Happy April and Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers! Here are this morning’s top stories.
Amtrak pitches new, improved train routes including Detroit to Toronto
With President Biden’s new infrastructure plan including $621 billion for transportation infrastructure, and with $80 billion of that for passenger and freight rail, Amtrak is pitching a list of new or enhanced service routes.
Amtrak’s “Connect US” map includes a newly proposed service route from Detroit to Toronto, and from Detroit to Toledo. It also includes enhanced services (more trains) from Detroit to Chicago, Grand Rapids to Chicago and Port Huron to Chicago.
City of Detroit to enforce pandemic restrictions on Opening Day
Opening Day in Detroit will look much different this year compared to other years due to the pandemic. In addition to a limited number of ticket holders being welcomed into Comerica Park, there will also be no large crowds or crowded bars and restaurants.
For fun: Detroit Tigers Top Moments Bracket ⚾️
Detroit public schools to temporarily switch to virtual learning after spring break
According to the Detroit Public School Community District, students and staff will commence virtual learning only between April 5-9 “as a safety precaution,” as COVID-19 cases surge in Michigan and Metro Detroit.
Officials say the temporary switch to online learning is designed to “allow employees and students a week of social isolation after spring break to limit the spread of COVID-19,” the announcement reads.
Pfizer vaccine safe, effective for young teens, company says
New information suggests the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12. The information comes from a press release from Pfizer and the data has yet to be published and peer reviewed, but if the data checks out, it’s a major step forward in the effort to protect children from COVID-19.
Weather: Brisk Opening Day with light snow possible
Coronavirus in Michigan 💉
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 672,259 as of Wednesday, including 16,092 deaths, state officials report.
Wednesday’s update includes a total of 6,311 new cases and 10 additional deaths. It’s the first time Michigan has reported 6,000 cases in a single day since Dec. 5.
On Tuesday, the state reported 665,948 total cases and 16,082 deaths.
Testing has been steady around 35,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate above 13% as of Wednesday, the highest since early December. The state has reported an up-tick in hospitalizations over the last several weeks.
Related: Michigan COVID hospitalizations: Concerns grow as more younger adults are in ICU
Michigan’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 4,945 on Wednesday -- the highest since December. The 7-day death average was 22 on Wednesday and has been flat for several weeks. The state’s fatality rate is 2.4%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 88,500 on Wednesday -- the highest since late January. More than 569,000 have recovered in Michigan.
Michigan has reported more than 4.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Wednesday, with 33.8% of residents having received at least one dose.
Here’s a look at more of the data: