A doctor, author and national expert on epidemics through the ages, Dr. Howard Markel of the University of Michigan managed to avoid COVID for nearly three years. Then he faced the ‘human petri dish’ of international travel.
Guarantees of free COVID tests end with the last day of the national public health emergency, and there will be less data to pore through. But other impacts from a deadly pandemic will remain.
Local governments are flush with one-time federal and state money but face staff shortages, rising costs and rapidly approaching deadlines to spend funds. Having the money is not the same as being able to push it out the door for needed investments.
The updated booster is for those over 65 or with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals under the age of 50 currently are not recommended to get multiple booster shots.
Michigan’s health department is reaching out to Medicaid beneficiaries with a warning: You’ll get cut from coverage if you don’t re-enroll. But the outreach won’t be easy; mailing addresses have changed.
With complete control of governance, Democrats passed a raft of liberal bills within their first 100 days. Republicans are annoyed, sounding much like Democrats from years past. Now comes the hard part.
If based solely by population, Michigan had the 10th worst COVID death rate of any state in the nation. But when adjusted for the state’s older and less healthy population, the state’s handling of the pandemic fares much better.
A new review from a British research group with a sterling reputation declares that community masking against respiratory viruses like flu and COVID ‘probably makes little or no difference.’ Michigan health officials note the review’s limitations.
The $97 million project was originally supposed to be done by 2020. City officials blame the COVID-19 pandemic, supply shortages and unreliable contractors for the delay.
Detroit and other districts face some tough decisions about which programs and employees they can afford to keep once federal support is gone, and they’re under pressure to map out their spending quickly.
The board chair of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association says the healthcare system is in crisis after COVID due to higher costs, including for labor. Hospitals need proper funding to ensure they can continue to provide the best care to the communities they serve.