COVID-19 is flaring up statewide among migrant workers. Experts say close quarters, crops that won’t wait, mistrust are perfect growing conditions for outbreaks.
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 inSuccess
AARP: To guard Michigan seniors from coronavirus, avoid nursing homes
A new report says health disparities and economics helped expose Michigan’s oldest residents to COVID-19 and it offers recommendations that AARP Michigan’s director says are “achievable.”
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Report: Michigan hospitals shorted $130K per COVID-19 patient in federal aid
A new report highlights disparities in how federal coronavirus relief money was distributed, suggesting Michigan hospitals were shorted.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Coronavirus outbreak traced to East Lansing pub after Michigan bars reopen
Though the 18 people whose infections were traced to an East Lansing restaurant weren’t seriously sick, their positive tests raise concerns about the virus’ spread to others.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
In Michigan nursing homes, a no-win choice between infection and isolation
In lockdown against coronavirus, families face Father’s Day still separated from loved ones in Michigan’s long-term care facilities.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
For now, Michigan is a success story in flattening the pandemic curve
Counted as cases, deaths or positive test results, COVID-19 sinks to lowest sustained levels in three months in Michigan.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Extraordinary surgery in Michigan gives mom, daughters new faces
A rare disorder, Crouzen syndrome, dramatically disfigures the skull and face. More than cosmetic repair, the series of procedures reshapes the skull, relieving pressure on the brain and repairing hearing and vision loss and other problems.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
More than 1,900 coronavirus deaths in Michigan nursing homes
Michigan health officials finally announced the death toll for nursing homes and the results were sobering. Dozens of nursing homes had 20 deaths or more.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Feds halt emergency use of coronavirus drug backed by Trump
Early hopes that hydroxychloroquine could help treat COVID-19 patients have been dashed by research that questions the drug’s efficacy and safety. It does not appear the FDA’s ruling will impact a Michigan clinical trial.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Coronavirus lays bare health disparities amid Michigan protests
Some protesters in Michigan say they are focused on police brutality. Others see George Floyd’s death as “a crisis within crisis within a crisis,” with structural racism the common thread.