Here are tonight's top stories.

For the first time since the start of the COVID omicron surge in Michigan, hospital officials with the Henry Ford Health System said they’re starting to see some signs of early progress.

Henry Ford Hospital officials spoke Thursday about COVID in Michigan, providing an update on the rapid spread of omicron and revealing that there are both hundreds of patients hospitalized and hundreds of employees out due to the virus.

Officials from Henry Ford Health System provided an update Wednesday on the state of COVID in Michigan, saying the current situation is a “crisis” and worse than a year ago.

Michigan’s record-high number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has dipped, the first drop in 49 days as health leaders continue to urge vaccinations while describing a dire situation inside hospitals.

Officials from Henry Ford Health System provided an update Wednesday on the state of COVID in Michigan, saying the current situation is a “crisis” and worse than a year ago.

Hospitals in Michigan and Minnesota are reporting a wave of COVID-19 patients not seen in months.

Watch Flashpoint every Sunday at 10 a.m. on Local 4 News.

Here are this morning's top stories.

As of Monday, 98% of all Henry Ford Health System employees were compliant with the system's COVID vaccine mandate.

As of Monday, 98% of all Henry Ford Health System employees were compliant with the system's COVID vaccine mandate.

Watch Flashpoint every Sunday at 10 a.m. on Local 4 News.

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings paid tribute to Marlowe Stoudamire, a Detroit community leader who died of COVID-19 last year. He passed away from complications of COVID-19 in March 2020. pic.twitter.com/ECGEnErws2 — NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) January 18, 2021Stoudamire died in March 2020, early on in the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan. “An amazing man, husband, friend and one of the best dads that I have ever met lost his life to COVID-19 today,” said Bob Riney, the president of Healthcare Operations and Chief Operating Officer for Henry Ford Health System said in March. “Marlowe was a devoted Detroit advocate who would light up any room with his ideas and strategic thinking. We will continue the fight of this terrible pandemic in his honor.”Riney was a mentor and close friend of Stoudamire.

Some county health departments are canceling COVID-19 vaccine appointments due to a supply shortage. Henry Ford Hospital leaders addressed the vaccine and the magnitude of this project. Henry Ford alone will deliver more than 1 million individual doses of this two-dose vaccine. Which means making 7 million vaccination appointments over the next several months,” said Bob Riney, president of Healthcare Operations and COO with Henry Ford. We’re cancelling the one we’ve got coming up on Tuesday (Jan. 19).”Washtenaw County Health Department said the appointments they had to cancel next week will be rescheduled.

DETROIT – One of the many heartbreaking aspects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is that patients battling the virus are forced to do so without their loved ones by their side. Click here to support a Karmanos Cancer Institute patientHow COVID-19 SpreadsPerson-to-person spreadThe virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. How easily the virus spreadsHow easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Prevention & TreatmentThere is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).