Covid-19

Covid-19

Summary

OnAir Post: Covid-19

News

State reports 101 new COVID-19 outbreaks in schools
Michigan Advance, Allison R. DonahueOctober 18, 2021

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Monday that a total of 1,090,021 Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 21,609 have died from the virus — an additional 8,496 cases and 46 deaths since Friday.

The new numbers combine Saturday’s, Sunday’s and Monday’s recorded cases and deaths, with an average of 2,832 new confirmed cases per day. DHHS publishes COVID-19 data three times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The deaths announced include 15 deaths identified during a vital records review. DHHS conducts this review process two times per week.

DHHS also reports that an additional 139,035 Michiganders have been identified as “probable” cases for COVID-19, as well as 1,408 probable deaths. The department began tracking probable cases on April 5, 2020.

Combining the state’s confirmed positive cases with probable cases brings the total up to 1,229,056 statewide cases and 23,017 deaths.

As all Michigan schools have begun 2021-22 classes, the state is reporting school- and sports-related COVID-19 outbreaks on a weekly basis. As of Monday, 413 pre-kindergarten-12 schools and seven universities — Alma College, Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Saginaw Valley State University, University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University and Concordia University — are reporting new or ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks.

Of those, 101 are new outbreaks reported Monday.

Some Michigan local health departments are rescinding school mask mandates and other measures intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus after Republican state lawmakers approved a budget that threatens the funding of local health departments that issue those rules.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, signed the budget into law last week but insisted that the provision targeting mask requirements is unconstitutional and will not take effect.

“The legislature cannot unwind the Public Health Code in a budget bill or un-appropriate funds because they take issue with the actions of local health departments,” she said in a letter to lawmakers then.

Still, health officials in several counties have said in recent days that they can’t risk jeopardizing their funding amid the potential for a court battle over Whitmer’s refusal to enforce the budget measure.

The confusion in Michigan is another example of Republicans using their power at every level of government to target public safety mandates. It also illustrates the tension in Michigan between a Democratic governor who is loathed by conservatives and a GOP-led legislature that has sought to undercut her on Covid-19 measures, voting rights and more.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun to step down as Michigan’s chief medical executive
Michigan Advance, Anna GustafsonSeptember 24, 2021

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun will leave her post as the state’s top doctor next week after more than a year and a half of leading Michigan’s ongoing battle against COVID-19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced in a news release Friday afternoon.

Khaldun, the chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), has accepted a position in the private sector. Her last day in state government will be next Thursday, Sept. 30, the release said.

No further details were provided about Khaldun’s new job. Khaldun said in a tweet that she will continue to practice emergency medicine part-time at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, a senior public health physician with the DHHS, will serve as the interim chief medical executive while the state conducts a national search for Khaldun’s replacement.

“This work has been the honor of my life,” Khaldun said in Friday’s release. “I’ve been inspired by the entire [health department] team and their expertise and dedication to serving the people of Michigan. Dr. Bagdasarian is an accomplished public health expert and epidemiologist, and I am confident she will serve the state well in this new role.”

Michigan reports 4,448 COVID-19 cases since Wednesday
Michigan Advance, SUSAN J. DEMASSeptember 3, 2021

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reported Friday that a total of 955,640 Michiganders have tested positive for COVID-19 and 20,367 have died from the virus — an additional 4,448 cases and 51 deaths since Wednesday.

The new numbers combine Thursday and Friday recorded cases and deaths, with an average of 2,224 new confirmed cases per day. DHHS now publishes COVID-19 data three times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Due to Labor Day, the state will not be releasing new numbers on Monday.

The deaths announced include 28 deaths identified during a vital records review. The DHHS conducts this review process two times per week.

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