The Detroit Zoo has officially started to vaccinate the animals most likely to contract the COVID-19 virus.

After being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic is back.

Parents organizing in the Romeo School District in Macomb County said they are putting pressure on decision makers to mandate masks in schools.

Before the pandemic, on time arrivals for the Detroit Detroit of Transportation (DDOT) were rising; however in March 2020, everything started to change.

The TCF Center opens Tuesday for drive thru COVID booster shots for those with compromised immune systems.

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 26: A line of customers exhibiting social distancing is shown at a Whole Foods grocery store as the coronavirus pandemic continues on April 26, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued orders of social distancing limiting customers inside of stores in the State due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)DETROIT – The city of Detroit has reported that 23 Whole Foods Market employees have tested positive for COVID-19. Out of 196 employees, 23 tested positive, Fair said. We support any Team Member who is diagnosed positive or placed in quarantine so they can prioritize their health and stay home.

INKSTER – The human toll of the coronavirus pandemic is going to be felt for years to come and a local church is planning to honor the victims in a special way. “We maybe have about 2,000 bricks,” said Pastor Rick Sykes with The Prevailing Church in Inkster. The bricks will be stretched all across the area on the side of the church. Loved ones, people I knew, also recovered but there are those who passed away from COVID-19,” he said. Sykes said COVID has ripped through Metro Detroit, especially within the Black community.

DETROIT – Wayne County health officials are investigating four confirmed cases of the COVID variant, as well as four potential cases. Officials said the four people suspected of being infected with the new B.1.1.7 variant have tested positive for COVID-19 and being retested for the variant. Officials said those four people were in close contact with the four individuals who are already confirmed to be infected with the variant. The four confirmed cases are from two 35-year-olds, a 41-year-old and a 42-year-old. “As we administer our vaccine, it is important for people to mask up, wash their hands frequently, and avoid large groups,” said Dr. Mouhanad Hammami, chief health strategist for Wayne County.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Michigan officials said adults 65 and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday, Jan. 11. For now, people will be required to have an online appointment to get a vaccine. Beaumont Health sent out 900,000 emails to seniors already enrolled in myBeaumontChart Thursday night, alerting them that appointments were available. At Beaumont Health, once you’ve secured the appointment, you will be directed to the hospital’s Southfield service center. “We have found this is the safest way to vaccinate the most people at once.”Phone appointments could be possible in the future.

Gretchen Whitmer announced that people 65 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting Jan. 11. The list also includes essential workers such as school and child care workers, first responders as well as jail and prison staff. READ: Michigan moving to new phase of COVID vaccinations, including teachers, first responders, residents age 65But how will you know when to get vaccinated? READ: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 vaccine data6 takeaways from Whitmer’s COVID briefing: Michigan’s restrictions, metrics concerns, vaccinesMichigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer provided an update Wednesday on COVID-19 in Michigan, talking about whether restrictions will be loosened or strengthened, a concerning trend in the metrics and a new phase of vaccinations.

Normally, Nine Mile Road would be flooded with people going from bar to bar and fighting for parking spots. With the current three-week restriction on bars and restaurants, things were low key. “It doesn’t feel like the day before Thanksgiving,” said Brandon Leclerc of Sterling Heights. Nearly 200 bars and restaurants in the city of Detroit applied for outdoor seating so they can earn some kind of revenue amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Detroit will still allow winter outdoor seating through a new set of permits.

After a Phase 3 trial, officials said a vaccine from Oxford University and Astrazeneca pharmaceutical company is up to 90% effective. The results were based on trials in the United Kingdom and Brazil before the trials start in the United States. When the vaccine was given as a half dose followed by a full dose at least a month later, it was 90% effective. READ: FDA grants emergency use authorization for Regeneron’s COVID-19 antibody cocktailKaul said the University of Michigan has been enrolling patients in the trial for several weeks now. “While there’s a lot of controversy around vaccines, there really isn’t any controversy around vaccines in the medical community.

DETROIT – The Wayne County Public Health Division has issued an advisory, strongly recommending that all public, non-public and boarding schools in the county’s jurisdiction should shift to remote learning through Jan. 15, 2021. “We have reached a point in the pandemic that we hoped the County would never see,” said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans. “Wayne County includes many tightly knit communities and we cherish our time together with our families. The recommendation addresses “an age group that can spread COVID-19 without showing signs or symptoms,” officials said. “We are working extremely closely with our school districts to prevent further spread,” said Dr. Mouhanad Hammami, Wayne County chief health strategist.

The main lab at Henry Ford was the first in Michigan, outside of the health department, to be able to test for COVID-19. Now, the health system tests over 1,500 samples a day and have done roughly a quarter of a million tests since March. Depending on the urgency of the result, the lab can actually choose to do the PCR test on a specific, smaller machine with a rapid turnaround. In general, the majority of tests take less than 24 hours to determine results when they’re done on the larger machines. Dr. Linoj Samuel with Henry Ford Health System explains the process.

LANSING, Mich. – In her last briefing before Thanksgiving, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her team were clear with their message, and favor, for next Thursday: do not gather with extended family and friends for the holiday. “By not gathering with people outside of your household this Thanksgiving, it is an act of kindness and love,” Whitmer said. “If we switch one in 10 of our out-of-state purchases to local stores, Michigan would gain $1.2. Local 4 checked with four testing sites this week in Oakland County and one had a next day appointment available and another had a nine-day wait.

DETROIT – With COVID-19 affecting long-term care facilities in the spring, the City of Detroit Health Department is gearing up for testing this week. “We’re going to support nursing homes with onsite COVID-19 testing at all of the nursing homes over the next two weeks,” said Detroit Health Department Director Denise Fair. READ: Michigan health director explains need for expanded COVID-19 restrictionsREAD: Gov. Our COVID-19 Data section tracks many of the key data points health officials are watching closely every single day. Track key COVID-19 data points in Michigan:

DETROIT – The newly announced set of COVID-19 restrictions is yet another devastating blow for the movie theater industry. Some movie theater owners are questioning if closing the doors to the big screen is necessary. “We have been applying protocols and safety procedures, we’ve been insisting that our guests wear masks or we have every CDC protocol in place,” Glantz said. READ: Michigan health director explains need for expanded COVID-19 restrictionsREAD: Can Michigan restaurants survive new COVID-19 restrictions? I’m concerned about our ability to continue to weather a period of time when we have no revenue,” he said.