(WWJ) Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says everything the city and its residents have been doing to curb the spread of COVID-19 is working, and more testing is next.
New today: Duggan said any Southeast Michigan resident is now eligible — without a prescription and regardless of symptoms — to be tested for COVID-19 for free at the former state Fairgrounds. All suburbanites need to do is call the hotline at 313-876-4000 and make an appointment.
"You will have an appointment in 24 to 48 hours, and we will be out there six days a week to test you," Duggan said, at a press briefing on Wednesday,
Duggan reminded city of Detroit residents that they don't even need an appointment — just show up. And Detroiters who need a ride can get a ride to the Fairgrounds for $2; or it's free if you can't afford it.
"Suburbanites need to have their own ride," Duggan said, "but as of now the Fairgrounds is open to anybody."
The mayor said Detroiters have embraced social distancing; and that he's seeing more people in Detroit wearing masks than he sees when he visits the suburbs.
"An interesting thing has happened, and you see it driving around the city: Detroiters have embraced the distancing," the mayor said. "And what we have seen for the last two weeks is that the rate of infection of Detroiters is now less than that of suburbanites."
Duggan said recent testing data shows about 1 in 25 Detroters likely have the virtus, while it's 1 in 20 in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties. "But this will give you a sense of how deep the commitment had been; and if you just drive around the city and drive around the suburbs, you will see with your own eyes Detroit had embraced distancing and masks in a way that reflects the value that we place on our neighbors' lives."
The mayor said that while it was important to make sure testing Detroiters was a priority: "We recognize that we're part of a region," Duggan said. "The fact of the matter is Detroiters go and visit the suburbs, work in the suburbs; suburbanites work and visit Detroit. We are one region, and unless we beat COVID-19 as a region, we're not really going to wipe it out."
Duggan stressed that many people who are carrying the virus do not have symptoms.
Also announced Wednesday, Duggan said nearly 2,000 small businesses are opening back up, and restaurants may soon be opening if progress is continued to be made.
The city, meanwhile, has a plan to help to take care of elderly people stuck at home because of the virus. Beginning Wednesday, the city is launching a new program in partnership with organizations to donate fresh produce and frozen meals to senior living communities in Detroit. Around 200 to 300 boxes will be given to each building.
This comes as the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday announced there are 504 new cases of COVID-19 in Michigan, and 68 new deaths — including 14 deaths identified during a Vital Records review. That brings the totals to 55,608 cases and 5,334 deaths statewide during the pandemic.
As Mayor Duggan said the COVID-19 death rate is slowing, there are now 10,872 cases confirmed and 1,347 deaths in the city. (Get more coronavirus stats from the state, including details about cases by county, at this link.)
On Tuesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order stating that anyone who leaves their home for work, or has symptoms of COVID-19 — even mild symptoms — can get tested at community testing locations statewide without getting a prescription in advance, and without paying any out-of-pocket costs. To get tested outside of Detroit, Michigan residents should call the Michigan coronavirus hotline at 1-888-535-6136 for information, or visit this link to find a testing site.
