LANSING, Mich. (WXYZ) — A new online dashboard that visually tracks COVID-19 risks and trends in Michigan launched on Tuesday.
The MI Safe Start Map dashboard was developed in collaboration with the state Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the University of Michigan.
“The most important thing we can do right now is listen to the experts and follow the medical science,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “Our first responders have put their lives on the line during this crisis, and we owe it to them to get this right.
"This dashboard will provide us with the data we need to assess risk in different regions of the state, so we can re-engage our economy safely and deliberately, while working to minimize the risk of a second wave of infections. The whole goal here is to help ensure we keep more people healthy and out of hospitals.”
The data on the COVID-19 dashboard provides the public with death and test data to determine the overall risk and trends.
It will also show visually if the virus is prevalent in a county and whether cases are increasing or decreasing.
“The risk levels tell us whether there is high, medium or low risk of COVID-19 spread in a community and can help highlight areas where more social distancing may be needed or where vulnerable individuals should be particularly careful,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health, state Department of Health and Human Services.
More information on the MI Safe Start Map is online.