COVID-19 and Variants - NIH State Guidance

To Whom It May Concern:

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

- Copies of any emails, data, statistics, scientific models, policy guidance, and/or public health guidance related to COVID-19 or any of its variants (including but not limited to the Delta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Iota, Eta, Zeta, Kappa, and Epsilon variants) provided by the NIH and/or its related institutes and centers to any State of Michigan public health official or government official beginning today (7/28/2021) until the officially declared end of the pandemic.

Because the requested information is part of a rapidly developing ongoing public health crisis, I ask that the requested information be provided to me on a regular rolling basis as it is provided to state officials.

E-mail addresses to include in your search should include, but not be limited to, the following individuals:

- Gretchen Whitmer: WhitmerG1@michigan.gov
- Mark Totten: TottenM1@michigan.gov
- Dana Nessel: dananessel@gmail.com, miag@michigan.gov
- Elizabeth Hertel: HertelE@michigan.gov
- Tricia Foster: FosterT13@michigan.gov
- Joanna Huls: HulsJ1@michigan.gov
- Any other email addresses ending with the domain michigan.gov

I am willing to pay up to $25 for the requested information. If there is a fee that exceeds that amount, please notify me prior to initiating work on the request.

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

In order to help determine my status to assess fees, you should know that I am a freelance journalist whose work has been regularly published by print and digital news outlets and magazines in Michigan and in other states. You can view my portfolio at www.erinmariemiller.com/journalism.

Disclosure of the requested information to me is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in my commercial interest.

Because this request is being made as part of a news-gathering effort with a high likelihood of publication, I request a waiver of all fees.
 If a fee waiver is not granted, I am willing to pay up to $25 for the requested information. If the fee for this request exceeds this amount, please notify me in writing prior to beginning work on the 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 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Erin Marie Miller