News roundup: What Detroiters need to know about coronavirus

With several confirmed cases in Detroit and statewide, there's been so much coverage about coronavirus, in both local and national outlets, that it can be overwhelming to keep up. We've got you covered with a news roundup about the most important information you need to know now. Come back often as we will update this post as much as we can.

Coronavirus pushes officials to suspend water shutoffs, evictions, and foreclosures: Perhaps one of the biggest stories in Detroit is that Detroiters whose water was shut off due to nonpayment has had service restored. The state will pick up the tab to cover costs to restore water for the first 30 days. After that, Detroiters without water will pay $25 a month to have it restored. Hand washing is the biggest defense against the spread of the virus, and the lack of water puts people at risk. Metromode managing editor Nina Ignaczak wrote about activists’ role in the water shutoff crisis for Belt Magazine. “Now, in the face of COVID-19, the city of Detroit is officially treating water shutoffs as a public health crisis worthy of intervention. Coronavirus may have been what pushed the city over the edge, but local organizers have been working for years to change the narrative.”

Wayne County announced on Monday that there would be no more foreclosures for the rest of the year, citing economic hardship as a result of the outbreak. Also on Monday, 36th District Court announced an immediate moratorium on evictions.

Elsewhere in Detroit and Michigan:

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer orders schools, bars, and restaurants closed: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered the closure of all K-12 schools starting Monday, March 16 until Sunday, April 5. In an attempt to further flatten the curve, on Monday, March 16, Whitmer also ordered public places such as restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, bars, taverns, brewpubs, distilleries, clubs, movie theaters, indoor and outdoor performance venues, gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, spas, and casinos to close. The restrictions don't apply to businesses offering delivery, window service, walk-up service, and drive-through/drive-up service. Restaurants may allow five people inside at a time to pick up orders, as long as they stay 6 feet apart from each other. 
 
These restrictions do not apply to the following locations: office buildings, grocery stores, markets, food pantries, pharmacies, drug stores, and providers of medical equipment and supplies, health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities, warehouse and distribution centers, and industrial and manufacturing facilities. The restrictions are in effect until March 30.

City of Detroit releases preparedness plan: As of March 16, there are at least six confirmed cases in Detroit, according to the city. One of those cases is reportedly a Detroit public school teacher, Chalkbeat reports. The city has partially activated its Emergency Operations Center to monitor developments and launched a website for families. Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Corktown Races were canceled (although that didn't stop revelers from hitting the bars), and other large public gatherings in shared spaces have been banned. 

Cultural institutions closed: Closures at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Historical Museum, and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum went into effect at 4 p.m. Friday, March 13, according to a release. The closures will run until April 5, mirroring Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's order to close schools until the same time. The DIA had previously announced all public programming had been canceled. Other Midtown cultural institutions, including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Michigan Science Center, and the Detroit Public Library, are assessing their plans and will announce them separately.

For the most up to date information, go to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and City of Detroit Department of Health websites.

How has coronavirus impacted you? Do you know of an organization responding to this growing public health concern? Email us at [email protected] or share in the comments below.