LANSING, MI – Sparrow strongly supports the new executive order announced Sunday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that seeks to curtail the surge of COVID-19 cases flooding the state.

The order -- which limits indoor residential gatherings, restrict bars and restaurants to outdoor dining/carryout/delivery, and mandates remote learning for colleges and high schools – is critical in addressing the surge of cases, said James F. Dover, President and CEO of Sparrow Health System. Sparrow, like hospitals throughout the state, is experiencing a record number of positive COVID-19 patients and our testing facilities are facing extraordinary demand.

“We urge all Michiganders to follow the new order and adapt these very necessary preventative measures,” Dover said. “Our frontline caregivers are facing incredible demands to respond to this pandemic and need everyone’s support to get it under control.

“You can start with a very simple step that we have been repeating throughout Sparrow: Wear a mask. Save a life. When you wear a mask, you are showing that you support our healthcare heroes.”

Dover recently addressed the recent surge in a video to the Sparrow community. You can see it here: 

Sparrow has been a national leader in COVID-19 testing, having processed over 250,000 COVID-19 tests and becoming one of the first hospitals in Michigan to offer tests for patients. In response to the extraordinary demand, effective today, Monday, Nov. 16, Sparrow will require patients seeking a COVID-19 test to receive a test order in advance through a qualified medical provider or by completing the MySparrow app process. For more information, go to Sparrow.org/SparrowForward.

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Sparrow Health System is Mid-Michigan’s premier healthcare organization and includes hospitals in Lansing, Carson City, Charlotte, Ionia and St. Johns, as well as Sparrow Specialty Hospital, Physicians Health Plan, Sparrow Care Network, Sparrow Medical Group, Michigan Athletic Club, and Al!VE. Sparrow is affiliated with Michigan Medicine through the Sparrow Children’s Center and with Michigan State University’s three human health colleges. Through these partnerships and the dedication of our 10,000 caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and patient experience. For more information, visit Sparrow.org.