Morning Briefing Jan. 11, 2021: Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations -- How to find appointments, info on phases

Here are this morning’s top stories

What to know today 🌅

COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phases

Michigan has started listing local health departments accepting appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations.

On January 11 (today), Michigan will move into the next phase of vaccinations, which includes teachers, first responders, childcare providers and residents 65 years of age and older.

Eligible essential workers, teachers and childcare workers will be notified by their employers about vaccine clinic dates and locations, Gov. Whitmer said. Eligible residents should not go to any of the clinics without an appointment.

All counties can begin vaccinating residents over the age of 65. The state has started listing local health departments who are ready to take appointments.

Here’s the list departments scheduling appointments as of Jan. 11.


Pelosi says House will impeach Trump, pushes VP to oust him

After last week’s deadly siege on the U.S. Capitol by President Trump’s supporters, calls for his resignation are louder than ever. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday the House will proceed with legislation to impeach President Donald Trump as she pushes the vice president and the Cabinet to invoke constitutional authority force him out, warning that Trump is a threat to democracy after the deadly assault on the Capitol.

The House action could start as soon as Monday as pressure increases on Trump to step aside. A Republican senator, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, joined Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in calling for Trump to “resign and go away as soon as possible.”

Read more here.


Capitol assault a more sinister attack than first appeared (AP)

Under battle flags bearing Donald Trump’s name, the Capitol’s attackers pinned a bloodied police officer in a doorway, his twisted face and screams captured on video. They mortally wounded another officer with a blunt weapon and body-slammed a third over a railing into the crowd.

“Hang Mike Pence!” the insurrectionists chanted as they pressed inside, beating police with pipes. They demanded House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s whereabouts, too. They hunted any and all lawmakers: “Where are they?” Outside, makeshift gallows stood, complete with sturdy wooden steps and the noose. Guns and pipe bombs had been stashed in the vicinity.

Only days later is the extent of the danger from one of the darkest episodes in American democracy coming into focus. The sinister nature of the assault has become evident, betraying the crowd as a force determined to occupy the inner sanctums of Congress and run down leaders — Trump’s vice president and the Democratic House speaker among them.

Read more here.


Coronavirus in Michigan 🦠

The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 519,082 as of Saturday, including 13,354 deaths, state officials report.

Saturday’s update includes 2,706 new cases and 222 new deaths, including 207 identified during a review of records -- meaning they did not occur between Friday and Saturday.

The state reported a total of 415,079 recoveries on Saturday.

Today: Michigan enters new COVID vaccine phase

New COVID-19 cases have plateaued but deaths remain high in Michigan. Testing has been steady with more than 37,000 diagnostic tests reported per day, with the 7-day positive rate average around 9.5%. Hospitalizations continue to decline but remain relatively high, including in critical care and ventilator use.

Michigan’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 3,136 on Saturday, slightly higher than the week before. The 7-day death average was 106 on Saturday. The state’s fatality rate is 2.6%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 90,600 on Saturday -- the lowest it’s been since November.

Here’s a look at more of the data:


Weather forecast: What to expect this week


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