Michigan announces 77 new, free COVID-19 testing sites
LANSING, Mich. โ There are going to be 77 new, free COVID-19 test sites in Michigan, according to officials. READ: 4 differences between first Michigan COVID spike and nowThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is launching the new sites thanks to a partnership with Walgreens and the Michigan Primary Care Association. โCost should never be a barrier to Michiganders who need health care, including COVID-19 testing,โ said Gov. โContaining the pandemic requires robust, easily accessible, free testing โ and this is a big step in the right direction.โThe new partnership with Walgreens has expanded its COVID-19 testing to 36 locations through the state. Michiganโs expansion of its partnership with the Michigan Primary Care Association will ensure patients do not face costs for testing at 47 locations.
Free COVID-19 testing to take place in Manchester Sunday
MANCHESTER, Mich. On Sunday, the Michigan National Guard will offer no-cost COVID-19 testing from noon to 6 p.m. in Manchester, a village about 22 miles southwest of Ann Arbor. The free pop-up testing will take place in the parking lot of Riverside Intermediate School. Testing will be conducted by teams of Michigan National Guard members. It is supported by the Michigan National Guard and Manchester Schools. Find additional COVID-19 testing resources at www.washtenaw.org/COVID19testRiverside Intermediate School is at 710 E. Main St, Manchester.
Enough COVID-19 tests available in Metro Detroit, but results taking too long to come back
DETROIT There seem to be enough coronavirus (COVID-19) tests available in Metro Detroit, but results are often taking so long to come back that the tests are rendered essentially useless. Testing and tracing are pillars of the public health response to COVID-19, but right now testing is falling short across the U.S. For everyone else, COVID-19 test results take more than seven days, or in some cases, even as long as two weeks. LabCorp, another national testing corporation, said on July 19 that its tests are taking an average of 3-5 days to come back from the time of specimen pickup. Anyone who wants a faster result on a COVID-19 test should check with local facilities performing tests in their own labs.
Phase 3 testing begins on drug that could prevent COVID-19 infection
DETROIT Medical experts have been using coronavirus antibodies in the form of convalescent plasma to help patients fighting COVID-19, but new research could take that concept to the next level. RELATED: Evrod Cassimy donates plasma, coronavirus antibodies to help othersThe idea is creative a drug that would not only treat those infected with coronavirus, but potentially help prevent infections too. According to biotechnology company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, phase three clincal trials are now in the works for REGN-COV2, their combination antibody treatment for COVID-19. The drug is a combination of two antibodies -- the proteins the body makes to naturally fight infections. Regeneron was awarded a $450 million contract to manufacture and supply the antibody treatment as part of the federal governments push to get a vaccine by January 2021.
What is pooled testing? How could it help test more people faster?
READ: How to improve your mask breathIts called pooled testing, or group testing, basically it uses one test to test multiple people. Pooled testing takes samples from multiple people and mixes them together to be tested. If the pooled sample comes back positive then each sample needs to be retested individually to find which person is positive. The FDA is working on validating pooled testing for COVID-19. Researchers in Germany have been using the technique since mid-March to screen patients and staff at nursing and residential care homes.