SCHOOL CLOSINGS
University of Michigan announces new COVID policies as federal public health emergency ends
Read full article: University of Michigan announces new COVID policies as federal public health emergency endsHere's what will change for U-M students, faculty and staff moving forward as the school adjusts its pandemic response.
Free home COVID-19 testing kits available for more Washtenaw County communities
Read full article: Free home COVID-19 testing kits available for more Washtenaw County communitiesCommunity members living in the 48197, 48198, 48103, 48104, 48105, 48108, and 48109 zipcode areas can order testing kits once in July and August.
Still waiting on the free at-home COVID tests you ordered from the government? So are many others
Read full article: Still waiting on the free at-home COVID tests you ordered from the government? So are many othersMany people who ordered free at-home COVID tests from the federal government are seeing delivery delays
What happens if the at-home COVID test you get in the mail is frozen? Will it still work?
Read full article: What happens if the at-home COVID test you get in the mail is frozen? Will it still work?Some households in Metro Detroit have started receiving the government’s four free COVID-19 tests being sent out to those who ordered them.
250,000 free COVID tests being sent to Michigan residents -- check if you’re eligible here
Read full article: 250,000 free COVID tests being sent to Michigan residents -- check if you’re eligible hereGov. Gretchen Whitmer and state health officials are shipping 250,000 free COVID tests to Michigan residents.
Lucinda Williams benefit performance at Michigan Theater rescheduled for safety concerns
Read full article: Lucinda Williams benefit performance at Michigan Theater rescheduled for safety concernsOrganized by Acoustic Routes and The Ark, the performance will support The Breakfast at St. Andrew’s during its 40th anniversary.
Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib calls on White House to crack down on COVID test charges
Read full article: Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib calls on White House to crack down on COVID test chargesAs thousands of Metro Detroit residents continue to get tested for COVID, there’s renewed concern over insurance companies attempting to bill patients for tests that are supposed to be free.
Free COVID antigen testing on Saturday for Ann Arbor Public Schools families, staff
Read full article: Free COVID antigen testing on Saturday for Ann Arbor Public Schools families, staffBetween 9 a.m. and noon, the National Guard will be at Pioneer High School helping to test AAPS community members who register for the event.
Flashpoint interview: Michigan’s chief medical officer discusses omicron, when surge could peak, COVID tests
Read full article: Flashpoint interview: Michigan’s chief medical officer discusses omicron, when surge could peak, COVID testsThis week on Flashpoint, the state of Michigan’s chief medical officer Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian discussed the COVID-19 pandemic in our state -- have we seen the worst of it or is it yet to come?
How to avoid at-home COVID test scams as demand skyrockets amid surge in cases
Read full article: How to avoid at-home COVID test scams as demand skyrockets amid surge in casesLocal 4′s Hank Winchester went looking for at-home COVID tests and discovered that while they are hard to find in Metro Detroit, it’s not impossible to find them.
Washtenw County Health Department: Largest number of COVID-19 cases reported in 24 hours on Friday
Read full article: Washtenw County Health Department: Largest number of COVID-19 cases reported in 24 hours on FridayBetween Thursday and Friday, Washtenaw County reported 1,403 COVID-19 cases—the largest number the county has seen within 24 hours since the beginning of the ongoing pandemic.
Detroit mayor announces plan to boost COVID testing efforts amid surge
Read full article: Detroit mayor announces plan to boost COVID testing efforts amid surgeWith COVID-19 spreading rapidly throughout Detroit, Mayor Mike Duggan held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to announce the city’s effort to ramp up virus testing.
Warren Consolidated Schools offers students free COVID tests as omicron variant spreads
Read full article: Warren Consolidated Schools offers students free COVID tests as omicron variant spreadsWhile most Metro Detroit students have already returned from Winter break, Wednesday marks the first day back for Warren Consolidated schools.
Michigan State University to require vaccination proof or negative test for events
Read full article: Michigan State University to require vaccination proof or negative test for eventsMichigan State University now is requiring proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test to attend athletic, music, art and theater events on the East Lansing campus.
Detroit public schools cancel classes Monday-Wednesday to configure COVID plan
Read full article: Detroit public schools cancel classes Monday-Wednesday to configure COVID planIn-person and virtual classes have been canceled for Detroit public schools next week as the district conducts widespread COVID testing and works to establish a learning plan amid an ongoing virus surge.
U-M study: Natural COVID infections provide protection against reinfection, two variants
Read full article: U-M study: Natural COVID infections provide protection against reinfection, two variantsResearchers from the University of Michigan found that natural COVID infections provided some protection against reinfection in a community in Nicaragua.
US lifts international travel restrictions today: Here’s what to know
Read full article: US lifts international travel restrictions today: Here’s what to knowThe Ambassador Bridge in Detroit hasn’t seen much traffic from Canadians looking to enter for non-essential travel, but that will change on Monday when international travelers fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can enter the U.S.
U.S. braces for more international travelers with restrictions easing starting today
Read full article: U.S. braces for more international travelers with restrictions easing starting todayThe Ambassador Bridge in Detroit hasn’t seen much traffic from Canadians looking to enter for non-essential travel, but that will change on Monday when international travelers fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can enter the U.S.
Two festive performances coming to Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium this holiday season
Read full article: Two festive performances coming to Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium this holiday seasonFrom big band tunes to a beloved holiday favorite, Hill Auditorium will host two memorable shows during the holidays.
Michigan Medicine patients can now access their COVID-19 vaccination record, test results via app
Read full article: Michigan Medicine patients can now access their COVID-19 vaccination record, test results via appU-M Health patients can now access their COVID-19 vaccine and testing information on their smartphones.
Washtenaw County to offer rapid COVID testing at vaccination clinic on Saturday
Read full article: Washtenaw County to offer rapid COVID testing at vaccination clinic on SaturdayThe Washtenaw County Health Department will offer rapid antigen COVID tests at its vaccination clinic the next two Saturdays.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra requiring proof of vaccination or negative COVID test to attend concerts
Read full article: Detroit Symphony Orchestra requiring proof of vaccination or negative COVID test to attend concertsThe Detroit Symphony Orchestra announced Wednesday that it will require guests to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test (48-hour PCR or six-hour antigen) to enter the Orchestra Hall and Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center.
St. Clair County Health Department suspends COVID-19 rapid PCR testing for travelers
Read full article: St. Clair County Health Department suspends COVID-19 rapid PCR testing for travelersThe St. Clair County Health Department is suspending COVID-19 rapid PCR testing for Canadian and other travelers "due to limitations in testing supplies" the department announced Wednesday.
University of Michigan: Severe COVID cases likely to be followed by long-haul symptoms
Read full article: University of Michigan: Severe COVID cases likely to be followed by long-haul symptomsA new study by researchers at the University of Michigan found that those who experienced severe COVID-19 were more likely to become long haulers.
Here’s a look inside Henry Ford’s COVID-19 testing lab
Read full article: Here’s a look inside Henry Ford’s COVID-19 testing labThe main lab at Henry Ford was the first in Michigan, outside of the health department, to be able to test for COVID-19. Now, the health system tests over 1,500 samples a day and have done roughly a quarter of a million tests since March. Depending on the urgency of the result, the lab can actually choose to do the PCR test on a specific, smaller machine with a rapid turnaround. In general, the majority of tests take less than 24 hours to determine results when they’re done on the larger machines. Dr. Linoj Samuel with Henry Ford Health System explains the process.
FDA allows 1st rapid COVID test that gives results at home
Read full article: FDA allows 1st rapid COVID test that gives results at homeRapid test results are critical to quickly quarantining those who are infected and tracing their contacts. There are other rapid tests but most require a small, special machine operated by a health professional to deliver results. The Lucira COVID-19 test grew out of research the company was doing to develop an at-home flu test, according to the company’s website. Lucira said its test results matched those of a laboratory-based test 94% of the time when screening for the virus. Doctors will be required to report the home test results.