This daily collection of pandemic news shorts supplements coverage of remarks by the mayor and police chief, hospital supply shortages locally, plans by the Detroit Archdiocese and answers about what's not allowed until April 13.
► Statewide toll: The state's daily statistics show 463 new cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus. The cumulative total reaches 1,791. Tuesday's total is up 35% in a day and 73% in the past two days -- reflecting infections that likely began before the governor began ordering widespread commercial shutdowns March 16.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Michigan's reported death toll is 24, up from 15 a day earlier.
Among diagnosed cases added Tuesday afternoon are 86 in Detroit, 75 in western Wayne, 52 in Oakland and 35 in Macomb.
Patients from Detroit who have COVID-19 or survived total 563 now, while the rest of the three-county area has 963 confirmed cases so far. The table at right shows patients' age ranges statewide.
► Recreation allowed: The 13 Huron-Clinton Metroparks remain open for biking, running, walking and enjoying nature, a new posting confirms, with free entry on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Playgrounds, interpretive centers, bathrooms and offices are shut. Golf and programs are off until April 13 at the soonest. Yearly passes are on sale here.
► Jazz event optimism: Detroit Jazz Festival organizers have a positive outlook and release the Sept. 4-7 lineup for an event that drew more than 325,000 fans downtown last Labor Day weekend. "The reason is hope," artistic director Chris Collins tells the Detroit Free Press. "It's the light at the end of the tunnel.
Scheduled performers include Ben Vereen, Dee Dee Bridgewater, performances by Herbie Hancock, Pharoah Sanders, Gregory Porter, Abdullah Ibrahim, Omar Sosa and Marialy Pacheco. Others are in the Freep preview.
► Price-gouge crackdown: Special agents help Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel crack down on price gougers trying to profit unjustly during the health crisis. Trrained criminal investigators now are visiting stores to follow up on consumer complaints. They also do online research to compare pricing, and review heads-ups from shoppers.
More than 1,400 complaints were filed in writing and by phone by the start of this week, a news release says. Violations of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act are misdemeanors, punishable by fines of up to $500. "If stores continue to disregard the rules and raise their prices beyond justifiable amounts, then we will hold them accountable," Nessel says in the handout
♦ How to complain: Click here or call (877) 765-8388 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
► Detroit trims kids' food sites: "To better protect the health of employees," the Detroit Public Schools Community District cuts food distribution sites from 58 to 17 schools. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Thursday and Monday, families can pick up four cooked breakfasts and four cooked lunches, plus learning packets. (Delivery continues for medically fragile students.)
► Small business owners say: "I've worked hard my whole life to maintain a good credit score, pay my bills, build my business and pay contract employees. The best-case scenario destroys all of that." -- Stephanie Casola, Prologue Detroit public relations firm
"More than anything right now, I want a crystal ball, but I don't have that." -- Liz Blondy, Canine to Five dog daycare sites in Detroit and Ferndale
They and others are quoted Tuesday at Detour Detroit, a biweekly newsletter
