A federal panel Tuesday evening issued guidance that prioritizes Michigan’s front-line workers and its elderly in long-term care facilities. Vaccines for other vulnerable groups to follow, before the general public.
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
COVID vaccine for Michigan health workers may arrive by next week
Michigan’s health care workers would be the first in line to receive a vaccine, which was developed within a year — an unprecedented effort against a deadly virus. A vaccine for the general population could arrive as early as spring, Michigan’s chief medical executive tells Bridge.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
He had dementia and COVID. She wanted to hold him when he died.
After months of being separated from her husband during the COVID lockdown, Melanie Zeiger was thrilled to move Jerry into adult foster care, where she could hold his hand. Then COVID returned to the state’s long-term care centers, isolating them once more.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan officials say no to big Thanksgiving gatherings. Who will listen?
A worst-case scenario calls for 1,000 weekly Michigan deaths from coronavirus by year’s end if we don’t change our ways. But getting compliance from those opposed to government pandemic orders is proving a hard sell.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan to close high schools, colleges, bars for 3 weeks as COVID spikes
A surge in the coronavirus in Michigan means another round of restrictions, including efforts to limit family gatherings for Thanksgiving.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Want a COVID test for your Michigan Thanksgiving? Expect… to… wait.
With a surge on demand for testing — which is expected to grow in the coming days — some labs already face a backlog.
Posted inMichigan Government
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: COVID’s deadliest days in Michigan loom ahead
Just hours after Michigan hospital leaders urged the wearing of masks, the governor pleaded with residents to cancel large Thanksgiving and holiday plans and take urgent measures to prevent the virus’ spread.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan hospitals plead with residents to mask up, ditch holiday plans
With a surge in COVID cases across the state and country, hospital staff is limited. The CEO’s say another statewide lock-down isn’t the answer but are urging residents instead to take personal steps to reduce spread of the virus.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan passes 200,000 COVID cases. What we’ve learned, and haven’t.
Michigan’s public health leaders and doctors begin to wonder: Will a pandemic-weary public take notice?
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
A small hospital in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula braces for COVID
There are 15 hospitals sprinkled across more than 300 miles in the U.P. Many have no or few beds for ICU patients. And that’s usually fine, until a pandemic strikes.