Michigan - Coronavirus COVID-19

[BetteDavisEyes]

Detroit public schools to require masks indoors, weekly testing for staff (detroitnews.com)

Detroit Public Schools Community District students and staff will have to wear masks this fall regardless of their vaccination status and employees will have to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing, according to a return to school plan adopted Tuesday by the school board.

Detroit Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti detailed the protocols Wednesday morning as well as the district's spending plan for $1.2 billion in federal COVID aid. With the school board's formal adoption of the plan, Vitti said, there's "more clarity on what the return looks like."

Vitti told the virtual audience of about 100 people that he will spend this week and next on a series of engagement sessions on expectations for the fall. District principals will run the same type of sessions with staff and students to break down the return policies including temperature checks, cafeteria rules and other COVID-19 protocols...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Tracking Michigan school districts, colleges requiring masks for 2021-2022 school year (clickondetroit.com)

Individual Michigan school districts to decide if masks are required or not

We’re tracking which Michigan school districts and colleges are requiring face masks to be worn during the upcoming school year amid the ongoing COVID pandemic.

The CDC is recommending that all students and school staff wear face masks, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has done the same. However, no sweeping mask mandates have been made at the federal or state level for K-12 students or college students.

The Michigan State Board of Education voted to allow individual school districts to respond to the pandemic as they deem necessary, which includes the authority to mandate masks, or not to, in their district...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan pediatricians call for universal masking in schools, preschools (detroitnews.com)

Lansing — An association that features more than 1,500 Michigan pediatricians is recommending that everyone older than the age of 2 wear masks in schools this fall regardless of their vaccination status.

The Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics issued the guidance on Thursday amid increases in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations that could mark the beginning of a fourth surge in the state. Meanwhile, most Michigan schools will reopen for their new year in the coming weeks, spurring debates about mask and vaccination policies.

“The recommendation for universal masking of all children older than 2 years is one of multiple measures to reduce transmission in the school setting," said Dr. Sharon Swindell, a pediatrician and past president of the academy's Michigan chapter. "Currently, children under age 12 do not have the option to be vaccinated, vaccination rates remain low in 12-18 year-olds, some members of the school community cannot be vaccinated due to underlying medical and immune system conditions."...

 

[musicaljoke]

Michigan board of education clash over mask rules during meeting (clickondetroit.com)

Some for, some against requiring children to wear masks at school

As K-12 schools prepare to resume in-person learning in Michigan and across the nation this fall, many are discussing whether children should be required to wear face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that all students and school staff wear face masks. In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her chief medical officer, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, are also recommending that face coverings are worn this fall.

But their recommendations are not mandates, and face masks are not currently required for children at Michigan or U.S. schools...

Michigan Board of Education OKs local school district control of masking rules (detroitnews.com)

Let the games begin! Things are going to get ugly as the school year commences.

What a shame. Kids are traumatized enough by all of this. They don't need to be the object of irresponsible leadership.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan pediatricians call for universal masking in schools, preschools (detroitnews.com)

Lansing — An association that features more than 1,500 Michigan pediatricians is recommending that everyone older than the age of 2 wear masks in schools this fall regardless of their vaccination status.

The Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics issued the guidance on Thursday amid increases in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations that could mark the beginning of a fourth surge in the state. Meanwhile, most Michigan schools will reopen for their new year in the coming weeks, spurring debates about mask and vaccination policies.

“The recommendation for universal masking of all children older than 2 years is one of multiple measures to reduce transmission in the school setting," said Dr. Sharon Swindell, a pediatrician and past president of the academy's Michigan chapter. "Currently, children under age 12 do not have the option to be vaccinated, vaccination rates remain low in 12-18 year-olds, some members of the school community cannot be vaccinated due to underlying medical and immune system conditions."...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

MDHHS - MDHHS updates school guidance and strongly recommends universal masking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (michigan.gov)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 13, 2021
Contact: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112

LANSING, Mich. - Today, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued updated recommendations for schools designed to help prevent transmission of COVID-19 within school buildings, reduce disruptions to in-person learning and help protect vulnerable individuals and individuals who are not fully vaccinated. Because many students have yet to be vaccinated and students under age 12 are not yet eligible, layered prevention measures, including universal masking, must be put in place for consistent in-person learning to keep kids, staff and families safe.

The guidance has been updated to reflect the most current recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on masking and prevention strategies to help operate schools more safely. Mask use has been proven to substantially reduce transmission in school settings.

"We are committed to ensuring Michigan students and educators are safe in the classroom, including those who may not yet be vaccinated," said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS. "MDHHS is issuing this guidance to help protect Michiganders of all ages. We continue to urge all eligible residents to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible as it is our best defense against the virus and the way we are going to end this pandemic."...

 

[ilovewings]

COVID hospitalizations in Oakland County show significant increase but not at critical point – The Oakland Press

There has been a significant increase in Covid Cases in hospitals in Oakland County, but not at a critical point.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Duggan rolls out plan to offer Detroiters third vaccine dose (detroitnews.com)

Detroit — The city's largest vaccination site, the TCF Center, will reopen its drive-thru operations beginning Tuesday to offer a third shot of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to residents who are immunocompromised, Mayor Mike Duggan announced.

Duggan said Detroit will offer the booster shot following new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Late Friday the CDC approved the use of third shots of Pfizer's and Modera's COVID-19 vaccines to Americans who may be more vulnerable to the virus. The one-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine has not been approved for an additional booster dose.

Vulnerable patients have been shown to maintain a high level of immunity against the virus after receiving the third shot...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan Medicine: No visitors allowed in adult emergency room as COVID cases rise (clickondetroit.com)

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

COVID hospitalizations in Oakland County show significant increase but not at critical point – The Oakland Press

There has been a significant increase in Covid Cases in hospitals in Oakland County, but not at a critical point.

I'm afraid that Covid cases are going to rise when schools reopen. Most local districts, as well as private and parochial schools, will welcome students back August 23, August 30, or September 7. Whether or not students and teachers should wear masks is already a major issue, and I expect problems to escalate once children are back in the classroom. I also think there will be an uptick in Covid cases by the end of September. JMO

 

[ilovewings]

Michigan Medicine: No visitors allowed in adult emergency room as COVID cases rise (clickondetroit.com)

I fear things are going to get much worse before they get better.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan Republicans oppose mask requirements as schools reopen (detroitnews.com)

Lansing — High-profile Michigan Republicans are pushing against mask requirements at schools this fall despite recommendations from public health experts that the policies will help combat the spread of COVID-19.

On Monday night, Meshawn Maddock, co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, issued a statement that said parents know what's best for their children. And in an interview this week with Jackson TV, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, a Republican from Clarklake, labeled mask mandates at schools the "dumbest thing" that could be done.

"There's no reason to have mask mandates in schools," Shirkey said. "I think parents should absolutely make the decision on whether they want their kids to be masked up in schools. But there should be zero mask mandates for schools."...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Michigan health chief: School mask mandate could help stop spread of COVID-19 this fall (clickondetroit.com)

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun says she has recommended statewide school mask mandate be implemented

Michigan’s health chief said if the state did issue a school masks mandate, and it was followed, then the spread of COVID-19 could be mitigated this fall as students and teachers return to in-person classrooms.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state’s chief medical executive, spoke during a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) COVID data news conference on Wednesday. She said MDHHS is aware it is legally allowed to implement a school mask mandate, “but the governor and the director have not made that determination.” Khaldun was asked whether she has specifically recommended a statewide school mask mandate to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state health Director Elizabeth Hertel.

“I have recommended (to them) that if a mask mandate were in place and it were followed it would likely decrease the spread of COVID-19 in schools,” said Khaldun...

Khaldun says school mask mandate would likely reduce COVID spread (detroitnews.com)

 

[musicaljoke]

Michigan Republicans oppose mask requirements as schools reopen (detroitnews.com)

Lansing — High-profile Michigan Republicans are pushing against mask requirements at schools this fall despite recommendations from public health experts that the policies will help combat the spread of COVID-19.

On Monday night, Meshawn Maddock, co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, issued a statement that said parents know what's best for their children. And in an interview this week with Jackson TV, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, a Republican from Clarklake, labeled mask mandates at schools the "dumbest thing" that could be done.

"There's no reason to have mask mandates in schools," Shirkey said. "I think parents should absolutely make the decision on whether they want their kids to be masked up in schools. But there should be zero mask mandates for schools."...

I expect that people have forgotten that masks prevent the spread of covid, not so much by protecting the wearer, but by preventing the wearer from spewing virus when an infected person talks, sneezes, sings, coughs, etc. The wearer may be asymptomatic.

That's a fact which was explained at the beginning of the pandemic, and has never changed.

 

[MrX]

I expect that people have forgotten that masks prevent the spread of covid, not so much by protecting the wearer, but by preventing the wearer from spewing virus when an infected person talks, sneezes, sings, coughs, etc. The wearer may be asymptomatic.

That's a fact which was explained at the beginning of the pandemic, and has never changed.

I think part of the problem is that was based on Covid acting like the flu - large, heavy droplets that quickly fell to the ground. This may explain why the flu totally disappeared, while Covid flourished. No one would use a cloth or medical mask when working with a dangerous aerosol, yet are OK using them for a deadly aerosol pathogen. Seems like the messaging should have changed, long ago, to using proper masks to protect the wearer.

On the flip side, Nevada's numbers seemed to improve after mask mandate was reinstated. Interesting to see what happens in Chicago, now that they have joined the club.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I don't anticipate another wide-spread mask mandate in Michigan. Individual schools/school districts might issue mask mandates for students, teachers, and other school personnel, but the orders will not come from the Governor's office. Some businesses are encouraging patrons to wear masks, but there are no mandates. Business closures, lockdowns, and mask mandates were not popular in many areas of the state and proved to be very divisive. I don't think anyone wants to go through that again. I certainly don't.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Central Michigan University students, staff must be vaccinated or test weekly (detroitnews.com)

Central Michigan University announced Thursday that all students, faculty and staff must either provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination by Sept. 3 or begin participating in weekly testing for the virus.

Previously, the Mount Pleasant-based university had encouraged students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated but had not set any requirements...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

School mask debate gets heated in Macomb County (clickondetroit.com)

Parents debate whether to mandate masks in schools

ROMEO, Mich. – Parents organizing in the Romeo School District in Macomb County said they are putting pressure on decision makers to mandate masks in schools.

The conversation gets heated when parents who don’t want a mask mandate show up...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

The local Board of Education on which DH served for 7.5 years will have a special meeting tonight to discuss Covid mitigations and mask protocols for Fall 2021. Board meetings are virtual and can be accessed via Zoom. Citizens will have an opportunity to address the Board. Should be interesting.

 

[Cool Cats]

The local Board of Education on which DH served for 7.5 years will have a special meeting tonight to discuss Covid mitigations and mask protocols for Fall 2021. Board meetings are virtual and can be accessed via Zoom. Citizens will have an opportunity to address the Board. Should be interesting.

Lansing Schools Mandate COVID-19 Vaccine For All Teachers, Staff

Michigan State Capitol

So far so good in the Capitol Area Lansing School District.

Students, staff and visitors will all be required to wear masks in district buildings, regardless of vaccination status.

The Lansing school board’s unanimous vote on Thursday to require the vaccinations comes at a contentious time for school districts across the country.

That’s as they grapple with vaccine and mask mandates and potential pushback from families.

Lansing Superintendent Ben Shuldiner calls the decision “courageous and correct.”

While there’s been almost no outward, organized resistance so far, Shuldiner says he realizes not everyone will agree with the mandate.

“There’s always going to be pushback from lots of folks,” says Shuldiner.

“But I have to say that I’ve been really thrilled with the reception this has gotten from the community, especially from parents who are now more at ease about sending their children back into the schools.”

Students, staff and visitors will all be required to wear masks in district buildings, regardless of vaccination status, unless they have a documented exemption.