Michigan - Coronavirus COVID-19

[BetteDavisEyes]

More than 50% of all Michiganians should mask up inside, CDC says

Newly released data from the CDC show that more than 80% of all Michiganians live in places with "high" or "medium" COVID community transmission.

www.detroitnews.com

...Across the state, 16 counties — including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and many others near heavily-populated Metro Detroit — are now in "high" community levels, a CDC classification to show where COVID cases and hospitalizations have risen to the point that people are recommended to wear masks indoors. The city of Detroit is also at a high level, the city health department said.

Last week, only one county was considered to be at a high community level: Grand Traverse in the northern lower peninsula. Nearly every county spent most of April in the "low" category.

Another 28 counties are considered to be "medium" community levels, where people are advised to test for infections before socializing with those who may be more susceptible to severe COVID illness and to wear a mask around them. Those 28 counties account for another 30% of all Michiganians...

 

[ilovewings]

More than 50% of all Michiganians should mask up inside, CDC says

Newly released data from the CDC show that more than 80% of all Michiganians live in places with "high" or "medium" COVID community transmission.

www.detroitnews.com

...Across the state, 16 counties — including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and many others near heavily-populated Metro Detroit — are now in "high" community levels, a CDC classification to show where COVID cases and hospitalizations have risen to the point that people are recommended to wear masks indoors. The city of Detroit is also at a high level, the city health department said.

Last week, only one county was considered to be at a high community level: Grand Traverse in the northern lower peninsula. Nearly every county spent most of April in the "low" category.

Another 28 counties are considered to be "medium" community levels, where people are advised to test for infections before socializing with those who may be more susceptible to severe COVID illness and to wear a mask around them. Those 28 counties account for another 30% of all Michiganians...

Wore a mask today for the first time in a month and a half---

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Ferndale Public Schools resumes mask mandate Monday

The order is reinstated after Oakland County entered the 'high transmission' category for COVID-19, the district said Friday.

www.detroitnews.com

As COVID-19 cases rise again across Michigan and Metro Detroit, Ferndale Public Schools announced Friday it is reinstating a mask mandate.

"To ensure we are doing everything we can do to keep our students and staff healthy and our schools open, we will be mandating masks (indoors only) for all students and staff as of Monday," the district said in a statement on its website.

The order resumes after Oakland County entered the "high transmission" category for the virus, according to the notice...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Ford reinstating mask mandate at facilities in areas with ‘high’ COVID risk

Ford Motor Company employees and visitors will once again be required to wear face masks at facilities that are in regions identified as having a high COVID risk, officials said Saturday.

www.clickondetroit.com

A temporary face mask mandate is taking effect at Ford facilities in Metro Detroit as a number of Southeastern Michigan counties have been labeled as experiencing “high” community COVID transmission by the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC).

“The health and safety of our workforce is our top priority as we continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation,” said Kelli Felker, Ford spokesperson. “We are temporarily reinstating a face mask requirement at all Ford facilities located in areas that the CDC has classified as orange/high-risk due increased COVID-19 cases which currently impacts Wayne, Washtenaw, and Macomb counties.”...

 

[ilovewings]

343 infected with COVID across Michigan’s latest school outbreaks

The largest new outbreak involved 62 students and staff who tested positive for COVID-19.

www.mlive.com

 

[ilovewings]

40 COVID-19 cases now linked to Mackinac Policy Conference

Numbers climbed Tuesday after the event last week where masks were not required.

www.detroitnews.com

Who is surprised that positive covid cases came from this large conference in Mackinac Island? I am sure there are many more that are more positives that are not being reported: Let's see: lots of people indoors not masking up during a pandemic-- hmmmm- what could possibly go wrong?

As a country we are now pretending there is no pandemic--- the problem with that is that people are still being hospitalized and some dying----right now, not in great numbers, thank goodness.

My dear husband pointed the above article to me (which I was already aware of) and said, oh, Covid these days, after being vaccinated, is nothing more than like a little flu, you know, some sneezing and coughing. I said: good luck with that - WE ARE ELDERLY- what don't you understand- for us, there is a very good chance we could get very sick with Covid-- even die, and possibly wind up with Long Covid- you don't want this virus! I have to constantly remind him that we remain in the vulnerable category with respect to this virus. He did get his 2nd booster, I have not so far.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

CDC recommends masking in Metro Detroit due to ‘high’ COVID spread

People are recommended to mask up in several Metro Detroit counties that are currently experiencing a high level of COVID-19 community spread, according to the CDC.

www.clickondetroit.com

DETROIT – People are recommended to mask up in several Metro Detroit counties that are currently experiencing a high level of COVID-19 community spread, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Wayne and Washtenaw counties have all been listed under a “high” COVID-19 community level as of Friday, July 29, by the CDC, which tracks virus spread at the county level across the U.S. Counties considered to have high community spread are urged to wear face masks when indoors in public and when taking public transportation to help prevent transmission...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Governor Whitmer Statement on Testing Positive for COVID-19

www.michigan.gov

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

University of Michigan: Most older adults plan to get updated COVID-19 booster this fall

Most older adults who have already received a COVID-19 vaccine dose will get fall booster shot, says U-M poll.

www.clickondetroit.com

ANN ARBOR – Updated COVID-19 vaccines that have been formulated to protect against new variants of the virus could soon be available in the U.S.

According to a new poll by the University of Michigan, 61% of people over the age of 50 who have already received at least one jab are very likely to get the updated booster.

The poll also suggests that health care providers could sway more members of this population to seek out the new vaccine -- with 77% of older adults reporting their doctor’s recommendation is somewhat to very important to them...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan residents can request 5 free COVID tests right now: Here’s how

All Michigan households are eligible to request free COVID tests through a partnership with the state’s health department.

www.clickondetroit.com

All Michigan households are eligible to request free COVID tests through a partnership with the state’s health department.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced the availability of an additional 289,000 COVID-19 tests through its expanded partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation through Project Act.

The expansion will provide COVID-19 tests to 58,000 households located anywhere in the state free of charge. Households will receive one kit containing five tests...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/03/09/experts-learn-lessons-as-covid-19-becomes-michigans-no-3-leading-killer/69977802007/

Michigan's medical and public health experts say they have learned valuable lessons after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic that give them hope for the future, as cases have declined in recent weeks while the virus has become the third leading killer in the state.

COVID has sickened more than 3 million people across a state of a little more than 10 million residents — though some of those are repeat cases. More than 42,200 people have died, or roughly every one in every 239 people. COVID is the third-leading cause of death in Michigan, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, behind only cancer and heart disease.

Michigan's first two presumptive positive cases of the disease caused by the virus were confirmed by the state Bureau of Laboratories on March 10, 2020, as the state held a presidential primary. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency later the same day...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Most Michigan health systems to drop masking mandates

Most major health systems in Michigan are switching to optional masking protocols, more than three years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

www.clickondetroit.com

“COVID-19 has become an illness that, in most cases, will be treated like other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu. The virus will likely remain for years to come,” Corewell said in a press release.

All health systems will continue to provide stations with free masks and hand sanitizer at entrances for patients, visitors and team members who choose to use them. Patients can also ask their care teams to wear masks. Masking guidelines could be adjusted again if COVID-19, flu or any other virus begins to spread rapidly in the community...

Major Michigan health systems relax masking policies

Starting Friday, masking will be optional for patients and staff at most Corewell Health, Detroit Medical Center and Henry Ford Health facilities.

www.detroitnews.com

Michigan's major health systems are relaxing their masking policies and making them optional in most areas under updated policies that go into effect Friday or early next week, three years after the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Thirteen health systems are making changes to their masking policies, according to a press release Thursday distributed by Corewell Health, although the details of the changes vary by hospital...

 

[ilovewings]

Most Michigan health systems to drop masking mandates

Most major health systems in Michigan are switching to optional masking protocols, more than three years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

www.clickondetroit.com

“COVID-19 has become an illness that, in most cases, will be treated like other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu. The virus will likely remain for years to come,” Corewell said in a press release.

All health systems will continue to provide stations with free masks and hand sanitizer at entrances for patients, visitors and team members who choose to use them. Patients can also ask their care teams to wear masks. Masking guidelines could be adjusted again if COVID-19, flu or any other virus begins to spread rapidly in the community...

Major Michigan health systems relax masking policies

Starting Friday, masking will be optional for patients and staff at most Corewell Health, Detroit Medical Center and Henry Ford Health facilities.

www.detroitnews.com

Michigan's major health systems are relaxing their masking policies and making them optional in most areas under updated policies that go into effect Friday or early next week, three years after the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Thirteen health systems are making changes to their masking policies, according to a press release Thursday distributed by Corewell Health, although the details of the changes vary by hospital...

The Henry Ford Health System still requires masking, at least as of last week.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

Today we were at the U of M Cancer Center for Mr. Pirates check up. No more masks. Some staff still had masks on but it was not required of patients.
Personally, we are glad not to have to mask. We have back to our pre pandemic life for over two years.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

Today we were at the U of M Cancer Center for Mr. Pirates check up. No more masks. Some staff still had masks on but it was not required of patients.
Personally, we are glad not to have to mask. We have back to our pre pandemic life for over two years.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I wonder what individual physicians in private practice will do? I've always had to wear a mask in various doctors' offices and wonder whether or not these policies will also change. Regardless, I always have a mask in my purse and would not think of leaving home without one.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Oakland University rescinds COVID vaccine mandate

Oakland, which has 15,000 students, is the latest Michigan university to rescind its COVID vaccine mandate. The change went into effect Monday.

www.detroitnews.com

Oakland University has rescinded its requirement that all students, faculty and staff be vaccinated for COVID-19, joining other Michigan universities that have scaled back or eliminated their virus vaccination requirements.

The change, which school officials announced in late March and went into effect Monday, is based on declining infection rates and other factors. President Joe Biden has announced that the federal government's COVID emergency declaration ends May 11.

"The (university's) Executive Policy Group has decided to implement this change following a careful review of pandemic conditions across the region by the Infection Prevention and Control Committee," said the university in a March press release. "This work has revealed strong COVID-19 vaccination rates, as well as a declining number of infections, severe illnesses and deaths as a result of the pandemic."...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/05/09/what-changes-are-ahead-for-michigan-as-end-of-covid-emergency-approaches/70184182007/

As the end of the federal COVID-19 health emergency approaches Thursday, Michigan's health providers, government and business officials are sorting out what policies will change as the deadly virus that terrified the nation three years ago gets treated as a more standard disease.

Michigan residents will find that insurers will start to apply standard co-pays to COVID testing done by health care providers, while over-the-counter tests won't be covered by insurance. The state Department of Health and Human Services plans to continue providing free tests to the public through a special program. Vaccines are still expected to be provided for free.

The end of the health emergency means that COVID will look more like any other illness: Sick individuals will start by going to their primary care physician to get authorized for testing or treatment instead of going to nearly any pharmacy or medical office, said Brian Miller, deputy director of the Michigan Association of Health Plans, the industry group representing most health insurers in the state.

"It's a matter of understanding where those services are covered now," Miller said. "It's a bit more like standard protocol."...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan didn't have power to issue some COVID-19 restaurants restrictions, court finds

The Michigan Court of Appeals said the state health department did not have the authority to issue some COVID-19 restrictions.

www.detroitnews.com

The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the state health department did not have the power to order restrictions on indoor dining and other areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the health department's ability to issue such orders is an "an unconstitutional delegation of legislative power."

The appeal stems from a complaint filed in the Michigan Court of Claims in April 2021 after the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued an order in March 2021 that restricted gatherings during a surge in COVID-19 cases in the state.

"The reach of the Order again was near total and severely curtailed all business within the state, and again effectively shut down a large portion of the restaurant business," Court of Appeals Judge Michael Gadola wrote in a 2-1 ruling. "The Order was an exercise of overwhelmingly broad power, substantial in scope and effect, and affecting virtually every aspect of the daily lives and the livelihoods of the people of Michigan."...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/08/11/michigan-students-rank-4th-highest-in-country-absenteeism-after-covid-study/70560164007/

Michigan students were absent from school in record numbers following the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend that also affected millions of other school children around the nation.

Michigan had the fourth highest rate of K-12 student absenteeism among 40 states and the District of Columbia during the 2021-22 school year, the first full year of in-person instruction after COVID-19 shuttered buildings, according to a new report out of Stanford University in partnership with the Associated Press.

A whopping 38.5% — or 546,622 — of the state's 1.4 million K-12 students missed 10% or more days of school that year. That's a nearly doubling of the pre-pandemic 2018-19 academic year, when 19.7% of students missed that much school...