CDC updates report on new COVID strain
January 5th, 20210 WASHINGTON DC — The mutated strain of COVID-19 that was previously only in the United Kingdom has now been found in four states throughout the U.S. With the new strain, health experts say that the rapid spread of the virus could threaten the healthcare system as this strain is reportedly more contagious. The new strain has...
4,700 frontliners to get second COVID vaccine dose at Henry Ford
January 5th, 20210 DETROIT — Priority vaccinations for healthcare workers continue this week, with thousands of frontline healthcare workers at Henry Ford Health System branches receiving their second doses of the COVID-19 vaccines in the coming days. Henry Ford prioritizes vaccinations based on employees' role and risk for exposure as well as their...
State distributes 3.5 million free masks, cases surpass 500,000
January 4th, 20210 MICHIGAN — As the state surpassed 500,000 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus, Michigan’s health department is distributing 3.5 million free masks as part of its Mask Up, Mask Right campaign. Free KN95 masks provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will be distributed by community organizations,...
TSA announces new pandemic travel record
December 28th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite CDC recommendations and COVID-19 cases still on the rise, nearly 1.3 million people traveled through airports on Sunday. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it screened 1,284,599 people across the country on Sunday, many of whom were returning from holiday travel. On Dec. 23, TSA...
CVS to begin distributing COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care facilities
December 28th, 20200 LANSING - With over 37,000 healthcare workers in Michigan already receiving the vaccine, CVS Health will begin administering the vaccine to long-term care facilities. The distribution of the first vaccines is expected to begin Dec. 28 to nearly 1,000 long-term care facilities across the state. The vaccines will be administered at...
Canada reports more contagious variant of COVID-19
December 28th, 20200 TORONTO — Officials in Toronto have confirmed the first two cases of a more contagious variant of COVID-19 that was first identified in the United Kingdom in September. The new strain has been detected in Australia, Italy and the Netherlands as well. Toronto’s associate chief medical officer said that the cases are a couple...
Study seeks to understand Arab American health during COVID-19
December 24th, 20200 DEARBORN — A new research project seeks to better understand how social and behavioral aspects of everyday life affect the health and wellness of those aged 65 and older in Metro Detroit. A special component of this research, led by University of Michigan professor Dr. Kristine Ajrouch, will study the social components of health...
Over 37,000 healthcare workers immunized against COVID in Michigan
December 23rd, 20200 LANSING — More than 37,000 frontline healthcare workers have now received a COVID-19 vaccination shot in the state, the state’s health department announced on Wednesday. The immunizations of healthcare workers is a common strategy across the U.S., as the first doses of Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, and later Moderna's...
Public health advisor talks vaccine myths and fact
December 19th, 20200 DEARBORN — The state of Michigan began immunizations against the COVID-19 virus on Monday, as quantities of the new Pfizer vaccine began reaching sites across the country this week. By Wednesday night, 1,078 vaccines had been administered to Michigan’s health care workers who are at high risk of contraction due to their routine...
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell hosts virtual town hall to discuss COVID relief, vaccines
December 19th, 20200 DEARBORN – U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) hosted a virtual town hall this week with health experts from Beaumont and Washtenaw County to discuss COVID-19. “I can’t wait to get back to the things we used to work on instead of COVID 24 hours a day, but it matters,” Dingell said. “Public health really matters. First and...
FDA advisory panel overwhelmingly endorses Moderna’s vaccine
December 17th, 20200 Another COVID-19 vaccine appears ready in the pipeline, as an outside panel of advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) overwhelmingly endorsed Moderna’s vaccine on Thursday. The committee of outside experts makes recommendations to the FDA, which it did for Pfizer’s vaccine just last week. The FDA generally goes...
MI COVID Alert app hits nearly half a million downloads in its first month
December 17th, 20200 LANSING — Just one month after the statewide launch, the MI COVID Alert app has reached nearly 500,000 downloads. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) announced that there have been 461,192 downloads of the app. “So much about...
State officials provide vaccine facts and warn of scams
December 16th, 20200 LANSING — In a press conference on Tuesday, state officials provided facts about the COVID-19 vaccine and warned of new scams that have already started. With the Pfizer vaccine starting to be administered to healthcare workers throughout the state and the Moderna vaccine expected to be coming soon as well, Michigan Department of...
FDA announces approval for over the counter COVID-19 tests
December 15th, 20200 WASHINGTON D.C. — A rapid, at-home COVID-19 test that can be purchased over the counter without a prescription will be available on store shelves soon. Regulators authorized the test, which can be done entirely at home. “The test will be sold in places like drugstores,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said, “where a patient...
Michigan begins historic COVID-19 vaccinations
December 14th, 20200 MICHIGAN — Frontline health care workers at two Michigan hospitals today were the first people to receive the new COVID-19 vaccines. Marc McClelland, pulmonary and critical care physician, 46, of Ada, was among the first people to receive the vaccine in the state, at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. “To me this is a day of......
NY nurse becomes first American to receive COVID-19 vaccine
December 14th, 20200 NEW YORK - On Monday, New York’s Sandra Lindsay, an intensive care unit nurse, who has treated some of the sickest COVID-19 cases for months, became the first person in the U.S. to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. “It didn’t feel any different from taking any other vaccine,” Lindsay said. “I feel hopeful today,...
First deliveries of COVID vaccine depart Michigan plant
December 13th, 20200 MICHIGAN — A few days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, trucks carrying the vaccine left the company’s plant in Portage, Michigan on Sunday. An estimated 2.9 million vaccines are expected to be delivered this week, with priority given to health care workers...
Businesses that depend on indoor dining get tax payment extension
December 10th, 20200 LANSING — Michigan businesses that depend on indoor dining for their revenue are receiving a tax payment extension effective immediately. During a press conference today, Governor Whitmer announced that businesses can postpone their monthly sales use and withholding tax payments that are due Dec. 20 until Jan. 20, 2021. Whitmer...
U.K. warns people with serious allergies to avoid Pfizer vaccine after two adverse reactions
December 9th, 20200 LONDON — Britain’s medicine regulator has advised that people with a history of significant allergies do not get the Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine after two people reported severe adverse reactions on the first day of rollout. Starting with the elderly and frontline workers, Britain began mass vaccinating its population on......
FDA scientists say Pfizer vaccine is “highly effective” as outside panel meets Thursday
December 8th, 20200 U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists have endorsed the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine ahead of a committee meeting of outside experts and the FDA's eventual use authorization, the health sciences publication STAT reports. Specifically, reviewers have said the two-dose vaccine is shown to be “highly...
Michigan’s “three-week pause” extended by 12 days
December 7th, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced on Monday a 12 day extension of its COVID-19 order that restricts indoor social gatherings and other group activities. The earlier order was in place for three weeks — set to expire on Tuesday — and covered the time people traveled and spent time......
MDHHS updates to 10-day quarantine period following CDC
December 4th, 20200 LANSING - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has updated guidance on COVID-19 quarantine periods to conform its standards to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The CDC now gives the options to reduce the required number of quarantine days for individuals with known...
In world first, U.K. approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
December 2nd, 20200 (REUTERS) — Britain approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, jumping ahead of the rest of the world in the race to begin the most crucial mass inoculation program in history with a shot tested in wide-scale clinical trials. Prime Minister Boris Johnson touted the green light from the U.K.’s medicine authority as a......
