. 9. All high schools in Ontario will now be closed for in-person learning until Jan. 25. Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, said Ontario is in a very challenging and precarious situation. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the delay until Dec. 26 will allow businesses outside the current lockdown zones to get ready for it.

Some kids may not be getting the physical activity they would have gotten before the pandemic. Here we take a closer look at what experts have to say about this trend, and how to stop it. Watch the video above. More: Wellness Wednesday health stories

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials have implemented a new series of stricter COVID-19 regulations that will go into effect today. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Sunday that the new restrictions will be in effect from Wednesday (Nov. 18) through Dec. 8. Whitmer had previously been issuing restrictions without the approval of the Republican-led Legislature, but now the orders fall to MDHHS. During her Thursday press briefing, Whitmer and Dr. Joneigh Khladun, chief medical executive of MDHHS, painted a harrowing picture of Michigan’s current COVID-19 situation. Hospital leaders concernedEarlier Thursday morning, leaders from Michigan’s major hospital systems came together for a virtual discussion about their concerns.

The group that represents Michigan restaurants called the decision to shut down indoor dining “disappointing.”READ: MDHHS announces stricter COVID-19 rules for Michigan restaurants, high schools, colleges, remote workingThe new restrictions are slightly familiar territory for Michigan restaurant owners who have had to change the flow of their business to stay open, but they’re not exactly looking forward to them being in place yet once again. “I am very worried," said Jeff Baldwin. “We’re very well equipped now,” Gabriella Baldwin said. Both Jeff Baldwin and Gabriella Baldwin said they’re mainly concerned about their employees and if they’ll be able to keep them employed. No stimulus now," Jeff Baldwin said.

Shortly after Sunday’s announcement that universities, colleges and high schools will go with fully remote learning, the Northville Public Schools district announced it will comply. READ: MDHHS announces stricter COVID-19 rules for Michigan restaurants, high schools, colleges, remote workingHigh schools and colleges will be closed for the next three weeks. As the 2020-21 school year has gone on, state health officials have pointed to high schools as major areas of concern. “Of the 200 outbreaks that we are currently investigating, 49% of them are associated with high schools,” Khaldun said. I think that’s one thing that’s going to be difficult on a college campus is simply is how it’s going to be different.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials have announced stricter COVID-19 regulations that present large challenges for families and business owners. READ: MDHHS announces stricter COVID-19 rules for Michigan restaurants, high schools, colleges, remote workingWhy take these serious steps? “A leading model shows that if we don’t take aggressive action right now, we could soon see 1,000 deaths per week here in Michigan,” Whitmer said. “Getting this health crisis under control is absolutely essential to getting our economic crisis under control,” Whitmer said. “If our public isn’t healthy, our economy isn’t healthy.”State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey released a statement that reads, in part:“We are disappointed that Gov.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials have announced stricter COVID-19 regulations involving restaurants, bars, high schools, colleges, in-person working and more. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued the restrictions Sunday evening, and Michigan Gov. On Saturday, Michigan reported 7,072 new COVID-19 cases and 65 additional deaths, bringing the state totals up to 251,813 cases and 7,994 deaths since the start of the pandemic. “Right now, there are thousands of cases a day and hundreds of deaths a week in Michigan, and the number is growing. The health care system can capsize if you don’t keep it under control.”They all weighed in on whether stricter government COVID-19 rules were inevitable as cases spike in Michigan.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials specified 17 segments of the state that will remain open during the three-week pause that includes many new restrictions due to COVID-19. Here are 17 segments of the state that will still be allowed:Indoor gatherings between two households and with no more than 10 people. During her Thursday press briefing, Whitmer and Dr. Joneigh Khladun, chief medical executive of MDHHS, painted a harrowing picture of Michigan’s current COVID-19 situation. Hospital leaders concernedEarlier Thursday morning, leaders from Michigan’s major hospital systems came together for a virtual discussion about their concerns. He and other state health care leaders are concerned about what’s ahead for hospitals if the trends don’t reverse.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials have implemented a new series of stricter COVID-19 regulations that will go into effect this week. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Sunday that the new restrictions will be in effect from Wednesday (Nov. 18) through Dec. 8. Whitmer had previously been issuing restrictions without the approval of the Republican-led Legislature, but now the orders fall to MDHHS. During her Thursday press briefing, Whitmer and Dr. Joneigh Khladun, chief medical executive of MDHHS, painted a harrowing picture of Michigan’s current COVID-19 situation. Hospital leaders concernedEarlier Thursday morning, leaders from Michigan’s major hospital systems came together for a virtual discussion about their concerns.

LIVONIA, Mich. – The city of Livonia is reopening its school playgrounds starting Tuesday, a day after the Michigan governor lifted the state’s stay-at-home order. The playgrounds and track and field areas at Livonia Public Schools have been closed for two months since the coronavirus pandemic hit the region. The city of Livonia alone has seen more than 800 COVID-19 cases and 155 deaths related to the virus. Thanks so much for your patience while our school playgrounds and tracks were temporarily closed during the governor's stay-at-home order. — Livonia Schools (@LivoniaDistrict) June 2, 2020The city also announced it will open the Dog Park at Bicentennial Park on Tuesday.

The researchers put together a “social distancing index,” which they define as an integer from 0~100 that represents the extent residents and visitors are practicing social distancing. By this method, Michigan has received a social distancing index of 63 between April 1 and April 24. On April 5, Michiganders peaked at a social distancing index of 74 with 44 percent of residents staying home. Furthermore, Wayne County has received a social distancing index of 70, Oakland County 74, and Macomb County 71. New York County, in New York, had the highest social distancing index of 84 between April 1 and April 24.

A revision to Michigan’s stay-at-home order amid the COVID-19 pandemic now allows residents to leave homes to go boating or golfing. Social distancing is our best weapon to defeat this enemy,” reads a statement from Whitmer. It will also require employers to provide at least cloth face coverings to their employees. People won’t have to wear face coverings when they’re taking a walk in the neighborhood, but when they go to the grocery store, they should be wearing one. Landscapers, lawn-service companies, and nurseries can return to work, subject to strict social distancing.

DETROIT – A new poll released by the Detroit Regional Chamber shows how Michiganders feel about the ongoing coronavirus crisis. President Trump COVID-19 Approval at 44%Respondents disapprove of President Trump’s handling of COVID-19 (Approve 44% to Disapprove 50%)Republicans approve of his handling by a margin of 88% to 9%. Governor Whitmer COVID-19 Approval at 57%Respondents approve of Gov. Whitmer’s handling of COVID-19: (Approval: 57% to Disapproval: 37%)Democrats approve of her handling by a margin of 89% to 8%. Poll results report 29% of respondents furloughed, laid off, or unable to work.

Cases are continuing to rise in Michigan and in states around the U.S., but that doesn’t mean distancing measures aren’t working. The positive tests we’re seeing right now were most likely contracted before serious distancing measures were put in place. This is called “flattening the curve.”But it could be multiple weeks before governments can definitively know if distancing measures are working or not. It is crucial that people do the right thing by staying home and staying safe.”Why can’t we just isolate patients? “But we don’t know, technically, where they are.