Coronavirus outbreak in Detroit will likely worsen this week, US official warns

LANSING, Mich. – The U.S. surgeon general says the situation in Detroit, a national “hot spot” for cases of the new coronavirus, will worsen this week.

The TCF Center in Detroit will be turned into a temporary hospital for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, leading to the cancellation of this year’s North American International Auto Show.

Federal officials are focusing on Wayne County as an emerging coronavirus (COVID-19) hotspot as the city of Detroit alone surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases this week.

Southeast Michigan is comprised of Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties. The three Detroit-area counties account for an overwhelming majority of the nearly 5,000 confirmed cases in Michigan. As of Sunday at least 111 Michigan residents died.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says it’s “very unlikely” students will return to school, but she hasn’t made the call yet. K-12 schools are in a four-week shutdown. She plans to announce a plan next week to make sure seniors graduate and no child is held back due to no face-to-face instruction.

NEW: President Donald Trump approves Michigan’s Disaster Declaration