DETROIT HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Michigan and the city of Detroit are partnering up to expand services to residents with COVID -19.

This week, COVID313 covers updates on the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, which mask protects the best and DPSCD virtual learning.

The superintendent of Detroit public schools said the district will wait until at least mid-March to consider removing its mask mandate.

Residents of Detroit will be able to get free KN-95 masks on Thursday.

DPSCD will wait for a recommendation from the city health department, even as other Michigan counties have lifted their mask mandates.

The Detroit Health Department is celebrating children who got vaccinated during two special family and friends COVID vaccination clinics.

Authorities said two men -- ages 19 and 25 -- were shot and killed at a holiday party. A third man sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The Detroit Health Department is hosting a Friends and Family vaccination day on Dec. 29, with a special superhero theme for the children who attend.

The COVID vaccine for young children is safe and effective, and could help reduce disruptions to education.

Up until 6:30 p.m. on Friday last week, Cass Tech did not know if it was going to play a football game or not. After 50 players were quarantined due to a player testing positive for COVID-19, Cass Tech was on the verge of forfeiting. Instead, Cass Tech got the green light to play with one major catch: Only vaccinated players could participate in the game. According to first-year Cass Tech head coach Marvin Rushing, that meant he could only dress 19 players – only five of which were starters. Despite the circumstances, Cass Tech managed to keep things close as Renaissance pulled off a 13-6 win.

On Thursday, Aug. 19, during the dog days of Michigan's short summer, Detroit's Belle Isle beach was closed for swimming due to elevated levels of...

Anyone who is eligible and seeking a 2nd or 3rd COVID-19 vaccine dose at the TCF Center in Detroit needs to call the Detroit Health Department to make an appointment.

Due to the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant, Detroit health officials are recommending everyone wear masks indoors, even if fully vaccinated.

While the vaccine milestone is a significant achievement, it should be seen as a floor, rather than a ceiling, health experts say.

The Detroit Health Department and Detroit Public Schools Community District are joining forces to make COVID-19 vaccines available to the community ahead of the next school year.

The city of Detroit is expanding its at-home COVID-19 vaccination service to all residents age 12 and up.

Vaccination teams will begin visiting Detroit homes Monday as part of the city’s effort to administer COVID-19 vaccines to residents who are homebound.

Starting next week the City of Detroit will begin vaccinating homebound residents.

Detroit's mobile vaccine vehicle aims to raise the vaccination rate of the city and to help quell anxiety over the shot.

The mobile vaccine vehicle aims to raise the vaccination rate of the city and to help quell anxiety over the shot.

LANSING, MI — For the first time in a decade, a Michigan dog has tested positive for rabies. A 6-month-old dog in Detroit recently tested positive for the disease, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Testing to determine the strain of rabies in the infected dog is still taking place, state officials said in a press release Friday, May 21. While any mammal can be infected with rabies, in Michigan it is typically carried by skunks or bats. Vaccinating animals and avoiding contact with wildlife will help to limit the spread of the disease.”So far in 2021, there have been seven confirmed rabid animals in Michigan: this dog and six bats.

The six-month-old canine had not been vaccinated against rabies before testing positive, officials said. Testing is underway to determine the strain of the virus.

Top officials announced Wednesday a historic drop in Detroit’s infant mortality rate.

DETROIT – Lagging behind in vaccination rates, Detroit is sending teams door-to-door to promote walk-in sites in the hope of getting more shots in arms, The Associated Press reports. The effort by the Detroit Health Department began on Monday in six neighborhoods surrounding recreation centers, a community center and a church where walk-in vaccinations are available, according to a news release. By the end of the day, canvassers had knocked on nearly 5,000 doors, AP reports. Detroit’s mass vaccination efforts began in the parking garage of the TCF Center, AP reports. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, there have been more than 47,600 confirmed cases and more than 2,000 deaths in Detroit, AP reports.

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Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, former Detroit Health Director and gubernatorial candidate, is endorsing State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud’s campaign for mayor.

Update: Based on a recommendation from the CDC, the Detroit Health Department on Tuesday, April 13 halted use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, with plans to switch to Moderna and Pfizer doses for the rest of its neighborhood clinics. Residents around Western International High School in Southwest Detroit and Henry Ford High School on the city’s west side were offered the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Monday, April 12 as part of the Detroit Health Department’s “Neighborhood Vaccine Week.”“We’re trying to get more shots in arms to Detroiters. “We’re about 23% and we have a long way to go. In order for us to be safe, so I encourage everyone, please follow the safety precautions.”Six other Detroit neighborhood locations throughout the week will be offering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Detroit Health Department is offering residents transportation to vaccine sites $2 per round trip.

With Detroit’s vaccination rate well below the state average, MDHHS is launching mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinics in the city to try and reach more communities.

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

“Opening Day is always a holiday here in Michigan,” said Brass Rail Bar manager Kevin Weathers. It’s time for the first home game of the Detroit Tigers season, but this year, it will be a lot different than previous years. READ: Detroit Tigers prepare for Opening Day amid COVID pandemic“We have everything 6 feet apart. “Let me say this: Opening Day is not going to be the same we’re accustomed to because of the pandemic,” said Detroit Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair. The Detroit Tigers and the city are enforcing special precautions for Opening Day.

Robert Huguley, 74, receives Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, Jan. 27, 2021, at the TCF Center in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT – All Detroiters 16 and older are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, the city announced Monday. Any Detroit resident age 16 or older can now call to schedule an appointment to be vaccinated at the TCF Center. Johnson & Johnson vaccine site opened at Northwest Activities Center 9-1 this Saturday. Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair also announced that the Detroit Health Department has been informed it will receive its first allocation of Johnson and Johnson vaccine this week.

DETROIT – The City of Detroit is expanded eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to include anyone who lives or works in the city and has to report to work. Now eligibility has been extended to all onsite employees provided they live or work in the city, such as bank branch staff and other officer workers. All others onsite workers now eligible should schedule their appointment by calling the city’s central vaccine scheduling number at 313-230-0505. More: Michigan COVID vaccine eligibility expands Monday: What to know‘Senior Saturdays’ expandsThe City of Detroit is expanding eligibility for its weekend Senior Saturday vaccination events, which will now be called Community Saturdays to reflect the broader eligibility. Call center staff will contact each scheduled person prior to their second appointment to remind them.

DETROIT – St. Patrick’s Day celebrations were in full force Wednesday night in Downtown Detroit. With COVID restrictions now allowing a 50% capacity, or up to 100 people, at restaurants and bars, the Detroit Health Department were out monitoring crowds. READ: Wyandotte welcomes St. Patrick’s Day visitors to open container ‘social district’Environmental health specialists stopped at some of the hot spots, reminding people to wear masks and practice social distancing. While it was crowded in some areas, many were outside and felt things were safe. But some people were being extra cautious with the celebrations having the potential to be a super-spreader event.

DETROIT – Starting Monday, any Michigan residents age 50 and up with pre-existing medical conditions or disabilities will be eligible to make an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. READ: 6 Q&As on Michigan’s expansion of COVID-19 vaccine plan to 50+The city of Detroit isn’t going to wait until Monday. Mayor Mike Duggan announced Thursday that Detroiters with chronic conditions who are at least 50 years old can get appointments to get vaccinated. While it’s certainly another positive sign, the city also wants people to still be careful. AdREAD: Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phases

DETROIT – Seniors and first responders living in Highland Park do not have access to the Detroit Health Department’s vaccine program. When Albom’s charity SAY Detroit opened a clinic in 2006 he didn’t think they would end up being on the frontlines of a pandemic. AdThrough an initiative of the Wayne County Health Department, doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have become available for people in Highland Park and Hamtramck at the SAY Detroit family health clinic. That would be only people who live in Highland Park or Hamtramck. Anyone who wants it can call 313-590-0470 for an appointment or just walk inside the SAY Detroit clinic on Glendale Avenue.

Additionally, those who live — and some who work — in Detroit also have the option of being vaccinated through the Detroit Health Department. The Beaumont Health System receives an average of 10,000 to 15,000 doses per week, yet has the capability to vaccinate 40,000 to 50,000 patients each week. While area hospitals are focusing on vaccinations of those 65 and older, the county health department is focusing on administration to health providers, public safety, educators and other high-priority essential workers. Last week, Wayne County received 8,375 first doses from the state — an increase from the 4,350 it received the week prior — along with 2,925 second doses. Further information is available on the Detroit Health Department website and those who wish to schedule a vaccination appointment may call (313) 230-0505.

The primary sources of lead in water are lead service lines, lead solder, and/or fixtures containing lead in the home. The service line is the pipe which brings water from the water main in the street to inside the home or business. Lead service lines are under two inches in diameter and are mostly at single family or duplex homes. Be careful to select the appropriate products for repairing or replacing drinking water plumbing in your home. About The Detroit Water and Sewerage DepartmentThe Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) serves more than 230,000 accounts that includes a residential population of nearly 700,000.

It is a program that samples wastewater in order to try to stay ahead of future spikes in the case count. And with that thought the City of Detroit announced today it expanded its partnership with the Great Lakes Water Authority and Michigan State University to use untreated wastewater to predict outbreaks. Many health officials are hailing the move as groundbreaking including Denise Fair, chief public health officer for the City of Detroit. The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 366,242 as of Tuesday, including 9,324 deaths, state officials report. Tuesday’s update represents 5,793 new cases and 190 additional deaths, including 30 from Vital Records review.

DETROIT – With COVID-19 affecting long-term care facilities in the spring, the City of Detroit Health Department is gearing up for testing this week. “We’re going to support nursing homes with onsite COVID-19 testing at all of the nursing homes over the next two weeks,” said Detroit Health Department Director Denise Fair. READ: Michigan health director explains need for expanded COVID-19 restrictionsREAD: Gov. 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:

DETROIT – With COVID-19 numbers on the rise and Halloween right around the corner, the Detroit Health Department is urging everyone to take caution the All Hallows' Eve. We’ve had to deal with a lot of changes this year and Halloween will be no different. Detroit mayor Mike Duggan is working to make sure there’s still a whole lot of fun in the city. Unlike some areas of Metro Detroit, the Detroit Health Department and Duggan are not taking away Halloween. However, with cases on the rise, it’s crucial to keep Halloween safe this year.

DETROIT – Students at Holy Redeemer grade school in Detroit are switching to remote learning for the remainder of October due to increasing COVID-19 cases among students. According to a letter sent to families Monday, Holy Redeemer teachers have already sent out learning schedules for students' remote learning. The school is asking students and families to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms or believes they may have been exposed should contact their primary healthcare provider or get tested for the virus. COVID-19 symptoms can develop up to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

DETROIT – The Detroit Health Department officially announces the relocation of its Immunization Clinic from the Samaritan Center on the city’s east side at 5555 Conner Street, to its headquarters at 100 Mack Avenue in Midtown. Health Department staff officially made the move to the new location on September 8, centrally located just steps from the Woodward Avenue and Mack Avenue bus lines. The Health Department’s newly relocated Immunization Clinic offers six newly-renovated examination rooms that will serve a higher volume of patients. “The move to Midtown supports our mission to build healthy communities for all families,” said Najibah Rehman, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Detroit Health Department. The Detroit Health Department Immunization Clinic is open by appointment only, Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. To accommodate students participating in in-person learning at a Detroit charter or public school, the clinic will also open on Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., now through November 1.

All rights reserved)DETROIT – Ascension Michigan is partnering with the Detroit Health Department to offer free immunization and flu shots to children this weekend. Officials say vaccinations among children in Detroit have declined from 82% to 47% since March, according to a report from the Wayne County Health Department. To combat this decline, the health system will host a Back to School Community Immunization Fair on September 12 at Martin Luther King Jr. High School. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., children 6 months old and older can receive free immunization and flu shots. Officials say individuals are welcome whether they are insured or not.

DETROIT Officials said three students attending summer school in Detroit have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). Detroit Public Schools Community District partnered with the Detroit Health Department to have students who are attending face-to-face summer school tested for COVID-19. READ: 2 Detroit summer school students test positive for COVID-19The tests were ordered on Tuesday, after a judge ruled that summer classes could only continue if every student attending was tested for the virus. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, contact the Detroit Health Department at 313-876-4000. We will continue to work closely with the Detroit Health Department as we complete summer school and prepare to re-open in the fall.

DETROIT On Saturday, the Detroit Health Department tested an additional 12 Detroit Public Schools Community District students for COVID-19 with zero testing positive. With 331 students tested since Friday, and two students returning positive tests, the infection rate remains at less than one percent, according to the department. Parents of students who have tested positive and those who were in close proximity will be notified by the Detroit Health Department to self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, contact the Detroit Health Department at 313-876-4000. Residents are advised to continue washing their hands, practicing social distancing, wearing a face covering and avoiding crowds.

DETROIT Officials said two students attending summer school in Detroit have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). Detroit Public Schools Community District partnered with the Detroit Health Department to have students who are attending face-to-face summer school tested for COVID-19. We will continue to work closely with the Detroit Health Department as we complete summer school and prepare to re-open in the fall. READ: 20 arrested during Detroit summer school protest todayStudents who received a COVID-19 test will be allowed to return to the building on Monday. Infection rates are low, which is consistent with rates across the City, says Denise Fair, chief public health officer, Detroit Health Department.

DETROIT – Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. Monday. Duggan is speaking about high car insurance rates and providing an update on the coronavirus pandemic along with protests against police brutality. You can watch the press conference in the video player above.

DETROIT – Health officials have ordered public swimming pools in Southeast Michigan to close to mitigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The Detroit Health Department Wayne County Public Health Division, Oakland County Health Division and the Macomb County Health Department all issued orders requiring public swimming pools to close indefinitely. The aim of the closures is to reduce the potential spread of coronavirus. Pools pose a low risk of transmitting COVID-19, but health officials are concerned about people not being able to maintain social distancing. MORE: Inflatable pools boom in popularity as Metro Detroit public pools remain closedRead the full press release below:

DETROIT – Here we are tracking the city of Detroit’s coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths. The Detroit Health Department has been releasing data for daily cases and deaths, and the breakdown by sex, race and age groups. VIEW: Detroit is now mapping COVID-19 cases by ZIP codeMore:

May 7: The Mayor will announce the start of construction on a half-dozen projects, totaling $120 million. Joining him will be two of the developers, as well as representatives of the TCF Center field hospital.

DETROIT – The city of Detroit is now mapping cases by zip code. The zip code 48235 in the Northwest part of the city near Eight Mile Road and Southfield Freeway has the most cases. Updated April 18 -- Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 30,791; Death toll now at 2,308 with 3,237 recoveries reported“I hope you can see the yellow line that’s Detroit. As of mid April, Detroit’s Health Department says there are 7,947 positive COVID-19 cases and 590 deaths, in the city alone. Zip code is 48221 is also in the top three with 507 cases.

DETROIT – The Detroit Health Department has started releasing COVID-19 cases by ZIP code. According the new map released Saturday, April 18, the 48235 ZIP code -- south of 8 Mile Road, north of Puritan Avenue and between the Southfield Freeway and Meyers Road -- has the most confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) with 724 cases. Take a look at the map here. The city says some ZIP codes with very low case counts are excluded from the map to protect privacy. Here’s more COVID-19 data from the Detroit Health Department:More: COVID-19 data for Michigan

DETROIT – The Detroit Health Department and Neighborhood Department are hosting conference calls to share information regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with non-English speaking residents. The conference calls will take place March 31, April 7 and April 14. Conference calls will be available at the following times in the following languages:2 p.m. - Arabic4 p.m. - Bengali6 p.m. - SpanishTo access the conference call, dial one of the following phone numbers:929-436-2866312-626-6799346-248-7799Individuals must then enter the following code into the phone to access the meeting:363 140 9738 # (pound sign)For more information, contact your District Administrator or Deputy District Administrator or call 313-224-4415.

Detroit health chief announces city has more than 400 confirmed COVID-19 casesPublished: March 23, 2020, 3:17 pmDenise Fair, the chief public health officer of the Detroit Health Department, announced the figure -- 414 confirmed cases, to be exact -- during a news conference with the mayor on Monday, March 23, 2020.

DETROIT - The Detroit Health Department announced Friday health officials have confirmed a case of measles in a Detroit resident who recently returned from overseas travel. The person also went to their physicians office in Macomb County and everyone who was exposed at that location was directly notified, according to the health department. They are instructed to call the Detroit Health Department Immunizations Clinic at 313-876-4667 to determine they are considered a measles risk and in need of additional treatment to lower the risk of contracting measles. Vaccination is recommended within 3 days of exposure, or Immune-globulin (Ig) (an injectable medication) within six days of exposure by Monday, July 22. Anyone who was at Childrens Hospital of Michigan should watch for symptoms of measles for 21 days through Aug. 6, 2019.