NATASHA BAGDASARIAN

A new online tool lets Michigan residents track down the nearest spots where they can find testing and therapeutic treatments for COVID-19.

Using a new online tool, Michigan residents can now locate COVID-19 treatments or medications available near them. These therapies, available to some considered more likely to develop severe disease, are used to reduce the chance of hospitalizations, emergency room visits and deaths. Solv., a web service that helps patients make appointments or video visits and schedule tests, provides phone numbers and operating hours. People are eligible for monoclonal antibodies, laboratory-produced molecules that act as substitute antibodies, when they are older, obese, pregnant or have chronic kidney disease, diabetes, immunosuppressive disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, sickle cell disease or neurodevelopmental disorders. Deaths are down, as are the number of COVID patients in intensive care.

Michigan residents who are dealing with a COVID-19 infection can now search for potential treatment options near them.

COVID-19 cases are expected to increase through May

Michigan health officials are encouraging residents to continue taking steps to prevent COVID-19 spread, as an omicron subvariant is expected to trigger a rise in cases.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is reminding residents that yes, COVID-19 remains a threat. Overall, the seven-day average of new, confirmed cases in Michigan is the highest it has been since February. RELATED: Cases, hospitalizations up again: Michigan COVID data for Thursday, April 21This is not unexpected, according to the health department. The state health department encourages people to test before group celebrations and gatherings, especially when vulnerable people, older people and residents with pre-existing medical conditions, will be in attendance. Last week, about 1,600 people received a first dose, according to the state health department.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the first influenza-related child death in Michigan for the 2021-2022 flu season, the agency announced.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the first influenza-related child death in Michigan for the 2021-2022 flu season.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services urges sexually active Michiganders to do their part and make testing for STIs a part of their regular health routine.

Michigan is expanding a program to offer free at-home COVID tests at local libraries, with now 70 locations offering tests.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian has talked a bit about this before, but this is really the most concrete she’s been on our path to put the worst of the pandemic behind us, hopefully.

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.”

Postal Service started mailing free at-home rapid antigen tests to people who requested them in January. “A lot of things came late,” agreed Rafael Meza when asked about the respirator masks and at-home tests. He is a professor of epidemiology and global public health in the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. She also received the free at-home tests. “I’ve been going out, and I haven’t gotten sick at all.”Hamed said still is important to have the at-home tests.

As Michigan’s COVID situation continues to improve, the state health department is further easing some of its guidance related to quarantining and case reporting. The most significant change made Friday, March 11, was the move away from home quarantining for individuals who are exposed to someone who is positive for COVID-19. Instead, that individual should monitor themselves for symptoms for 10 days and consider wearing a mask around others for that time. This move away from at-home quarantining does not affect guidance for health care, long-term care, corrections or other high-risk settings. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also rescinded its requirement that schools must report confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19.

Michigan health officials have updated the state’s quarantine and isolation guidelines as COVID cases continue to drop following the omicron surge.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced a new update on its COVID-19 Isolation & Quarantine guidance as the state enters post-surge, recovery phase.

We’re talking with Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, as the state adjusts its pandemic response strategy with cases slowing down.

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Monroe County is now reported at "substantial" level of COVID-19. This is an improvement from "high transmission" noted for several months.

Michigan’s chief medical executive says residents should prepare for COVID to continue to come in waves.

Michigan is altering its indoor mask guidance, including in K-12 schools, to reflect the improving COVID-19 picture throughout the state. On Wednesday, Feb. 16, the state health department announced a withdrawal of its public health advisory on masking in indoor public settings, which was put in place in November. The advisory recommended all people wear a face mask indoors in public settings, regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, masking requirements can be put in place by local health departments, organizations, businesses, event organizers, and/or school districts. They include:Response – Local and state public health implement rapid response to a surge.

"... we are cautiously optimistic about the COVID-19 trends we're seeing in most regions of the state," State of Michigan officials said.

Still, they said a drop-off in vaccine uptake requires a change of direction. “They’ll have to keep adapting the message to the new environment.”As of early February, Michigan’s vaccine uptake trailed the national average by 6%. It had gotten first-dose vaccines to 64.6% of its 5 and older population, or more than 6.08 million residents. “We’re seeing that younger adults don’t have the same vaccine uptake of older adults,” Bagdasarian said. “We’re seeing the children still don’t have the same vaccine uptake as people who are middle-aged or older adults.

This Week on One Detroit:How protective is wearing a face mask, and why do some choose to wear it while others don’t? Producer AJ Walker and community journalist Daijah Moss take to the streets for American Black Journal to talk with Detroiters about their thoughts on wearing a mask to protect against COVID-19. More than two years into the pandemic, millions of people — COVID Long-Haulers — continue to deal with lingering symptoms months after first contracting the virus. Medical research on the topic is ongoing, but what have they discovered so far and what’s still to learn? Children certainly have gone through a lot since the COVID-19 pandemic started; all the up and downs, schools switching from open to closed, sometimes on a whim.

How protective is wearing a face mask, and why do some choose to wear it while others don’t? Producer AJ Walker and community journalist Daijah Moss take to the streets for American Black Journal to talk with Detroiters about their thoughts on wearing a mask to protect against COVID-19. Subscribe to One Detroit’s YouTube Channel & Don’t miss One Detroit Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56. Catch the daily conversations on our website, Facebook, Twitter @DPTVOneDetroit, and Instagram @One.DetroitWatch One Detroit every Monday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Detroit Public TV on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.

Daily COVID case counts and contact tracing have been long-maintained public health strategies throughout the coronavirus pandemic as a means to assess community transmission rates. As of Wednesday, Jan. 26, Michigan had reported an average 14,335 new confirmed COVID cases per day over the last week. Sullivan said he’d like to see a national standard created for quantifying COVID hospitalizations, which would allow states to be comparable and make assessing the data easier. While Michiganders can expect to see regular COVID case reporting for a while longer still, the state health department is making another shift on the reporting front. Read more on MLive:Michigan COVID data for Thursday, Jan. 27: Omicron starts to plateau in MichiganCOVID-19 Q&A: Should I report the results of my at-home rapid test?

Hospitals in the Detroit area were seeing some hopeful signs this week as the number of COVID-19 patients, though still high, decreased. Cases in southeast Michigan have plateaued while they are increasing in other regions of the state, according to a weekly state report and recent Michigan data. As of Friday, the regions, the most populous in Michigan, had 2,377 total patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. In December, there were more than 1,000 COVID-19 patients in intensive care. Michigan hospitals have not tracked and reported this information.

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?

VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI — The rate of weekly COVID-19 cases in Van Buren County has nearly doubled since the prior week, the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department reports. Currently, the rate of weekly cases are 1,131 cases for every 100,000 people, the health department said, based on data from the seven-day period ending Jan. 11. Van Buren County has seen 14,067 COVID cases total and 225 deaths since the start of the pandemic. The omicron variant was identified in a Van Buren County resident on Jan. 3, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) said. The state recently charted its highest-ever number of weekly COVID-19 cases, with almost 130,000 reported.

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced another military medical team will arrive in Michigan to help hospital workers during the omicron surge. Gretchen Whitmer’s office announced a 30-person civilian disaster assistance team was heading to the Wyandotte hospital and would stay two weeks. As of Wednesday, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wayne County topped 300,000 and nearly 1/3 of the state’s total confirmed omicron cases are there. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, estimated about 90% of cases are omicron in Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties. In 2021, about 88% of those hospitalized in Michigan were unvaccinated, according to state data through Jan. 3.

A medical team from the military is being sent to Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital as COVID cases in Michigan continue to spike.

Michigan’s record high COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations could peak in late January or early February before beginning to drop.

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CASS COUNTY, MI -- The omicron variant of COVID-19 is now in Cass County, health officials said. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services identified a case of omicron in Cass County, the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department said in a news release Tuesday, Jan. 11. Those with the omicron variant can spread the illness to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms. In Cass and Van Buren counties, residents can be tested for COVID-19, regardless of symptoms. In Cass County, testing is available every Monday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital, 420 W. High St., Dowagiac.

Michigan is only reporting about 600 confirmed omicron cases in the state, but Bagdasarian said this information, generated through limited genomic sequencing, lags transmission by about a week or more. A rise in cases is expected after the holidays, when many inevitably travel and gather for family events and parties. Now, cases are steeply increasing, and they likely are not headed downward until later this month or early next month. This is no longer something that’s causing a few 100 or just a few 1,000 cases around the state. The state has received 200 additional ventilators from the Strategic National Stockpile and the state health department is working with local health departments and other partners to continue to hold vaccination clinics.

With Michigan in the midst of its most dramatic COVID spike to date, health officials held a briefing to address this surge and talk about where the state is heading.

Michigan public health leaders and physicians are scheduled to provide an update on current COVID-19 metrics as they urge residents to protect themselves from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Michigan is changing its quarantine and isolation guidance for K-12 schools to align with federal recommendations, less than two weeks after state health officials chose to stick with the lengthier timelines. Guidance varies based on the presence of symptoms, vaccination status and willingness to wear a mask in school. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and/or display COVID-19 symptomsThey should isolate regardless of vaccination status. In addition to the latest guidance on isolation and quarantining, the state continues to recommend a layered prevention strategy. The CDC came out with its updated guidance on isolation and quarantine in late December.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released updated K-12 guidelines for COVID-19 that reflect the updates the Centers for Disease Control made that include a shortened quarantine and isolation period in some cases.

Michigan public health leaders and physicians are scheduled to provide an update on current COVID-19 metrics as they urge residents to protect themselves from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Michigan public health leaders and physicians are scheduled to provide an update on current COVID-19 metrics as they urge residents to protect themselves from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Michigan health officials updated their K-12 school quarantine and isolation guidance to reflect updates made by the CDC.

Michigan health officials say the state has received its first shipment of newly authorized COVID-19 pill treatments, but it’ll only be prescribed in certain situations due to limited supply.

Local 4′s Dr. Frank McGeorge spent some time on Wednesday talking with Michigan’s chief medical officer, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian to get her take on the trends being seen in Michigan and across the nation.

LANSING, MI – Michigan is updating its COVID-19 quarantine guidance in accordance with recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These settings should continue to use existing guidelines and policies regarding quarantine and isolation, MDHHS stated. The specifics of the new COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidance will be shared as further information becomes available from the CDC. Last week MDHHS adopted updated CDC guidance on isolation and quarantine for healthcare workers. Read more:Michigan retaining longer quarantine, isolation guidelines despite CDC modifications in face of omicronCOVID Q&A: When will vaccines be available for younger kids?

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday that it will update its quarantine guidance to match new recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Michigan health officials are urging residents to avoid the emergency department at hospitals, outside of a life-threatening situation, to help alleviate pressure on health care systems as COVID continues to surge. That includes needing a COVID-19 test.

Michigan health officials are urging residents to avoid the emergency department at hospitals, outside of a life-threatening situation, to help alleviate pressure on health care systems as COVID continues to surge.

Photo courtesy: Spectrum HealthLANSING — The state health authorities are asking residents to start the new year of on the right track as the state continues to go through a surge in cases, and with a new COVID-19 variant in the mix. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recommend people get their booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting the COVID-19 vaccines and receiving a booster dose gives protection against severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19. It takes about two weeks to receive full protection after the booster dose – meaning critical extra protection will be available before Dec. 31. Michiganders should bring their COVID-19 vaccine card or immunization record with them when getting their booster dose, which are available at any vaccine provider.

Michigan's record-high number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients dipped Wednesday, the first drop in 49 days as health leaders continued to urge vaccinations while describing a dire situation inside hospitals.

Michigan’s record-high number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has dipped, the first drop in 49 days as health leaders continue to urge vaccinations while describing a dire situation inside hospitals.

Officials with the Henry Ford Health System held a virtual news conference Wednesday morning to provide an update on COVID-19 hospitalizations, vaccinations and the virus’ impact on operations.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Teens can soon get COVID-19 vaccine booster shots from Washtenaw County, and Michigan health officials are urging them to do so amid fears over the omicron variant and surge of coronavirus patients filling the state’s hospital beds. The Washtenaw County Health Department will begin offering Pfizer-BioNTech boosters for 16 and 17 year olds on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Read more: Washtenaw County offering COVID vaccine boosters to everyone age 18+The Washtenaw County Health Department is currently requiring appointments for all COVID vaccinations given at its Ypsilanti clinic, 555 Towner St., and they can be made online or by calling 734-544-6700. In addition, county health officials are hosting two pop-up vaccination events. For more on COVID vaccination and boosters see the Washtenaw County Health Department’s vaccine page here.

“We’re in a critical stage right now. We are surging. We’re leading the nation in terms of cases. We are trailing in terms of vaccinations, and we have omicron here.”

Following CDC approval, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging all eligible Michiganders 16 and up to get the Pfizer booster

The state reached a pandemic record this week in the number of hospitalized patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19. About 22% of beds are filled with COVID-19 patients. This is not just in COVID-19 patients. State officials are working with federal authorities to identify staffing resources to continue to support Michigan medical centers. This is so hospital workers can maintain a standard of care, of caring and empathy, for COVID patients and also the broader population.

“We’re in a critical stage right now. We are surging. We’re leading the nation in terms of cases. We are trailing in terms of vaccinations, and we have omicron here.”

MDHHS officials announced Friday that Michigan has the highest COVID-19 cases in the country and hospitalizations are way up especially for the unvaccinated. The Omicron variant has been detected in the state.

Michigan state public health leaders and doctors plan to provide an update on current COVID-19 metrics Friday as they urge residents to protect themselves from COVID and other respiratory illnesses.

Michigan state public health leaders and doctors plan to provide an update on current COVID-19 metrics Friday as they urge residents to protect themselves from COVID and other respiratory illnesses.

The omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 has hit Michigan. The state’s first case was detected in a person in Kent County, the...

Michigan health officials have identified the state’s first case of the COVID-19 omicron variant in Kent County.

Michigan identified 107 new COVID-19 outbreaks last week, including 46 linked to K-12 schools and 39 associated with long-term care facilities. But instead of offering regional outbreak data across 16 setting types, the state is now only reporting outbreak data across a select six setting types. Region 2N (Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties): 72 clusters, with 18 new and 54 ongoing outbreaks. Region 2S (city of Detroit and Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne counties): 64 clusters, with 12 new and 52 ongoing outbreaks. If you have any COVID-19 questions that you’d like answered, please submit them to covidquestions@mlive.com to be considered for future MLive reporting.

County and state health officials ask the public to continue following precautions such as social distancing, wearing masks and getting vaccinated.

The MI Backpack Home Tests initiative is kicking off this week in Charlotte Public Schools.

The state reported this week that as of last Friday, more than 87,000 (10.5 percent) of Michigan children ages 5 to 11 have received their first dose of the

Dr. Rob Davidson had just finished his shift as an emergency room physician in West Michigan on Wednesday when he sank into the front seat...

LANSING - The state has launched a program to make free at-home COVID-19 tests to families through schools.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will be issuing a face mask advisory ahead of the holidays due to the rise in COVID-19 and flu cases.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will be issuing a face mask advisory ahead of the holidays due to the rise in COVID-19 and flu cases.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is asking residents to take steps to protect themselves and others this flu season.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is reminding Michiganders to get flu vaccines after Michigan's first flu outbreak of the season occurred at the University of Michigan.

MICHIGAN - The state hit an important milestone in vaccinations against COVID-19 for adults this week.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 5.7 million people have received at least one dose.

“We had talked about it for so long that there really wasn’t any hesitation from him,” said Westerhof, 39. We’re ready to start living our lives again.”Since the vaccine became available for the age group, more than 40,000 Michigan children ages 5 to 11 have gotten their first dose of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine. Around the country, the White House estimated that about 900,000 children would receive a shot during the first week its available. Data from those trials indicated the vaccine was 91% effective at preventing symptomatic illness from coronavirus, with no serious adverse reactions reported. That’s why I signed my son up for an appointment a couple weeks away.”Jackie Franklin, 36, of St. Clair County, plans to get her four children vaccinated this weekend.

The new chief health executive of Michigan, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, joins Flashpoint host Devin Scillian for the first time to discuss COVID spread in the state, and just where things stand.

Michigan’s newest chief medical executive has been on the job for just a few weeks.

Flu vaccinations are more than 26% behind where they were last year, as of the end of October, according to the state’s Flu Vaccination Dashboard. As of Nov. 10, 2,069,527 Michigan residents have received a flu vaccine, far below the state’s goal of nearly 4 million vaccinations. Combined with relaxed relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, health officials say the low vaccination rates could lead to a much rougher flu season than last year’s nearly non-existent flu season. Getting the flu vaccine by Saturday, Nov. 20 is important for staying protected during Thanksgiving gatherings, Strasz said. “Getting vaccinated now gives you your best shot for getting together in a safe way this holiday season,” Bagdasarian said.

Q: My husband had COVID in May of 2020 and lost his sense of taste and smell. Did the virus permanently damage his sense receptors and/or nerves or is the virus just living in his nerves to prevent his smell from returning? In most documented cases, the sense has returned after a few weeks/months, but there are cases in which an individual has gone years or never regained their full sense of smell. There is evidence that the combination of natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity creates a strong hybrid level of protection against COVID-19. To find a vaccine near you, eligible residents can visit Michigan’s COVID-19 vaccine website or go to VaccineFinder.org.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services held a virtual event on Wednesday for parents as younger children start to get vaccinated against COVID.

The state of Michigan said it pre-ordered 287,700 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric COVID-19 vaccine.

The state of Michigan has pre-ordered 287,700 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric coronavirus vaccine as final approval is expected next week.

With the three major COVID-19 vaccines, our second pandemic winter should look a little more hopeful than the last, with Michigan case rates just starting to decline. Medical experts Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian and Dr. Emily Martin recommend staying vigilant against the virus this winter to protect friends and loved ones. Listen: Two Michigan medical experts on how to stay safe going into our second pandemic winter. She says recent COVID-19 case rates have been climbing slower than last year because of a larger vaccinated population. She says the known research behind the COVID-19 vaccine should be reassuring for those who are still hesitant to get vaccinated.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued an executive directive to state departments and agencies to expedite ordering of the COVID-19 vaccine for kids.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive directive meant to expedite distribution of the Pfizer pediatric coronavirus vaccinations.

Michiganders who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose are urged to do so now.

Michiganders who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose from Johnson & Johnson or Moderna are urged to do so now.

Michigan health officials have issued a list of COVID safety recommendations for children and adults planning to trick-or-treat or celebrate Halloween this month.

A Michigan house cat has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after a close contact with its owners who were infected with coronavirus, according to state officials. The cat was tested after it began to sneeze, and it has since recovered, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Dr. Nora Wineland, a state veterinarian, said the case isn’t unexpected, given that other pets around the world had previously tested positive. Wineland said the cases in animals have generally involved direct contact with an owner or caretaker who was ill or tested positive for COVID-19. For more information, check out the CDC’s webpage on animals & COVID-19, here.

Michigan health officials are urging residents to get the flu vaccine for the upcoming season, setting a goal of vaccinating 4 million Michiganders.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the former chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, has been named the vice president and chief health equity officer of CVS Health.

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Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, has taken a new job outside of state government and will be replaced by Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian during a search for a permanent replacement, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced.

Trying to figure out how to complete the fall sports season amid the coronavirus pandemic has proven difficult for Michigan high schools. However, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) believes it can be done safely through a new, pilot rapid testing program. “An opportunity came along to partner with the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). The tests are antigen rapid tests provided by MDHHS. Detroit Catholic Central High School’s football team is still in the playoffs, and Athletic Director Aaron Babicz said they have a tentative plan.