Michigan Health Watch

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.

Six months after most vaccinations, a quarter of all COVID deaths and hospitalizations are breakthrough cases. Most severe cases, though, are among the unvaccinated.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There are as many COVID cases today as a year ago despite the availability of vaccines. The reasons are both complicated and simple.

Flu season ignites in southeast Michigan with more than 500 cases — enough to bring CDC staff on-site to monitor and assist, and resurrecting fears among health officials of a COVID and flu “twindemic” this winter.

Doctors warn of dangerous days ahead as the state’s hospitals care for more than 3,200 patients with COVID for the first time since early May. That’s a 40-percent jump in two weeks.

The FDA considers the first of two drugs this month. If they live up to their hype, the drugs by Merck and Pfizer could save lives. But some worry that they could be another reason to skip a vaccine.

Can the virus spread when we share green bean casserole? Is there a COVID test etiquette? What about masks? Infectious-disease experts — and two veterans in calming explosive conversations — weigh in.

Some local health departments plan to rescind mask orders over the holidays, while others have mandates that will stick around until COVID transmission levels drop.

A looming federal mandate means 2 million Michigan residents must prove they’ve been vaccinated, submit to weekly tests or lose their jobs. A weatherman, dentist, nurse and pastor explain why they refused.

More than 800,000 Michigan children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible for Pfizer’s COVID vaccine. But a good portion of parents who are otherwise supportive of COVID vaccines are hesitating. Their doctors are ready to talk.

The CDC’s advisory committee voted unanimously Tuesday to allow the Pfizer vaccine to be given to younger children. Michigan already has 278,000 doses ready for kids.

Bitter fights over whether hospitals are doing enough to retain and recruit health care workers have intensified during the pandemic, as shortages reach a crisis point.

The lab-made treatment has expanded beyond people with mild cases of COVID. It’s now also used to shield high-risk groups from contracting the virus.

The FDA authorized the Pfizer pediatric vaccine Friday, following recommendations from its advisory committee. Next up: CDC consideration Tuesday, which means the vaccine could be authorized for young children by the end of next week.