Detroit Begins Testing Nursing Home Staff For Coronavirus

DETROIT, MI — After testing every resident in the city's 26 nursing homes for the coronavirus, Detroit officials on Thursday said they are switching gears and now intend to test every staff member at city nursing homes. The city health department also plans to extend testing beyond nursing homes and into long term care facilities, such as assisted living and adult foster cares.

Denise Fair, the chief health officer for the Detroit Health Department, said in a news conference Thursday that the city has tested more than 2,000 nursing home residents. At points during the process, up to 28 percent of the residents tested were positive for the virus, she said previously. She previously encouraged nursing homes to sign staff members up for drive-thru testing for the coronavirus, and said 24 of 26 city nursing homes have done so.

"It's really important to test everyone," she said. "And so, that is our strategy. Now, in addition to nursing homes, we're going to switch our focus now on long term care facilities."

Don't miss important updates from health and government officials on the impact of the coronavirus in Michigan. Sign up for Patch's daily newsletters and email alerts.

The city reported 40 new cases of the coronavirus Thursday, bringing its total to 9,036 confirmed cases and 1,036 reported deaths related to the virus.

Fair noted that the number of new cases have plateaued in Detroit, and credited the city's adherence to social distancing and other safety measures for that change.

"As long as COVID-19 remains a threat in our community, we must continue efforts that will further lessen the number of cases," she said. "This is our new normal. We all have to be accountable, and we are."