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Covid-19

Michigan vaccinations rise again

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's weekly number of people getting an initial COVID-19 shot rose for the third straight week after having consistently dropped for two months. The increase coincided with the spread of the delta variant — the most contagious coronavirus mutant yet — and a $5 million state sweepstakes designed to incentivize vaccinations. There were about 41,000 first-dose immunizations last week, the most since the week of June 13-19. Fewer people received an initial dose in July than in June — roughly 192,000 vs. approximately 167,000 — but officials said ...

State: Three new virus positives in Dickinson, 29 across UP

State data Tuesday showed three new confirmed COVID-19 positives in Dickinson County but none in Iron County in the past four days. Across the border, Wisconsin virus data indicated 10 more confirmed cases in both Marinette and Vilas counties. That state has seen a surge in COVID activity ...

Pushback on colleges requiring vaccination

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The quickly approaching fall semester has America’s colleges under pressure to decide how far they should go to guard their campuses against COVID-19 while navigating legal and political questions and rising infection rates. Hundreds of colleges nationwide have told students in recent months they must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before classes begin. California State University, the country’s largest four-year public university system, joined the list last week, along with Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. Their ...

GOP-controlled legislative committee: UW System virus moves need our OK

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Republican-controlled legislative committee moved Tuesday to block the University of Wisconsin System from taking several steps to fight the spread of coronavirus without its approval. The Wisconsin State Journal reports the committee’s move comes as university officials in Madison are weighing a campuswide mask mandate as well as expanded testing requirements for people who haven’t been vaccinated. It also comes as the delta variant is sending daily virus cases upward in Wisconsin and around the U.S. The vote by the Joint Committee for Review of ...

More Michigan counties enter higher risk virus threat

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Nearly half of Michigan residents live in counties where the federal government is urging everyone ages 2 and over, including the fully vaccinated, to wear masks in public indoor settings because transmission of the coronavirus is “high” or “substantial.” The guidance affected 33 of 83 counties as of Monday — including large ones such as Oakland, Macomb and Ingham — up from 10 mostly small, rural counties when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations were revised nearly a week ago. The counties are home to more than 4.6 ...

US hits 70% vaccination target — a month late and amid new virus surge

The U.S. on Monday finally reached President Joe Biden’s goal of getting at least one COVID-19 shot into 70% of American adults — a month late and amid a fierce surge by the delta variant that is swamping hospitals and leading to new mask rules and mandatory vaccinations around the country. In a major retreat in the Deep South, Louisiana ordered nearly everyone, vaccinated or not, to wear masks again in all indoor public settings, including schools and colleges. And other cities and states likewise moved to reinstate precautions to counter a crisis blamed on the fast-spreading ...