Request for records concerning COVID-19 testing availability

Dear Mr. Tidmarsh,

Thank you for your interest in public records of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (hereinafter “Department”).
Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

Any and all digital records (including but not limited to emails, text messages, PDF files, social media posts, etc.) concerning a real or potential shortage of COVID-19 testing supplies in Michigan and/or an estimated timeline on when said COVID-19 testing supplies are expected to be in sufficient supply to meet the general public's demand for COVID-19 testing to the degree necessary to alleviate the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan.

By "COVID-19 testing supplies", I mean any medical supplies necessary for doctors to administer tests to patients either to diagnose the patients with COVID-19, or to determine whether they have already recovered from COVID-19.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Christopher Tidmarsh

Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://accounts.muckrock.com/accounts/login/?url_auth_token=AAAXI7d0muinuu7Av66ltVcuAuk%3A1jQQme%3AQTQpKhuCxXA24Jt09T4T7AYdNnc&next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.muckrock.com%2Faccounts%2Flogin%2F%3Fnext%3D%252Faccounts%252Fagency_login%252Fmichigan-department-of-health-and-human-services-8832%252Frequest-for-records-concerning-covid-19-testing-availability-91891%252F%253Femail%253DMDHHS-foia%252540michigan.gov
Your request has been assigned the following tracking number: H005288-042020. Your request has a legally received date of April 21, 2020. You will receive a response by the Department by April 28, 2020. Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite requests and the time permitted for response by the Department may be extended beyond April 28, 2020 by ten (10) business days.
In accordance with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq, the Department provides copies of existing non-exempt records. Records which are exempt from disclosure under state or federal law will not be provided, or records may be redacted to separate exempt information. The FOIA does not require the Department to create new records or answer queries.

Regards,
Bureau of Legal Affairs,
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

RE: Public Records Request, Reference # H005288-042020

Dear Mr. Tidmarsh,

This notice is issued in response to your request, legally received by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Department) on April 21, 2020, requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.
Due to the Department’s COVID-19 public health response efforts, your FOIA request will not be processed at this time. Pursuant to Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order No. 2020-38, FOIA requests may be deferred when COVID-19 response efforts, including compliance with emergency orders and mitigation recommendations, interfere with the timely processing of FOIA requests. Therefore, your request is deferred to June 4, 2020.
Data related to COVID-19 in Michigan is being published daily at www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. (www.michigan.gov/coronavirus) The Department’s FOIA policies and procedures are available at Policies and Procedures. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=bQH7YI59fmjg-2BFK-2B4CL7ZCVnF2IEzbUouc6c6qyDFhOfcjor9BO5ssg-2BBD5qDymA80JhsdLCAFRqPpbsGMrQaZru9-2B8KqicHNxhrFA7orjc-3Dgqvw_QSPp-2FT42sMrtSulMNKJ5S72-2F89nBI4TbYJeozQ6wXUIfbt-2FRUsrPaOz3aGqWJJLE9ZHUHhj2a5K02O24sLzW6sqIEi-2BAJ1af4ZosUyCgkjRl2-2FacanxDEubYpoLAXytfZdCLT34WPpR7k3y3l0Zg8KtJcaeDgFvRArgp1a185PpHG9cwMyMGgFAPViT3VrJ4YpsMqUKQF7MLO0gBjHaU2yt0EArI1HLLhqfSXKbS1otVUOWVClZneHYzchGxgnvoAXYbWKEmfkcNTibUktoAzpAmNvmMM0i4qkj8JiV0n8-2FjuqxV4ZccfQuNVU2KBAjap8xxT4YjO56FKuH-2Bc6kXJ5XIHWrtiSrqsn1mW8T1LM52eM1MjLQD1AQpM45eoHvV5oznnowwlEvDP46zBeTMXSeqPDyiCiglwTupMI4EV6Y-3D) Sincerely,

Bureau of Legal Affairs

RE: Public Records Request, Reference # H005288-042020

Dear Mr. Tidmarsh,

This notice is issued in response to your request, legally received by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Department) on April 21, 2020, requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq.

Your request is granted as to existing nonexempt records.

The Department has estimated the cost for searching, retrieval, and review of the requested records and separation of exempt and nonexempt information. The estimated cost of your FOIA request as well as the required deposit is stated in the invoice located in the MDHHS Public Records Center, where you may pay your invoice and deposit online. Upon payment of the deposit the Department will process your request. The required deposit must be received within 48 days from the date of this communication; otherwise, your request will be considered abandoned. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HXJ0DYcKMMuT0Y0ZAtmIfibtfCoFlfOz5uBzUuPCfXl1Bg8vvUmpXfrVBD2OzXCXkDZauZELZArrYCgNCHeIPbI-3DecHR_QSPp-2FT42sMrtSulMNKJ5S72-2F89nBI4TbYJeozQ6wXUIfbt-2FRUsrPaOz3aGqWJJLE9ZHUHhj2a5K02O24sLzW6thl0o3FxxyVYwyrv-2FiI-2B8IZebB9aANimdSlCRB4xLsMpg8BRSa7d127JrMGdOXXxKXdL28baBiegPbz9nVlX4yek-2FH-2Br3vQBOy-2BksACYIBGMPQMJPIan-2F1-2F07myknIJRbGl1UyomxaV-2FL-2BavKFdBb-2BtwDne7LGhSKYzhpE5YJDzeSflBtBotDDDhwvN4QmjQbp8kGej9Zz67J3MDPZQLgZKWG0d6tOHUXw7lkDkimtuvX6qivAJUePLzCehjZe544PyZU-2BrFYBbUdcKl0b7QswV9MS2dX52fcwR7kckgYlCW1dl8oP0AtpuAmVte-2FMGiw-3D-3D)

The Department’s best effort estimate for time to complete your request is thirty business days from the date the deposit is received. Once your FOIA request has been processed the Department will send you a final invoice, which may be more or less than the estimate. Payment must be received in full before records will be provided.

The Department’s FOIA policies and procedures are available at Policies and Procedures. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=bQH7YI59fmjg-2BFK-2B4CL7ZCVnF2IEzbUouc6c6qyDFhOfcjor9BO5ssg-2BBD5qDymA80JhsdLCAFRqPpbsGMrQaZru9-2B8KqicHNxhrFA7orjc-3Dzdln_QSPp-2FT42sMrtSulMNKJ5S72-2F89nBI4TbYJeozQ6wXUIfbt-2FRUsrPaOz3aGqWJJLE9ZHUHhj2a5K02O24sLzW6thl0o3FxxyVYwyrv-2FiI-2B8IZebB9aANimdSlCRB4xLsMpg8BRSa7d127JrMGdOXXxKXdL28baBiegPbz9nVlX4yek-2FH-2Br3vQBOy-2BksACYIBGMPQMJPIan-2F1-2F07myknIJRbGl1UyomxaV-2FL-2BavKFdBb-2BtwDne7LGhSKYzhpE5YJDzWBaSD-2FRRwAP5wk7FrrfSVgU-2FAmZpvk8I6ZFfm9dDJ-2FwuW2VYkSH1mFikFXEv8SvevtJIxUmAKJVhf2faKZiVQs1SAyVdc2mhqZY7pz4Nallu4s4DOr-2BoeNpIFjNP8b6elk9cRK7IDDuHF40-2FzY2Nkg-3D-3D)

Sincerely,

Bureau of Legal Affairs