As Michigan sees COVID-19 positivity rates are creep up, Whitmer maintains authority
July 14th, 20200 LANSING — In an another indication this month that Lansing grows concerned over the rates and spread of COVID-19 in Michigan, Governor Whitmer announced on Wednesday she will be extending both the state of emergency and the state of disaster. “Over the past three weeks … our progress in suppressing the pandemic has...
COVID-19 therapy collaborative offers free behavioral health help to youth and families
July 14th, 20200 DETROIT – In May, the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) launched the Detroit COVID-19 Therapy Collaborative, which provides free behavioral health supports and counseling to those who need help, with support from the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, Skillman Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and...
Scientists warn of potential wave of COVID-linked brain damage
July 9th, 20200 LONDON (REUTERS) — Scientists warned on Wednesday of a potential wave of coronavirus-related brain damage as new evidence suggested COVID-19 can lead to severe neurological complications, including inflammation, psychosis and delirium. A study by researchers at University College London described 43 cases of patients with COVID-19...
New website allows Michiganders to easily find closest COVID-19 testing site, phone registration available
June 30th, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has unveiled a new online tool that lets users conveniently find a COVID-19 testing site near them and register for testing online. The test finder tool at michigan.gov/CoronavirusTest has filters which allow users to find sites that are free, test people with...
Gleaners brings free meal distribution to Dearborn’s Ford Community and Performing Arts Center
June 30th, 20200 DEARBORN — Gleaners Community Food Bank will provide free meals for children and adults with special needs at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, as part of its Summer Food Service Program, beginning in early July. The Ford Community and Performing Arts Center meal distributions will take place from 9 to 11...
Garden City Hospital performs up to 250 “Save-A-Life” COVID-19 antibody tests per day in first week
June 26th, 20200 GARDEN CITY — On Tuesday, officials from Wayne County and Garden City Hospital gathered at a launch event for the Save-A-Life program. The program offers free drive-through COVID-19 antibody testing and facilitates plasma donations. The one-of-a-kind program is intended to strengthen and increase the county’s response to COVID-19,...
The Mediterranean diet and Alzheimer’s disease: An interview with Dr. Henry Paulson
June 10th, 20200 The Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease (MCCFAD) and The Arab American News have partnered to bring our readers this exclusive interview on Mediterranean-style diet and Alzheimer’s disease and dementias. Read our article on MCCFAD and its work here. Henry L. Paulson, M.D., Ph.D., is the Lucile Groff...
Hospital visitations to resume in Michigan, with restrictions
June 3rd, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has loosened restrictions on hospital visitations that were imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Whitmer also took back executive orders that temporarily enhanced hospital capacity and waived restrictions on emergency medical services this...
Whitmer reopens auto dealerships and retail stores by appointment, authorizes nonessential medical, dental and veterinary procedures
May 21st, 20200 LANSING — On Thursday, Governor Whitmer signed a new executive order that reopens retail businesses and auto dealerships, by appointment only, statewide on Tuesday, May 26. The governor’s executive order also lifts the requirement that health care providers delay some nonessential medical, dental and veterinary...
Nutrition and Alzheimer’s Disease: A brief guide
May 12th, 20200 The following article is contributed by Donna Jawad, Community Outreach Specialist at the Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease (MCCFAD). It has been edited for style As we learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, one should keep in mind that though we have not yet found a cure, there are...
Detroit’s TCF Center field hospital is “officially closed down”
May 7th, 20200 DETROIT – The 1,000-bed TCF Center field hospital in the city's downtown is no longer caring for COVID-19 patients and is "officially closed down," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said Thursday. At most, the care center inside the convention center cared for about 15 to 20 patients at any given time, the mayor said during an afternoon...
Experimental antiviral drug to become the new standard of care for COVID-19 patients, Fauci says
April 29th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Top U.S. infectious disease official Dr. Anthony Fauci said Gilead Science Inc.'s experimental antiviral drug remdesivir will become the new standard of care for COVID-19 after results from a key clinical trial released Wednesday showed it help patients recover more quickly from the illness caused by the...
We need to do our part in fighting the coronavirus
April 29th, 20200 As the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spreads around the world, it is important that we all realize the impact that this virus has had on essential workers and low-wage laborers who support the global consumer economy. There are people who are still getting up and going to work every day, so that we can all enjoy the...
ACCESS continues to serve community amidst COVID-19 pandemic
April 22nd, 20200 In response to the rapid spread of COVID-19, ACCESS—the largest Arab American community nonprofit in the nation—has restructured its service delivery to continue to provide necessary services to the community, while ensuring their safety and well-being. For the first time in the organization’s nearly 50-year history, much of its...
Making America safe again starts with humility and selflessness
April 16th, 20200 As a nurse who practiced end-of-life care, helping families and hospitals negotiate medical ethics, I am appalled by the lack of competence and courage in the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic. Our piecemeal strategy lacks the humility to effectively adapt as the virus evolves. It fails miserably in empowering and protecting......
Staying home is our only weapon against COVID-19
April 15th, 20200 I’m accustomed to fighting violent crime, arresting career criminals and implementing police policy to positively impact the lives of others. But COVID-19 is not a problem that one person alone can tackle. If we’re going to beat this deadly virus we must do it together. I desperately urge every Michigander to use unity as our weapon...
Michigan: Cases of coronavirus might peak “in next few days”, some hospital systems predict
April 9th, 20200 DETROIT — Physicians and caregivers are now finding small, tentative glimmers of hope at hospitals across the state as the coronavirus crisis appears as if it could reach its peak in the next few days, according to Dr. Steven Kalkanis, CEO of the Henry Ford Medical Group, who is also the hospital system's senior vice president and...
HFC provides life-saving ventilators, medical supplies to local hospitals
April 6th, 20200 DEARBORN — In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Henry Ford College of Health and Human Services has provided medical equipment and supplies to area hospitals, including five life-saving ventilators. For its part, local hospitals and health systems are being stretched to their limits to provide life-saving care to people...
Americans urged to wear masks outside as coronavirus pandemic worsens
April 6th, 20200 WASHINGTON/NEW YORK — On Thursday, the Trump administration looked set to join local officials in advising Americans to wear masks when venturing out during the still-exploding coronavirus pandemic, as the U.S. death toll rose by 1,000 in a single day for the first time. Speaking at a White House briefing, Deborah Birx, a member of......
Emergency order issued for Michigan residents: Follow COVID-19 social distancing orders or face fines up to $1,000
April 2nd, 20200 LANSING – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued an emergency order on Thursday that sets a civil fine of up to $1,000 for violating orders related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The order also outlines the process of referral to licensing agencies for violations made by entities that are regulated by a...
60 and older in the time of COVID-19? Read on
April 1st, 20200 By Jennifer Leach I know, 60-year-olds. You’re not old. In fact, we’ve found that, when people think “old”, they think of someone about 10 years older than they are right now. But, because we’ve been warned about the effects of the Coronavirus on people 60+, listen up. Because scammers follow the headlines and know......
FDA to allow COVID-19 treatments using blood from survivors
March 26th, 20200 SILVER SPRING, MD — The FDA has unlocked the use of convalescent plasma, derived from the blood of people who have recovered from COVID-19 and which may contain helpful antibodies, as an investigational treatment for patients with severe cases of the disease, according to a report from the website FierceBiotech. This technique has...
Egypt to shut all cafes, malls, sports clubs in evenings until March 31
March 20th, 20200 CAIRO — Egypt said on Thursday it would shut all cafes, shopping malls, sports clubs and nightclubs from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. local time every night until March 31, strengthening measures introduced to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The government said supermarkets, pharmacies, bakeries and neighborhood corner stores were exempt......
