Holland Reporter

A new website was launched to let Michiganders share their COVID-19 pandemic experiences, and state Rep. Mary Whiteford (R-Casco Township) has encouraged residents to share their stories, according to the Michigan House Republicans website.

The website, MI COVID Story, can be used as a resource for any Michiganders' concern or issues during the pandemic. Residents can detail the experiences and struggles they have endured through the online platform. 

Michigan has been hit hard by the coronavirus and lost more almost 6,000 residents to the virus. While Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's executive orders have been designed to help the state, they have affected residents' livelihoods in various ways, many of which are negative. 

“I’ve heard from countless residents who are unemployed, losing their businesses, unable to access routine health care and more,” Whiteford said to Michigan House Republicans. “This is a fantastic opportunity for those people to have their voices heard by the Legislature’s Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic. I urge everyone with a story to participate.”

MI COVID Story will categorize the stories Michiganders share, according to the press release. Contributors will choose if their experience involves an essential or nonessential business affected by Whitmer's administration and executive orders. Experiences can also be categorized by interactions with state agencies, health care treatment, accessing unemployment benefits, the stay-at-home order and several other options. 

The Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic, which is a bipartisan Senate committee, will work with MI COVID Story to help give legislative oversight to the website. The committee will help evaluate decisions made within the state's administration and departments and help give people a platform to share issues they have come across relating to Whitmer's decisions during the pandemic.