pandemic

Michigan on Saturday reported more than 3,000 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus — the highest yet during the pandemic — amid what a top health official called “alarming increases” in infections around the state.

The 3,338 new COVID-19 cases reported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services surpassed the state’s previous single-day record of 2,030 new cases set on Oct. 15. That earlier record had topped the previous record of 1,953 from early April.

The break is over: Any Michigan retailer selling cans or bottles with 10-cent deposits must accept them.

The state in June began reinstating the collection of returnables, first at large grocery stores that have machines. Now any store must take cans and bottles and redeem the deposits, the Treasury Department said Thursday.

Because of the coronavirus, consumers were prohibited from returning cans and bottles for weeks, starting in March.

The state health department and Michigan State University on Thursday launched a voluntary smartphone app to notify people if they have been exposed to someone with the coronavirus, a step toward potentially taking the technology statewide.

MI COVID Alert, which is available for download, is starting as pilot in the Lansing area. A person testing positive for the virus is given a PIN by contact tracers that allows them to share their result anonymously on the app, which uses cellphone location information and Bluetooth technology.

Michigan’s chief health officer warned Tuesday that the state could be beginning a second wave of the coronavirus as cases rise along with the number of people in hospitals.

Michigan had 89 new cases per 1 million people per day, up from 81.6 cases last week, the health department said.

About 700 people with COVID-19 were in hospitals, up about 20% from last week. The rate of positive tests has ticked up to 3.6% from 3.4%. It was under 3% in June.

Snow days may no longer be needed for school districts across Michigan as many students are learning online amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Many people wonder if virtual instruction will take the place of snow days since schools are already offering classes online, MLive.com reported.

A week after Michigan's Supreme Court ruled Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lacks the authority to act unilaterally to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the state health department has issued its own emergency order keeping much of the restrictions she imposed in place. The order Friday from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon comes under the state's Public Health Code. Michigan Supreme Court justices in a 4-3 vote last week declared the 1945 law repeatedly used by Whitmer, a Democrat, to respond to the coronavirus pandemic unconstitutional.

Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature have spent about $542,000 suing Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over her use of emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate and House released the figure to a liberal group, Progress Michigan, last week. It was the same day the state Supreme Court ruled against the governor in a similar lawsuit to the Legislature's. The Whitmer administration has quickly reinstituted a mask requirement and gathering limits under a law that's not an issue in the legal challenges.

Michigan's health chief says he has "broad" legal authority to curb the coronavirus. Robert Gordon, director of the Department of Health and Human Services, on Tuesday issued additional orders reinstituting restrictions negated by a state Supreme Court ruling and requiring schools to notify the public of infections. He told local health departments to inform K-12 schools within 24 hours of learning of a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19. A school must post it on its website.