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Covid-19

Fauci: CDC eyes requiring negative test even with no symptoms

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the COVID-19 omicron variant surges across the United States, top federal health officials are looking to add a negative test along with its five-day isolation restrictions for asymptomatic Americans who catch the coronavirus, the White House’s top medical adviser said Sunday. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now considering including the negative test as part of its guidance after getting significant “pushback” on its updated recommendations last week. Under that Dec. 27 guidance, isolation restrictions for people ...

Schools urged to delay or make events virtual

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s health and education departments on Thursday urged schools to postpone or make virtual large gatherings, including sporting events, if they are not “essential” — as COVID-19 cases spike across the state. The recommendation, intended to keep schools open when classes resume after the winter break next week, was included in a letter to K-12 superintendents and charter school directors. Large events involve at least 100 people and include athletic competitions, concerts and meetings, said Elizabeth Hertel and Michael Rice, who lead the Department ...

DIDHD updates its guidelines on isolation, quarantine for COVID

KINGSFORD/IRON RIVER — The Dickinson-Iron District Health Department has changed its isolation and quarantine guidelines for people who have tested positive or been exposed to coronavirus to align with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols. Science now shows the majority of COVID-19 transmission happens early in the illness, generally in the first one to two days before symptoms start and the two to three days thereafter, according to the CDC. Therefore, effective immediately, the new guidance shortens the isolation and quarantine periods under certain ...

DIDHD: Dickinson adds death, 62 new virus cases in past week

Local data Wednesday showed Dickinson County in the past seven days added 62 new confirmed COVID-19 positives plus a death blamed on the virus, while Iron County had 31 more cases. Dickinson County also has had 48 probable coronavirus positives and Iron County one probable since the last ...

COVID-19 daily case counts reach new highs in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan on Wednesday recorded COVID-19 case counts that shattered a previous high, reporting nearly 13,000 a day — almost a third more than the peak set over a year ago. The two-day average was 12,929, some 3,100 infections above the nearly 9,800 from a single day in November 2020. The explosive growth came as the state already grapples with a fourth, monthslong surge in which coronavirus hospitalizations, while lower from recent record peaks, remain high. The death toll surpassed 29,000 and continues to mount, averaging over 100 per day, like a year ago when ...

University to require booster shots

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Students and staff on campus at Central Michigan University must get a COVID-19 booster shot by Jan. 17, the school announced Wednesday. University community members are required to get the booster shot by then to be considered "fully vaccinated," the school said. Students, staff and faculty who do not receive a booster vaccine will have to get tested weekly for the virus. Central Michigan is one of several universities in the state that is mandating a booster shot ahead of the upcoming semester. The University of Michigan, Michigan State University and ...