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University of Michigan: ‘Noticeable uptick’ of COVID cases on Ann Arbor campus

University of Michigan asks students to test for COVID-19 before going home for holidaysANN ARBOR – Cases of COVID-19 are trending upward again at the University of Michigan. In an update on Tuesday, U-M officials reported a “noticeable uptick in COVID-19 cases among U-M affiliates, including undergraduate students, graduate students and non-students.”School officials noted that the trend is in line with a general increase of cases in Washtenaw County. Students at the university now account for 15% of the total cases in the county. The number of positive cases more than doubled last week with 157 positive tests compared to 60 the week prior. A total of 26 students are currently in isolation to prevent the spread of COVID, compared to March 24 when 8 students were in quarantine.

U-M locks hundreds of undergrads out of school buildings for not following COVID testing protocols

FILE: Students walk across the University of Michigan campus January 17, 2003 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)ANN ARBOR – The University of Michigan has deactivated Mcard access to non-residential buildings for 375 undergraduate students after they failed to comply with the school’s mandatory COVID testing requirements. Undergraduate students who reside on or visit campus have been required to undergo weekly COVID testing through the Community Sampling and Tracking Program since the beginning of the semester. Students can also submit a request for an exemption from being included in the mandatory testing cohort. According to the team, roughly 98% of undergraduate students living in residence halls have complied with the required testing program.

U-M: COVID cases on Ann Arbor campus ‘decrease significantly’

University of Michigan asks students to test for COVID-19 before going home for holidaysANN ARBOR – Officials at the University of Michigan have announced a significant decrease in cases of COVID-19 on campus. In the school’s bi-weekly COVID update, officials reported on Tuesday that school-related cases now represent 27% of the total cases in Washtenaw County. Just two weeks ago, U-M cases -- the majority of which were linked to students -- accounted for 62% of the total cases in the county. AdSoon after, the school implemented mandatory weekly testing for graduate and professional students after outbreaks emerged in circles of older students and in off campus houses. Undergraduates on campus have been tested regularly for the virus since the start of the semester.

U-M: COVID cases increase, now account for more than 60% of cases in Washtenaw County

ANN ARBOR – Although COVID activity in Michigan and across the U.S. has been trending downward, cases at the University of Michigan continue to rise. The majority of cases are associated with students, said university officials in their Tuesday COVID update, and U-M cases now make up for 62% of all cases in Washtenaw County. A rise in cases means that campus case investigators are “significantly strained.”Since Sunday, U-M has confirmed 26 new COVID cases on campus. During the week starting Feb. 7, U-M reported 352 new cases -- it’s highest weekly case rate since the week starting October 11, when new cases stood at 409. School officials continue to urge the U-M community to continue to get tested, even if no symptoms are present.

AFC Ann Arbor withdraws men’s season for second year due to pandemic

ANN ARBOR – AFC Ann Arbor officials announced on Tuesday that its men’s team will not participate in this year’s USL League Two season due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The club is currently consulting with the United Women’s Soccer division’s leadership to determine whether or not the women’s team will compete this year. “From the beginning of the pandemic, we have been precautious about our return to play and have followed the guidance and advice of our state’s top medical expert, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun,” Bilal Saeed, Chair of AFC Ann Arbor said in a statement. “Under these guidelines and current state restrictions, we cannot in good conscience bring players in for a league season,” the club said in a statement. “We understand AFC Ann Arbor’s decision to withdraw from participation in the 2021 League Two season,” USL Vice President Joel Nash said in a statement.

U-M COVID cases now make up for 48% of all cases in Washtenaw County

University of Michigan asked students to test for COVID-19 before going home for the holidays. ANN ARBOR – In its bi-weekly COVID update on Tuesday, University of Michigan officials announced that COVID cases within the school community now represent 48% of the total cases in Washtenaw County. On Feb. 2, U-M cases accounted for 34% of all COVID cases in Washtenaw County. While COVID cases in the school community are trending downward, they are still elevated, according the announcement. As of the week beginning Feb. 7, U-M reported a total of 54 positive COVID cases as opposed to the week prior, when 282 positive cases were confirmed.

Free COVID testing returns to Ann Arbor’s Pioneer High School on Saturday

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)ANN ARBOR – No cost COVID testing will return to Pioneer High School on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. According to the Washtenaw County Health Department, the free pop-up site in the school’s parking lot will be offering weekly testing. All positive tests will be sequenced for the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant, which is known to be present in Washtenaw County. The event is supported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Washtenaw County Health Department, HONU Management Group and Ann Arbor Public Schools. For more information about free testing events in Washtenaw County, click here.

Michigan health department launches program offering weekly COVID testing to educators

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) said it is moving forward with offering a voluntary COVID-19 testing program to educators. Officials said the MI Safe Schools Testing Program, which began Tuesday, will provide weekly tests for educators at private and public schools. Approximately 300 schools and 9,000 staff members have signed up for testing so far. Gretchen Whitmer pushed for schools to resume in-person learning by March 1. Everyone has a role to play in ending this pandemic.”The state paused high school in-person learning in November.

U-M to begin offering free COVID testing to Ann Arbor residents living near campus

University officials have confirmed that some outbreaks of the virus on campus include the new, highly contagious COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant. Testing offered to the local community is limited to those living within three blocks from campus. If you do not live right next to campus but would like to be tested, visit Washtenaw County’s COVID testing website to find a free clinic near you. AdAdditionally, free testing is now offered weekly at Pioneer High School. The university-run saliva-based testing will be offered to U-M students, faculty, staff and Ann Arbor residents living geographically close to the university on the following days and times:Information on U-M's community testing program from Feb. 3-28, 2021.

No cost COVID testing to take place in Ann Arbor Sunday

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – On Sunday, community members can be tested for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 for free at Pioneer High School. Testing will be done from noon to 4 p.m. through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at a drive-thru testing site. More: See how the PCR test works here. Those going to the drive-thru should enter the Pioneer parking lot from Main Street and should not line up before the event starts. The testing site is supported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, HONU Management Group, Ann Arbor Public Schools and Washtenaw County Health Department.

Ann Arbor Public Schools: Preparations underway for return to in-person learning

ANN ARBOR – In her most recent message to the Ann Arbor Public Schools community, Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift announced on Friday that the school district is focused on returning to in-person learning as soon as possible. However, she said that reopening the schools is dependent on several key factors in order to return safely. Swift said AAPS has also acquired enough PPE for its staff to use once in-person learning begins. According to the announcement, the youngest students and students with the greatest needs will be the first to return to school. “As a result of their work, there is promise in this rapidly emerging testing process.”AAPS has not yet named a date for the return of in-person learning.

U-M Winter Term changes include mandatory weekly COVID testing of on-campus undergrads

The revised plan includes increased COVID-19 testing capacity, including mandatory testing for all students prior moving into university residence halls and mandatory weekly testing for undergraduate students who live, study or work on campus. The expanded testing plan includes weekly asymptomatic testing for the remaining students, faculty and staff on campus. For those quarantining off campus, testing will be expanded, and departure testing will still be required for undergraduates returning home, as was the case for the Thanksgiving holiday. While mandatory for undergraduates, departure testing is recommended for all other students. In addition to a reduction of in-person classes, density in U-M residence halls will be reduced by more than half.

New COVID testing site in Ann Arbor to provide saliva testing

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Washtenaw County Health Department is offering contactless drive-thru COVID-19 saliva testing. Testing is at the parking lot of the 2|42 Community Church, 648 S. Wagner Road in Ann Arbor. The county has partnered with LynxDx to offer the test from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 3-7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Our COVID-19 Data section tracks many of the key data points health officials are watching closely every single day. Track key COVID-19 data points in Michigan:

FDA authorizes rapid at-home COVID-19 test

When it comes to COVID testing, we’ve been hearing about growing lines and delayed results. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new emergency use authorization for an at-home test. The new test by California-based Lucira is a nasal swab test that can provide a result within 30 minutes and is for use by anyone ages 14 and older if their healthcare provider thinks they may have COVID-19. The nasal swab test involves swirling a patient’s self-collected sample swab in a vial, which is then placed in the test unit. The FDA did not talk about the price of the test but the company’s website indicated that the test is intended to cost less than $50.

University of Michigan students asked to test for COVID-19 before going home for holidays

At the University of Michigan, students living on campus are being required to take a COVID-19 test before leaving campus. University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald says students are being asked to get tested within the seven days before going home to their families. Both Washtenaw and Ingham counties have had to issue and adjust emergency health orders in an effort to contain outbreaks at U-M’s and Michigan State University’s campuses. The state has reported record-breaking daily increases of COVID-19 cases multiple times in recent weeks. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan has risen to 229,285 as of Wednesday, including 7,766 deaths, state officials report.