Further action needed to ensure humane animal testing in Michigan, says AG opinion
State Rep. Matt Koleszar, D-Plymouth, submitted a request to the Attorney General’s office asking for an opinion to enforce the law in Michigan surrounding the use of animals in experimentation. The law also required research facilities to comply with those rules or lose the ability to operate. Instead, researchers have continued to conduct animal experiments without any state regulation of how the animals are treated. First, that MDHHS should draft the Michigan standards with the understanding that certain federal laws and regulation also apply to entities conducting animal research. And secondly, that her opinion does not intend to mandate that all currently ongoing animal research in Michigan must cease — unless and until the laboratories are registered by DHHS.
mlive.comMichigan reports first 2 suspected cases of unexplained hepatitis in children
LANSING, MI – Two Michigan children are suspected of having a severe and rare form of hepatitis that is under investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Neither of the Michigan children previously had COVID-19. Related: Hepatitis outbreak in children, CDC sends out nationwide alertThe CDC is currently investigating cases of 109 children with “hepatitis of an unknown cause,” officials say. “Although rare, children can have severe hepatitis and it’s not uncommon for the cause to be unknown,” Butler said. Cases of the severe hepatitis in children have popped up in 11 other countries.
mlive.comMichigan health officials don’t track COVID among people with disabilities despite high risk of death
From the start of the COVID pandemic, people with disabilities have been left out of the conversation when it comes to fighting the virus, even though they’re members of highly vulnerable communities.
Michigan’s health assessment of toxic gas in Kalamazoo delayed again
KALAMAZOO, MI -- The release of a health assessment on a toxic gas found in a portion of Kalamazoo will be delayed a second time from initial estimates, according to an update from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). MDHHS told MLive this week the timeline has been delayed further. She told MLive on March 30 it is “really messed up” that the report is being delayed. Related: Kalamazoo factory at center of health probe ready to discuss ‘benefits agreement’ with community; residents want money to relocateFormer resident and activist Brandi Crawford-Johnson said it’s unfortunate the health assessment is being delayed again. The health report is expected to examine the concentrations of chemicals found, and determine any specific health risks associated with them.
mlive.comMichigan COVID takeaways: Future surges, BA.2 variant, eliminating virus a ‘pipe dream’
Michigan’s top doctor provided a thorough update on the state’s COVID situation Friday, talking about how long the current lull in cases might last, addressing the likelihood of upcoming surges, monitoring the BA.2 variant and calling the chance of eliminating the virus anytime soon a “pipe dream.”
Michigan urged to address racial disparities in child protection system
To tackle these racial disparities head-on, Michigan’s Child Welfare Improvement Task Force made recommendations to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for preventing and eliminating systemic racism in the state’s child protection system. The task force, which convened in the Fall of 2020, is headed by Demetrius Starling, executive director of the MDHHS Children’s Services Agency. “MDHHS believes the overrepresentation of children of color in the child welfare system requires fundamental systems change,” Starling said. According to MDHHS, after listening to youth, families, staff and key stakeholders, the task force identified six recommendations to address problems that are contributing to racial and ethnic disparities:1. Visit michigancwtf.org to read the full task force report.
mlive.comMDHHS task force to assess obstacles facing LGBTQ+ families wanting to adopt
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is forming a task force within the department to support LGBTQ+ families who want to foster or adopt children. The MiFamily Advancement and Leadership for LGBTQ+ Youth (ALLY) and Families task force will assess how the child welfare system supports LGBTQ+ families, engage the LGBTQ+ community and learn from their perspectives, and make recommendations for how the department can best serve these families. Related: LGBTQ+ couples can be denied adoptions by religious agencies under latest MDHHS settlement - mlive.comIn both cases, the faith-based adoption agencies challenged the MDHHS non-discrimination policy which stated adoption agencies with state contracts can’t turn away prospective LGBTQ+ parents. Peter Spadafore and Dr. Stacie Gibson will co-chair the task force. Other members of the task force will be announced soon, according to MDHHS.
mlive.comState sometimes failed to notify police of alleged criminal activity against vulnerable adults, audit finds
APS, which is directed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, provides protection and assistance to vulnerable adults. The problem the Auditor General lays out is that the state was often too slow to bring forward an investigation of complaints. Approximately 20% of the APS investigations reviewed did not properly begin within 24 hours of the incident, the audit found. While 37% of APS investigations were open longer than 5 months, 29% of APS investigations were closed because of an adult’s death. The February report is the second time this year that the state health department has defended itself against findings from the Auditor General.
mlive.comFree COVID-19 testing site opens at Kalamazoo County Expo Center
KALAMAZOO, MI — Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Humans Services, (MDHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control, (CDC) has opened a COVID-19 PCR testing location in Kalamazoo County. Curbside, self-administered testing will be available at no out-of-pocket cost and results will be delivered electronically within 2 to 3 days. The site is located at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St., Kalamazoo, MI 49048. Appointments are available on weekdays, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., the health department said. Kalamazoo County had 51,141 confirmed cases as of Monday, Feb. 14.
mlive.comDetroit Public Schools Community District Announces Program To Provide COVID-19 Vaccines For Students
The Detroit Public Schools Community District announced that in a new partnership, it is the first school district in Detroit to become a childhood immunization provider and the first district to be fully authorized to administer COVID-19...
detroit.cbslocal.comMichigan officials address odor coming from Stellantis Mack Assembly Plant in Detroit
In a virtual meeting Thursday (Jan 27), EGLE announced Stellantis has a 3-part plan to fix four odor violations and one for improper ductwork at the Mack Assembly Plant. Part of the presentation featured a toxicologist with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services who reviewed air samples.
Michigan officials address odor coming from Stellantis Mack Assembly Plant in Detroit
In a virtual meeting Thursday (Jan 27), EGLE announced Stellantis has a 3-part plan to fix four odor violations and one for improper ductwork at the Mack Assembly Plant. Part of the presentation featured a toxicologist with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services who reviewed air samples.
LGBTQ+ couples can be denied adoptions by religious agencies under latest MDHHS settlement
It limits MDHHS’s ability to enforce its non-discrimination policy under certain circumstances, including the agencies’ right to decline LGBTQ+ couples looking to adopt or foster children on religious grounds. Under the prior settlement, adoption agencies could deny adoption services to LGBTQ+ people only if the children involved were not referred to them by the state. Now, faith-based adoption agencies are once again able to deny service to LGBTQ+ couples if they believe there is a conflict with their religious values. MDHHS said it will soon announce plans to further build upon its engagement with LGBTQ+ families including assessment of any service gaps or program enhancements necessary to meet the needs of LGTBQ+ families. “I applaud MDHHS’s commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ families and our state’s most vulnerable children,” said Attorney General Dana Nessel.
mlive.comFlashpoint interview: Michigan’s chief medical officer discusses omicron, when surge could peak, COVID tests
This week on Flashpoint, the state of Michigan’s chief medical officer Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian discussed the COVID-19 pandemic in our state -- have we seen the worst of it or is it yet to come?
Michiganders receiving food assistance will see an extra payment this month
All Michigan families who are eligible for food assistance benefits are receiving an additional monthly payment in January in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced Tuesday, Jan. 11. Approximately 1.28 million Michiganders in close to 700,000 households will receive additional food assistance benefits.
mlive.comMDHHS Awarded Grant To Address Mental Health Of SE Michigan Flood Survivors
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and its Detroit-area partners will receive federal funding to provide support for residents in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties who were emotionally impacted by the floods last...
detroit.cbslocal.comMichigan Department of Health shortening isolation and quarantine guidance for K-12 schools
The new guidance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says that you should isolate for five days if you test positive for COVID. Then, if you don’t have symptoms, you can return to school as long as you are wearing a well-fitted mask for six to 10 days.
Michigan reports 43 new COVID-19 outbreaks in Jan. 4 report
Health officials identified 43 new COVID-19 outbreaks last week, the majority of which were linked to K-12 schools and long-term care facilities. The Department of Health and Human Services is also tracking 660 ongoing outbreaks from previous weeks, according to the MDHHS report published Tuesday, Jan. 4. On Monday, Jan. 3, Michigan reported a seven-day average of 12,442 daily COVID-19 cases, far surpassing the prior pandemic record. Below is an interactive map of active COVID outbreaks noted in the Jan. 3 K-12 school outbreaks report. Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 93 clusters, with nine new and 84 ongoing outbreaks.
mlive.comMichigan reports 71 new COVID-19 outbreaks in final report of 2021
Michigan health officials identified 71 new COVID-19 outbreaks last week, including 42 in K-12 schools and 19 in long-term care facilities. The Department of Health and Human Services is also tracking 707 ongoing outbreaks from previous weeks, according to the MDHHS report published Wednesday, Dec. 20. Below is an interactive map of active COVID outbreaks noted in the Dec. 27 K-12 school outbreaks report. Region 2N (Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties): 53 clusters, with nine new and 44 ongoing outbreaks. Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 96 clusters, with 26 new and 70 ongoing outbreaks.
mlive.comMichigan identifies 140 new COVID-19 outbreaks, per Dec. 14 report
Health officials identified 140 new COVID-19 outbreaks last week in Michigan, which was up 30.8% from the week prior. The state health department is also investigating 757 ongoing outbreaks from prior weeks, according to outbreaks report published Tuesday, Dec. 14. Ongoing outbreaks have already been identified in previous weeks but have had at least one new associated case reported in the last two weeks. Among the new outbreaks, 47 were linked to K-12 schools and 47 were associated with long-term care facilities. Below is an interactive map of active COVID outbreaks noted in the Dec. 13 school outbreaks report.
mlive.comMichigan Democrat wants state to end asset tests for SNAP recipients
SB 725 would amend the Social Welfare Act so that Michigan stops using asset tests to determine eligibility for food assistance. Beneficiaries are also subject to a $15,000 asset test requiring that they must not have more than that amount in any account to receive SNAP benefits. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, said Michigan residents who receive assistance on food shouldn’t have to choose between food or poverty. “When they have assets, they get denied for food stamps.”Asset limits for food assistance, cash assistance and State Emergency Relief have been set at $15,000 since Gov. Asset limits for these programs vary widely among states, but eight states have no asset limit, according to the state department.
mlive.comState of Michigan secures additional staffing to support hospitals amid COVID-19 surge, state sees more than 17,000 new cases over a two day period
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has announced a federal grant to help hire additional staff at Michigan hospitals with COVID-19.
arabamericannews.comActive COVID-19 outbreaks up 9% in Michigan, per Nov. 8 report
Michigan’s health officials identified 181 new COVID-19 outbreaks last week, to go along with 744 ongoing outbreaks from prior weeks. In total there were 925 active outbreaks included in the Department of Health and Human Services’ weekly outbreaks report published Monday, Nov. 8. Long-term care facilities followed with 38 outbreaks, while childcare/youth programs had 10 outbreaks and manufacturing/construction sites had eight. Related: 666 infected across 104 new coronavirus outbreaks at Michigan schoolsBelow is an interactive map of active COVID outbreaks noted in the Nov. 8 school outbreaks report. Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 97 clusters, with 30 new and 67 ongoing outbreaks.
mlive.comNew COVID-19 outbreaks climbed 41% last week in Michigan
Health officials identified 195 new COVID-19 outbreaks throughout Michigan last week, marking a 41.3% increase from the prior week. Additionally, the state is tracking 655 ongoing outbreaks from previous weekly reports, bringing the total active outbreaks to 850. Region 2N (Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties): 104 clusters, with 21 new and 83 ongoing outbreaks. Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 62 clusters, with 24 new and 38 ongoing outbreaks. Two (one new and one ongoing) clusters linked to an outdoor community exposure like a concert, rally, protest, parade, etc.
mlive.comFlint mobile food pantries to continue in November
FLINT, MI — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will continue to provide nutritious food by the truckload to Flint residents throughout November. MDHHS has provided the Flint mobile food pantries since February 2016 in partnership with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint. November dates for distributions are as follows:Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 Ballenger Hwy. Monday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m.Monday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m.Monday, Nov. 15, at 10 a.m.Monday, Nov. 22, at 10 a.m.Monday, Nov. 29, at 10 a.m.End Times, 4002 S. Dort Hwy. Monday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m.Monday, Nov. 8, at 11 a.m.Monday, Nov. 15, at 11 a.m.Monday, Nov. 22, at 11 a.m.Monday, Nov. 29, at 11 a.m.Asbury United Methodist Church, 1653 Davison RoadTuesday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m.Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m.Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m.Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 10 a.m.Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 10 a.m.
mlive.comMichigan adds 138 new COVID-19 outbreaks, per Oct. 25 report
Michigan health officials identified 138 new COVID-19 outbreaks last week, which was a reduction of almost 28% from the prior week. However, with 678 ongoing outbreaks carrying over from previous weekly reports, the state is monitoring 816 active outbreaks as of Monday, Oct. 25. Related: 428 infected across 76 new COVID-19 outbreaks at Michigan schoolsBelow is an interactive map of active COVID outbreaks noted in the Oct. 25 school outbreaks report. Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 56 clusters, with 15 new and 41 ongoing outbreaks. Two clusters (both ongoing) linked to personal services, such as a hair and/or nail salon, or a gym or spa.
mlive.comMichigan adds 191 new COVID-19 outbreaks in Oct. 18 report
Michigan health officials identified 191 new COVID-19 outbreaks last week, which was up nearly 19% from the previous week. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services’ weekly outbreaks report noted 593 ongoing outbreaks as of Monday, Oct. 18. Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 70 clusters, with 20 new and 50 ongoing outbreaks. A total of 412 outbreaks involved K-12 schools, with the remaining eight outbreaks on or around college campuses. Read more on MLive:Look up 2020 non-COVID vaccination rates for Michigan schools, day care centersMichigan COVID-19 caseload is 3 times higher than this time last year.
mlive.comMichigan’s COVID-19 outbreaks tick up 6% last week, per Oct. 11 report
Michigan reported 758 active COVID-19 outbreaks last week, up 5.7% from the prior week when there were 717. The health department’s latest outbreaks report, published Monday, Oct. 11, included 161 new outbreaks and 597 that carried over from previous weekly reports. Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 68 clusters, with 13 new and 55 ongoing outbreaks. A total of 393 outbreaks involved K-12 schools, with the remaining 11 outbreaks on or around college campuses. 42 clusters (11 new and 31 ongoing) occurred at child-care centers or youth programs not associated with a school.
mlive.comMichigan’s COVID outbreaks increased another 13% last week, per Oct. 4 report
Michigan reported 717 active COVID-19 outbreaks last week, up 12.7% from the prior week when there were 636. The health department’s Monday, Oct. 4, outbreaks report included 167 new outbreaks, including 94 linked to K-12 schools and 26 associated with long-term care facilities. Region 2N (Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties): 68 clusters, with 14 new and 54 ongoing outbreaks. Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 72 clusters, with 20 new and 52 ongoing outbreaks. Three clusters (all ongoing) linked to personal services, such as a hair and/or nail salon, or a gym or spa.
mlive.comMichigan coronavirus outbreaks increase by 28% since last week
Region 2N (Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties): 56 clusters, with nine new and 47 ongoing outbreaks. Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 38 clusters, with 11 new and 27 ongoing outbreaks. There were no ongoing outbreaks there. Three clusters (zero new and three ongoing) linked to an indoor community exposure such as a concert, meeting, etc. Two clusters (zero new, two ongoing) linked to personal services, such as a hair and/or nail salon, or a gym or spa.
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