Gov. Whitmer provides update on COVID-19 response

During her press conference on the response to the COVID-19 crisis Friday, Governor Whitmer announced a partnership with FEMA and the Ford Motor Company to provide 4 million free masks to vulnerable populations.

“Michigan needs to continue to ‘mask up’ to protect us all from COVID-19,” Gov. Whitmer said. “Vulnerable populations may have difficulties buying masks and our schools need face coverings to keep students, staff and community members safe. I am thrilled that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Ford and FEMA are working together to help control the spread of the coronavirus.”

The free masks include 1.5 million from FEMA that the state has already sent to organizations that include local Community Action Agencies serving low-income residents, MDHHS offices, Area Agencies on Aging, homeless shelters and Native American tribes.

Another 1 million face coverings from FEMA and 1.5 million from Ford will go to low-income schools, the City of Detroit, Federally Qualified Health Centers, some COVID-19 testing sites and other organizations that help vulnerable populations.