As thousands of Metro Detroit residents continue to get tested for COVID, there’s renewed concern over insurance companies attempting to bill patients for tests that are supposed to be free.

Hospital leaders are urging everyone to take this omicron variant spike seriously.

Americans are being encouraged to test for COVID-19 more often -- but how can they, when at-home test kits have all but vanished?

Americans are being encouraged to test for COVID-19 more often -- but how can they, when at-home test kits have all but vanished?

A Metro Detroit man was hit with a hospital bill for more than $600 after he got a COVID-19 test.

The Marble Bar in Detroit is one of the first to start requiring patrons to show a COVID vaccination card or a negative COVID test to enter.

DETROIT – As of Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan had risen to 373,197, which includes 9,405 deaths, according to state officials. READ: Coronavirus in Michigan: Here’s what to know Dec. 3, 2020While the rate of new COVID-19 cases is slowing, deaths continue to rise. READ: Everything you should know about COVID-19 in Michigan before Whitmer’s Thursday (Dec. 3) briefingFree COVID-19 testing site opens in Highland ParkA free COVID-19 mobile testing site has reopened to the public at the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic in Highland Park. How to find free COVID-19 testing anywhere in MichiganThe state of Michigan has a website available where you can put in your address or zip code and find a COVID-19 testing site near you. VIEW: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 testing dataVIEW: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schools

WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – As coronavirus cases continue to rise, county officials are expanding drive-up testing in Metro Detroit to give residents more access to free testing sites. Testing is expanding as coronavirus cases continue to surge and more people ignore health officials with the holiday season underway. Health officials urging people to get tested. And the testing is available to everyone, regardless of health insurance. Wayne County also has two mobile units that will be sent to different communities to help those who might not have access to transportation or have a permanent address.

DETROIT – Detroit’s coronavirus (COVID-19) testing center will be moved from the fairgrounds to the Joseph Walker Williams Center starting Tuesday. The people who will be working at the testing center helped plan the transition. The reason the testing site will be moving from the State Fair Grounds is because colder temperatures are on the way. There will be 13 patients at a time able to fit inside of the location for testing. The center hopes to be able to maintain its clean record as far as the employees go.

DETROIT – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization for Yale University’s coronavirus test, Saliva Direct. Saliva Direct uses a simplified testing method that cuts the turnaround time to less than 24 hours. Researchers said the accuracy of the Saliva Direct results matched almost perfectly with the group’s swab tests. The Saliva Direct test is simple enough to be used by labs everywhere, once they go through the required accreditation process. Yale and the NBA do not intend to take any royalties from the testing method, making it available for free.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization for Yale University’s coronavirus test, Saliva Direct. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

DETROIT When my photographer partner, Justin and I were invited to do an exclusive summer school tour with Dr. Nikolai Vitti on Friday, there was one caveat. We had to produce evidence of a recent coronavirus (COVID-19) test that shows a negative result. Its one of those times in life you want to be negative. READ: Inside Detroit summer school classrooms during pandemicThe City of Detroit offers rapid testing. Justin and I walk you through our experience with the City of Detroit Health Department and our nurse, April who did our nasal swabs.

DETROIT Officials with Beaumont Health said they have developed a new test that can detect the coronavirus (COVID-19) in saliva, urine or blood within 30-45 minutes. This is a rapid test that does not require expensive machinery to run and the materials for it are relatively inexpensive. Results from the most accurate tests currently available take 24 hours or more to process and those tests are expensive for some hospitals and clinics, according to Beaumont Health. Lamb and Chancellor previously came up with a rapid Zika virus detection test about three years ago, Beaumont health officials said. Fauci said rapid testing and tracing are the keys to containing the coronavirus.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Michigan residents can now enter information at any time into a new tool and see if they are showing symptoms that might be early signs of the coronavirus (COVID-19). While the tool was designed primarily for employers and employees, its available for anyone in Michigan. Just enter information daily to help identify symptoms that might be caused by the virus. MI Symptoms is a free tool that employers can use to help track workplace health and keep our economy operating. MI Symptoms and the MI Safe Start Map integrates real-time data collection and analysis to aid rapid decision-making.Click here to visit the MI Safe Start Map.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. There are 15 specific coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms listed in the governments new tool designed to let Michigan residents check themselves for early signs of the virus. Just enter information daily to help identify symptoms that might be caused by the virus. It could help residents make decisions about when to seek medical help. MI Symptoms is a free tool that employers can use to help track workplace health and keep our economy operating. MI Symptoms and the MI Safe Start Map integrates real-time data collection and analysis to aid rapid decision-making.Click here to visit the MI Safe Start Map.

LANSING, Mich. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is expanding testing criteria for coronavirus (COVID-19). Now, asymptomatic patients who are preparing for surgery can be tested if testing is deemed necessary by the treating health care professional. It also includes asymptomatic people who have known exposure to someone who has COVID-19 symptoms or works in a profession that puts them at high risk of exposure. As we reopen Michigans economy, expanded testing is critically important so that we can track any spread of COVID-19 in regions or local communities, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. Anyone who wishes to be tested may call the Michigan coronavirus hotline at 1-888-535-6136 or visit Michigan.gov/CoronavirusTest to find an appropriate testing location.

ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The family of Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett was forced to travel to China and back amid the coronavirus outbreak. Barnett said there were some scary moments for his family, but they have since returned to the United States safe and healthy. His sister, who lives in China, became critically ill, but it was unrelated to the coronavirus. “It was scary,” Barnett said. “They pulled us off the plane,” Barnett said.