Michigan - Coronavirus COVID-19

[Sundog]

Eastern Michigan extends online classes amid fourth wave of COVID-19 (detroitnews.com)

Eastern Michigan University President James Smith announced Tuesday that online class instruction would be extended through Jan. 23 because of the continued spread of COVID-19.

"We did not reach this decision lightly, and did so after carefully evaluating the conditions in our community, rapidly-evolving guidance from government health agencies, and feedback from the EMU Safe Steering Committee," Smith wrote in a message to the campus community.

"We understand that the shift to fully remote classes for two weeks will impose a burden on both instructors and students. We believe, however, that this two-week modification is important to managing the dramatic increase in cases of COVID-19 occurring across the nation, the state, and our region."...

I wonder how parents and students feel about financing a college education that doesn't include in-person instruction?

I suspect many students will like the two week extension of not having to attend classes on campus. Not sure about parents though...

Edited to add: This is probably being driven by the faculty. Jim Smith, their president, had a vote of no confidence in his leadership by the faculty in the fall semester, so I am guessing that might be influencing his decision, since faculty are pushing this on most campuses.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

9 COVID takeaways: ‘This surge is not like the others,’ and where Michigan is heading (clickondetroit.com)

Michigan’s percent positivity rises to 33.2%

LANSING, Mich. – With Michigan in the midst of its most dramatic COVID spike to date, health officials held a briefing to address this surge and talk about where the state is heading.

Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and chief medical executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian spoke during the briefing.

Here are nine takeaways from the briefing...

 

[Sundog]

Eastern Michigan extends online classes amid fourth wave of COVID-19 (detroitnews.com)

Eastern Michigan University President James Smith announced Tuesday that online class instruction would be extended through Jan. 23 because of the continued spread of COVID-19.

"We did not reach this decision lightly, and did so after carefully evaluating the conditions in our community, rapidly-evolving guidance from government health agencies, and feedback from the EMU Safe Steering Committee," Smith wrote in a message to the campus community.

"We understand that the shift to fully remote classes for two weeks will impose a burden on both instructors and students. We believe, however, that this two-week modification is important to managing the dramatic increase in cases of COVID-19 occurring across the nation, the state, and our region."...

I wonder how parents and students feel about financing a college education that doesn't include in-person instruction?

I suspect many students will like the two week extension of not having to attend classes on campus. Not sure about parents though...

Edited to add: I suspect this is being driven by faculty, since most faculty across the country don't want to teach in person right now due to omicron. And President Jim Smith had a vote of no confidence in his leadership by the faculty last semester, so I am guessing that this has influenced his decision regarding their requests/demands this semester.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan voters support mask mandates, not showing vaccination proof, Detroit News/WDIV poll finds

Nearly two years into the pandemic, Michigan voters still support requiring people to wear masks indoors in public spaces, but they oppose making people show proof of vaccination to enter public venues, according to a Detroit News-WDIV survey.

The poll results come amid a staggering surge in COVID-19 cases in Michigan and hospitalizations nearing 4,700 — the highest in the pandemic so far — with state health officials warning Tuesday that the worsening trend could have severe consequences for the state's hospital system.

Sixty-three percent of likely Michigan voters said they back an indoor mask mandate, with 30% opposed, according to a survey of 600 likely Michigan voters conducted Jan. 3-7 by the Glengariff Group. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

But 52% of those surveyed said they're against showing proof of vaccination to gain access to indoor venues such as restaurants, bars, theaters or sports events, with 40% in support of such rules...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

49 things Henry Ford Health leaders said about current COVID situation in Michigan (clickondetroit.com)

Hundreds of Henry Ford hospital employees out due to COVID

DETROIT – Henry Ford Hospital officials spoke Thursday about COVID in Michigan, providing an update on the rapid spread of omicron and revealing that there are both hundreds of patients hospitalized and hundreds of employees out due to the virus.

Dr. Adnan Munkarah, executive vice president and CCO of Henry Ford Health System, and Bob Riney, president of health care operations and COO at Henry Ford, spoke during the briefing.

Here are the main takeaways from Munkarah and Riney...

 

[amandab]

49 things Henry Ford Health leaders said about current COVID situation in Michigan (clickondetroit.com)

Hundreds of Henry Ford hospital employees out due to COVID

DETROIT – Henry Ford Hospital officials spoke Thursday about COVID in Michigan, providing an update on the rapid spread of omicron and revealing that there are both hundreds of patients hospitalized and hundreds of employees out due to the virus.

Dr. Adnan Munkarah, executive vice president and CCO of Henry Ford Health System, and Bob Riney, president of health care operations and COO at Henry Ford, spoke during the briefing.

Here are the main takeaways from Munkarah and Riney...

Interesting. From the article:

"Last week, the highest COVID positivity rate was among people ages 21-30."

and

• "More than 65% of patients in the hospital with COVID are unvaccinated, Munkarah said."
• "More than 90% of patients who are in the hospital with COVID have not had their booster shots."

So is this a group that collectively felt young and healthy and that they didn't need a vaccination?

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Flashpoint interview: Michigan’s chief medical officer discusses omicron, when surge could peak, COVID tests (clickondetroit.com)

‘What they’re really predicting is that we will peak by the end of January, maybe early February’

This week on Flashpoint, the state of Michigan’s chief medical officer Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian discussed the COVID-19 pandemic in our state.

Bagdasarian said the surge of COVID-19 omicron variant is underway in Michigan, but the worst of it could be yet to come.

“Modeling shows that we’re currently experiencing our omicron (variant) surge. We know that just a few weeks ago we were still seeing mostly delta (cases), and omicron has taken over in the state really fairly recently,” she said...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

MDHHS issues order requiring Michigan nursing homes to offer COVID vaccines to residents on site (clickondetroit.com)

Nursing home residents must have option to receive vaccine where they live

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan health officials have issued an epidemic order that requires nursing homes to offer on-site doses of the COVID vaccine to their residents.

“With the omicron variant rapidly spreading across our state and cases of COVID-19 continuing to remain high, we want to make sure our most vulnerable Michiganders are protected from the virus,” said Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. “The COVID-19 vaccine is our best defense against the virus, and we want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to get up to date.”...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Beaumont Health brings in songwriter to tell frontline workers’ stories (clickondetroit.com)

Songs expected to be finished this week

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – While doctors and nurses are still tirelessly working, trying to save lives and heal those with COVID, there’s another group of hospital workers writing songs.

Beaumont Health brought in a songwriter to help tell the stories of what frontline workers have been going through during the pandemic. The goal is to help heal mental health.

In terms of pandemic healing, this might be the strangest, out-of-the-box idea Beaumont has had, but it also might be the most cathartic for their staff...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

‘I’m not getting better’: Man still dealing with symptoms more than a year after getting COVID (clickondetroit.com)

Henry Ford Health System warns of long COVID

DETROIT – Doctors at Henry Ford say now is not the time to let up on COVID precautions.

They also said people should not have the mindset of thinking they’re going to get it anyway.

“We tried to do as much as we could, but we ended up getting it and for me, it never went away,” Jeff Whitmer said.

Jeff Whitmer is experiencing something known as “long COVID.” Jeff and Allison Whitmer got COVID in 2020. While Allison Whitmer recovered within several days, it’s been more than a year and Jeff Whitmer still has symptoms...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Oakland County will end school mask mandate on Feb. 28 (clickondetroit.com)

County says sharp decline in cases major factor

Oakland County health officials announced the county would lift its mask mandate for schools and daycares at the end of the month.

The Oakland County Health Division says it will lift its requirement to wear masks in schools and daycares on Feb. 28. The order obligated educational institutions to require students, teachers, and staff to wear a face covering in order to slow the transmission of COVID-19...

Oakland County lifts student mask mandate; Washtenaw County could decide later Friday (detroitnews.com)

The Oakland County Health Division became the most recent health department Friday to announce the lifting of its mask mandate for students.

Oakland County's decision to lift its school mask requirement — effective Feb. 28 — came after parents from Walled Lake Consolidated Schools sent demand letters to Oakland County officials and school district leaders earlier this week seeking an end to mask mandates and the use of public funds to enforce them.

In its statement announcing the rescission of the mandate, Oakland County said its decision was driven by a "sharp decline" in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, accompanied by a high vaccination rate...

 

[ilovewings]

Oakland County will end school mask mandate on Feb. 28 (clickondetroit.com)

County says sharp decline in cases major factor

Oakland County health officials announced the county would lift its mask mandate for schools and daycares at the end of the month.

The Oakland County Health Division says it will lift its requirement to wear masks in schools and daycares on Feb. 28. The order obligated educational institutions to require students, teachers, and staff to wear a face covering in order to slow the transmission of COVID-19...

Oakland County lifts student mask mandate; Washtenaw County could decide later Friday (detroitnews.com)

The Oakland County Health Division became the most recent health department Friday to announce the lifting of its mask mandate for students.

Oakland County's decision to lift its school mask requirement — effective Feb. 28 — came after parents from Walled Lake Consolidated Schools sent demand letters to Oakland County officials and school district leaders earlier this week seeking an end to mask mandates and the use of public funds to enforce them.

In its statement announcing the rescission of the mandate, Oakland County said its decision was driven by a "sharp decline" in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, accompanied by a high vaccination rate...

Good to hear that Oakland County cases are declining--- Cannot say the same for Florida which is why I have not had my hair done in 7 weeks. The cases here inL ee County remain high with the hospitals filled to capacity.
Thank goodness for wigs!!!!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Good to hear that Oakland County cases are declining--- Cannot say the same for Florida which is why I have not had my hair done in 7 weeks. The cases here inL ee County remain high with the hospitals filled to capacity.
Thank goodness for wigs!!!!

I had scheduled hair and nail appointments for last Wednesday but canceled due to impending snowstorm. Stylist canceled all of her appointments, and nail salon closed early (I canceled). Finally went this past Wednesday: I had not had haircut or mani/pedi since before Thanksgiving. No one wears masks at hair salon, but stylists have been vaccinated. Nail techs always wear masks - even before Covid. During the Omicron surge, I didn't go anywhere unless it was absolutely necessary. I was in desperate need of haircut, manicure, and pedicure and feel human again

 

[Yesiamapirate]

I had scheduled hair and nail appointments for last Wednesday but canceled due to impending snowstorm. Stylist canceled all of her appointments, and nail salon closed early (I canceled). Finally went this past Wednesday: I had not had haircut or mani/pedi since before Thanksgiving. No one wears masks at hair salon, but stylists have been vaccinated. Nail techs always wear masks - even before Covid. During the Omicron surge, I didn't go anywhere unless it was absolutely necessary. I was in desperate need of haircut, manicure, and pedicure and feel human again

I am in Michigan as well. Once I got my vaccines and booster I went back to the salon. I am sure the whole world was glad!
No masks at the salons that I have been to, either.

 

[ilovewings]

I am in Michigan as well. Once I got my vaccines and booster I went back to the salon. I am sure the whole world was glad!
No masks at the salons that I have been to, either.

I cannot bring myself to go to a salon where the stylists don't wear masks---

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Washtenaw County joins Oakland in lifting K-12 mask mandate (detroitnews.com)

The Washtenaw County Health Department joined the Oakland County Health Division, the Benzie Leelanau District Health Department and the Health Department of Northwest Michigan Friday in announcing the end of their mask mandates for students.

The announcement leaves Wayne County as the only county in the state without plans to rescind its K-12 mask mandate.

Washtenaw County said Friday it would lift all of its COVID-19 orders related to K-12 schools — masking and isolation guidelines — starting Feb. 28, the same day Oakland County's rules end...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I am in Michigan as well. Once I got my vaccines and booster I went back to the salon. I am sure the whole world was glad!
No masks at the salons that I have been to, either.

After hearing yesterday that Oakland County is lifting mask mandates in schools, DH and I decided that we will also begin going maskless at the end of the month. We've both continued wearing masks even in venues where they are not required but feel that it will no longer be necessary. Medical facilities will probably continue to require masks for some time, and that is fine. We're both vaccinated/boosted, we eat healthfully, get plenty of rest, and are both in very good health overall. Cases are dropping across the state, and I think that most folks are ready to return to normalcy. JMO

 

[Yesiamapirate]

I cannot bring myself to go to a salon where the stylists don't wear masks---

Wings, you have to do what is right for YOU! Hang in there. If Michigan’s numbers dropped, Florida’s will, too. We are all packed indoors and still see cases dropping fast. You are just a few weeks behind, MOO.
The wig is a good idea. Maybe a nice summer hat? Can you do a home trim until you are comfortable going back?

 

[Yesiamapirate]

Mr Pirate and I stopped wearing masks except where required since the CDC said vaccinated folks could stop wearing them. I know omicron changed the recommendation but we just could not go back.

 

[ilovewings]

Wings, you have to do what is right for YOU! Hang in there. If Michigan’s numbers dropped, Florida’s will, too. We are all packed indoors and still see cases dropping fast. You are just a few weeks behind, MOO.
The wig is a good idea. Maybe a nice summer hat? Can you do a home trim until you are comfortable going back?

I won't be able to trim my hair but I have a great wig and I just ordered another one- but I gotta tell ya, as BettyDavisEyes said: she finally felt human after she got her hair done. Right now I feel really bad about the way my hair looks: Believe me, it ain't a pretty sight!
I just keep hoping the numbers start coming down here!!!!