Page 49 - Bob Wheaton News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Carol Thompson, Lansing State Journal LANSING — Michigan public health officials unveiled a new tool to track and stop coronavirus spread as cases surged last fall: a smartphone app that could give early warnings to people who are exposed to the virus and teach them the basics of isolating and testing.  But the digital contact tracing tool encountered one of the same problems faced by living, breathing contact tracers. People ignored it. Contact tracers have reported difficulty reaching people to warn them about coronavirus exposure or, if they get through, finding uncooperative peopl...

LANSING — Michigan House Republicans last week voted to authorize spending $22.6 million in federal funding for COVID-19 vaccine distribution but included an unusual caveat: Health providers would be required to inform recipients if the vaccine was developed using “aborted fetal tissue.” The language highlights ethical concerns often raised by religious groups opposed to abortion about medical research. Such “informed consent” wouldn’t be necessary for the two vaccines currently available in the United States, but experts fear it would sow confusion and deter residents from gettin...

Nonprofit used in Michigan's COVID fight draws oversight abuse fears Lansing — The budget of a nonprofit group that one official says has been used by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to "avoid oversight" has ballooned during the COVID-19 pandemic, spurring concerns about the accountability of millions of dollars in government spending. Through a "master agreement," the Okemos-based Michigan Public Health Institute has quietly been able to execute contracts on behalf of the state health department. The group is so closely tied to the department that former state health d...

MDHHS reiterates importance of COVID-19 testing as more cases of B.1.1.7 variant detected at U-M and in Wayne County resident FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 23, 2021 CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112 LANSING, MICH. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is emphasizing the importance of COVID-19 testing with additional cases of the variant B.1.1.7 detected in a Wayne County resident and among people associated with the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Today MDHHS identified a variant case in an adult male who lives in Wayne County through a specimen sent to the departme...

Goal is for all Michigan school districts to offer in-person learning option March 1 or sooner  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112 LANSING, MICH. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced new guidance for schools today to keep students, staff and communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic while providing the in-person instruction that is crucial to learning and development.  The state’s goal is to have all Michigan school districts offer an in-person learning option for students no later than March 1, and earlier if possible.  Guidanc...