Great news! The Vaccination plan has expanded towards food workers!
Michigan is aware of how vital food processing and agricultural workers are, and in turn, has prioritized food processing and agricultural workers in phase 1B that also includes teachers, corrections staff, and prioritized frontline responders. The public announcement was first released by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Press Release on February 15th. According to the release, they state, “By March 1, 2021, all areas of the state may, as vaccine supplies are available, also implement vaccination of people who are frontline essential workers in the food processing and agricultural industries.”
This is great news, especially considering they were previously on schedule to receive the COVID-19 vaccination in a tier closer to May. With a hospitality industry that is struggling to stay afloat at 25% capacity with a deadline that’s been extended to March 29th, this is a step in a positive direction towards getting the industry back on its feet. There’s still a ways to go though, and the MDHHS is updating the public on current COVID cases in the state.
Stay Smart. Stay Safe. @MichiganHHS reports today, Feb. 24, 2021, 1,245 new COVID-19 cases & 9 deaths. Michigan’s total cases are now 583,964 & 15,405 deaths. Find the latest data & #COVID19 news at https://t.co/niRBexCYOy. #MaskUpMichigan pic.twitter.com/MMcBQcvfId
— Michigan.gov (@migov) February 24, 2021
Earlier this month, Mayor Duggan made the public statement to expand the eligibility of hospitality workers as well. He said, “This new expansion potential allows even more Detroiters and essential workers greater access to the vaccination and hopefully keeps another group of frontline workers protected from this terrible disease.” As of now, people living and working in Detroit can schedule their vaccination test by calling 313-230-0505. This new expansion covers restaurant employees, grocery store workers, meat packing, and food and beverage handling employees.
[featured image by lambros lyrarakis via Unsplash]