human services

The last countywide school masking mandate has been rescinded.As of 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, Wayne County, the state's most populous, rescinded its August emergency health order."This decision comes after the (Michigan Department of Health…

As the omicron wave of COVID-19 appears to be abating, statewide health officials are rescinding countywide school mask mandates.On Friday, Oakland County, the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department in northern Michigan and the…

Conversion therapy for minors was officially banned by Hazel Park City Council after a unanimous vote on Tuesday. "This order banning conversion therapy embodies our continued commitment to the LGBTQ community, while protecting our…

Michigan now averages a 5% positivity rate on COVID-19 diagnostic tests.That's the highest seven-day average in the state since Jan. 31.The seven-day average of new cases has also increased. and is now 1,636, up 34% from 1,132 a week ago…

Five counties reported no new coronavirus cases last week: Luce, Schoolcraft, Algiers, Iron and Ontonagon counties.All are in the Upper Peninsula — and perhaps not so coincidentally, are among the counties with the highest vaccination rates…

The freezing weather that keeps many Michigan residents at home also seems to be helping to reduce the number of coronaviruses.The statewide seven-day average positivity rate is now 3.8% from 4.4% a week ago. Meanwhile, the seven-day…

Sixty-nine counties now have a seven-day average positivity rate below 10% on coronavirus diagnostic tests.The good news: this is the highest number since November 2.The bad news: counties should ideally be at 5% positivity or lower, and…

Saginaw and Bay counties are now among Michigan's 17 counties with an average positivity rate of 15% or more on coronavirus tests over the past seven days.Other great counties already on this list include Macomb, Muskegon, Berrien and Van…

Ferndale, Michigan water customers with lead service lines to their homes will receive free water filter kits. Ferndale, Michigan, water customers with lead service lines to their homes will receive free water filter kits after a city water…

Michigan reported 22,979 new coronavirus cases in the past seven days, a new record and a 63% increase from the 14,101 reported the previous week.Case increases are occurring statewide:Seventeen Michigan counties now have a seven-day…

Seven of Michigan's eight MI Start regions have increased the scale the state uses to assess coronavirus risk.Last week, the Upper Peninsula was the only region currently at Level E, the highest level and one that indicates dangerous levels…

As the coronavirus continues to spread in Michigan, the state has seen 69 of its 83 counties report an increase in cases over the past seven days compared to the previous week.Thirteen counties, including nine in the Upper Peninsula, are…

Seventy-three of Michigan's 83 counties are reporting accelerated coronavirus rates, including a dozen counties at the highest risk level for the spread of COVID-19, based on a metric developed by the Harvard Global Health Initiative.Kent,…

Michigan saw five more counties climb to the highest risk factor for the spread of the coronavirus, bringing the state's total to 15 counties with an average of more than 25 new cases per day per 100,000 people.The most recent counties to…

The list of Michigan counties with accelerated rates of coronavirus transmission keeps growing.As of Monday morning, there were 32 counties coded red or orange, based on a metric developed by the Harvard Global Health Initiative to assess…

Five counties in Michigan's Lower Peninsula moved from the second coronavirus risk factor to third on Thursday, Oct. 8, while one in the Upper Peninsula moved up one level.The four-tier risk assessment is based on a metric developed by the…