The state will stop trying to contact everybody infected or exposed to COVID — something it has not been able to effectively do for some time. It will now focus on schools, nursing homes, prisons and other congregate settings.
Robin Erb
Robin Erb covers a range of health issues in Michigan, including the industry of aging and the issues facing older residents in Michigan, a state that is aging faster than most others. She joined Bridge in 2019 and has led investigations that tracked millions of dollars in opioid settlement money and explored severe worker shortages in health care that threaten lives and the state's economy. She chronicled the shock and grief of Michigan families in COVID’s wake, as well as state policy decisions and the triumphs of medical breakthroughs. Robin previously spent six years covering health at the Detroit Free Press, documenting the battle over, and the eventual passage of, the Affordable Care Act and Michigan's Medicaid expansion. She studied communications and political science at Miami University and has a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Lourdes University (Toledo, Ohio). She and her husband raised two wonderful children — but have failed miserably at training their Beagle-Bassets — in southeast Michigan. Reach her at rerb@bridgemi.com.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan accused of undercounting COVID deaths in long-term care facilities
The head of the state’s health department says she stands by the data, claiming a state auditor general review is politically motivated.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
At-home COVID tests to be covered by Michigan insurers. Here’s what to know.
On Saturday, a new federal policy allows consumers to purchase up to eight at-home tests a month with insurance. It’s intended to make at-home testing cheaper, but there is some devil in the details.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan follows CDC lead, cuts quarantine guidance for schools
Students, teachers and staffers could return to school in five days rather than 10 under most circumstances.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
COVID treatment pills in Michigan. But only a few will get them, for now.
Short supplies nationally and tight eligibility limitations for Paxlovid and molnupiravier will restrict access to the most vulnerable (which includes some unvaccinated patients).
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan kids ages 12 to 15 now poised to be eligible for COVID boosters
The decision by the CDC’s vaccine advisory board must get the final okay from CDC’s director, but convincing parents may be a whole other matter.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Can at-home COVID tests be trusted with omicron? There are limits.
Lab experts and doctors — along with the FDA — say omicron appears better than its predecessors at ducking detection.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
‘It’s not letting up’: Omicron fuels surge of Michigan hospitalizations
Things were looking up, but the fast-spreading variant is filling hospitals again, especially in hard-hit southeast Michigan. The good news is omicron is mild for most.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Feds authorize ‘game-changer’ anti-COVID pill as omicron hits Michigan
The first-ever COVID treatment in a pill drops risk of hospitalization and death for those infected by 89 percent, according to drugmaker Pfizer. But only some people will qualify to get it.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Ohio gave away millions of at-home COVID tests. Michigan, not so much.
The Buckeye state used federal funds to freely distribute 4.8 million at-home COVID tests at libraries, schools, rec centers and union halls. Michigan is nowhere close to those numbers as the holidays loom.