With Michigan’s obesity rate climbing, a Stanford University study details how infected fat cells add risk to the coronavirus
Michigan Health Watch
In-depth reporting on the intersection between public policy and important health topics ‒ such as insurance coverage, hospital admissions, opioid abuse, access to care, medical research and the business of health care ‒ that impact nearly every Michigan resident.
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As COVID-19 surges in Michigan, no new restrictions planned by state
Michigan’s hospitals are treating the most COVID-19 patients ever and case counts are rising. State officials say getting vaccines and boosters are critical, but they are not considering any sweeping new restrictions or mandates.
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Omicron variant arrives in Michigan. What you need to know
Michigan is at least the 24th state to report a COVID-19 case stemming from an omicron variant. It was detected in a fully vaccinated resident of Kent County.
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Breakthrough COVID deaths, illnesses mount, as boosters lag in Michigan
Six months after most vaccinations, a quarter of all COVID deaths and hospitalizations are breakthrough cases. Most severe cases, though, are among the unvaccinated.
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Michigan hospitals at COVID-induced capacities, as moods turn angrier
For more than two months, healthcare leaders have warned of packed hospitals. Frazzled doctors, nurses and other staff are sometimes fending off angry patients, some with nowhere else to go.
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Bomb threats, school closings tighten student stress after Oxford shootings
A school shooting, “uniquely horrific” on its own, has been layered on top of two years of uncertainty and anger for Michigan’s youth. No one should expect a “normal” school day any time soon, experts say.
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85% of Michigan inpatient and ICU beds are full, some patients turned away
Spectrum Health in west Michigan hit a system-level record high for patients, forcing them to turn away more transfer patients from smaller or more rural hospitals. ‘It’s heartbreaking,’ the system’s president said.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
U.S. military medical teams to aid Michigan as COVID swamps hospitals
The U.S. Defense Department is sending teams to health systems in metro Detroit and Grand Rapids to help overwhelmed staff deal with a surge of COVID, other patients. Michigan now leads the nation in hospitalization and COVID case rates.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
As COVID rises, CDC approves boosters for all adults, Michigan urges masks
Federal health authorities Friday approved boosters to be made available for millions more U.S. adults. While in Lansing, the state health department pleaded for residents to wear masks but stopped short of a mandate.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
COVID testing is critical in Michigan. But how soon is too soon?
Testing too early after you’ve been exposed to COVID, or “panic testing,” will likely offer little more than a false sense of security. With holidays beckoning, this “gray zone” in testing could unwittingly spread infection.