Whitmer Holds Coronavirus News Conference Wednesday: Livestream

LANSING, MI — Michigan officials are holding a news conference Wednesday to update residents on how the state is handling the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will be joined by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at the news conference, which is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

The news conference will be livestreamed here via the governor's official YouTube channel.

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The latest coronavirus data provided by state health officials shows that more than 582,000 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Michigan as of Tuesday. The death toll in the state is over 15,300.

Whitmer's news conference is scheduled for the day after the state announced it was launching a pilot program that aims to remove barriers for adults 60 and older from getting their COVID-19 vaccines.

Michigan providers federally enrolled to administer doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can apply for the program by Monday and, if accepted into the community outreach pilot, can request up to 2,500 additional doses of coronavirus vaccine to help remove barriers for those ages 60 and up who are most vulnerable to the effects of the virus, officials said.

The state also is lowering flags through Friday in a move meant to honor the more than 500,000 people across the U.S. who have died from complications with the coronavirus.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's order is in accordance with a proclamation by President Joe Biden. U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and on all public buildings and grounds across the state of Michigan will be lowered to half-staff through Friday and returned to full-staff on Saturday.