( 2020 AJ Mast and General Motors. DETROIT General Motors says it has finished making 30,000 medical breathing machines for the U.S. government to help treat coronavirus patients. The Department of Health and Human Services contracted with GM to build the ventilators at a converted auto electronics plant in Kokomo, Indiana, at a cost of $489.4 million. GM says Tuesday it has turned over control of the Kokomo operation to Ventec, which will continue to make ventilators there and in Bothell, Washington. Earlier Ford announced it has finished making 50,000 ventilators for the government at a cost of $336 million.

DETROIT Its a hot holiday weekend in Michigan, but air quality for much of the state is at a moderate level of concern. The U.S. AQI (Air Quality Index) is how the EPA reports air quality. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. For example, an AQI value of 50 or below represents good air quality, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality. Air quality is acceptable.

UPDATE: March 31, 2020: GM: First 20,000 masks expected to be delivered by April 8But President Donald Trump, claiming the company wasn't moving fast enough, on Friday invoked the Defense Production Act, which gives the government broad authority to direct companies to meet national defense needs. GM expects to start making ventilators in mid-April, ramping up to a rate of 10,000 per month at as quickly as it can. Gordon, who teaches a class in commercialization of biomedical goods, said Trump likely will claim credit when GM starts making the machines. Critics have urged Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act broadly to control the production, supply and distribution of ventilators and protective gear for hospital workers who are running short. Invoking the Defense Production Act “shined a light” on the need for ventilators, he said, but Ventec can’t move any quicker.

DETROIT – If you have asthma, you are likely at a higher risk of becoming “very sick” from COVID-19, according to the CDC. Here are the guidelines from the CDC for those with Asthma:Risk of Getting COVID-19People with asthma may be at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. COVID-19 can affect your respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs), cause an asthma attack, and possibly lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory disease. TreatmentThere is currently no specific treatment for or vaccine to prevent COVID-19. During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.