It can be difficult to find a COVID test near you but doctors say getting tested could potentially save lives.

Local 4′s Hank Winchester went looking for at-home COVID tests and discovered that while they are hard to find in Metro Detroit, it’s not impossible to find them.

With COVID-19 spreading rapidly throughout Detroit, Mayor Mike Duggan held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to announce the city’s effort to ramp up virus testing.

There’s another issue popping up involving school sports -- this one involves the testing of student athletes.

Health officials have been sounding the alarm about Spring Break for weeks now and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she’s particularly concerned about traveling to Florida.

Two weeks ago, the Michigan Health and Human Services issued an emergency order requiring student-athletes in contact sports to be tested regularly for COVID.

Michigan officials are ramping up COVID-19 testing at nursing homes, schools and airports as the number of cases spreading throughout the state continues to rise. More than 72,000 free tests have been conducted at neighborhood testing sites in socially vulnerable communities and continue to provide testing . Free post-spring break testing pop-up sites are planned for school districts in 34 communities. Testing sites at welcome centers and Michigan airports are in the works for returning travelers. Vaccine providers with the capacity to vaccinate all individuals ages 16 years and older are allowed do so at this time, state officials said.

ANN ARBOR – Although COVID activity in Michigan and across the U.S. has been trending downward, cases at the University of Michigan continue to rise. The majority of cases are associated with students, said university officials in their Tuesday COVID update, and U-M cases now make up for 62% of all cases in Washtenaw County. A rise in cases means that campus case investigators are “significantly strained.”Since Sunday, U-M has confirmed 26 new COVID cases on campus. During the week starting Feb. 7, U-M reported 352 new cases -- it’s highest weekly case rate since the week starting October 11, when new cases stood at 409. School officials continue to urge the U-M community to continue to get tested, even if no symptoms are present.

Michigan residents between the ages of 30-49 years old continue to record the highest new virus cases per million residents. Specifically, daily new COVID cases have been the highest among those 30-39 years old on average in recent weeks. However, in the last four weeks, COVID cases per million have decreased for all age groups in the state. Michigan COVID hospitalizationsMore than 18.7% of available inpatient beds were filled with COVID patients in Michigan over the last week. Michigan residents over the age of 80 years continue to see the highest virus deaths per million residents.

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.

Oakland County is relocating its no-cost COVID-19 testing to new sites intended to provide shelter from incoming winter weather. Officials announced Friday that existing COVID-19 testing sites will move to new locations in Holly, Rochester, Southfield and Pontiac beginning Monday, Nov. 30. COVID-19 testing will be available by appointment only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the following new sites:Interested individuals should call 800-848-5533 to make an appointment for COVID-19 testing at one of the above sites. Oakland County COVID-19 testing is free to anyone over the age of 4 years old. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily.

Additional COVID-19 testing sites are opening in Wayne County in response to climbing coronavirus cases in the county and throughout Michigan. Wayne County officials announced Friday two new, cost-free COVID testing sites with reportedly shorter waiting times compared to other sites. Wayne County officials say additional COVID-19 testing sites are expected to open in the near future. Michigan is currently experiencing a spike in coronavirus spread, leading to an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks. In state’s latest coronavirus update Wednesday, Michigan officials reported a total of 324,779 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 8,761 total deaths.

When testing for an active COVID infection -- meaning the person is still contagious -- the administrator swabs the nose, back of the nose or saliva to test. The accuracy of the test will depend on how well that sample was collected, along with what test is actually being used. The best test is called a PCR test, which uses a lab technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It is the most sensitive COVID-19 test available and helps tell how infectious a person actually is. See how the PCR test works in the video report above.

The county’s main warming shelter, the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County’s Delonis Center, has cut its normal capacity in order to allow for proper social distancing. The Shelter Association also confirmed this week the receipt of additional funding that will facilitate hotel stays for medically fragile clients. This helped the shelter prioritize housing placements for its clients at the Red Roof Inn, according to Dill. Starting Monday, 25 clients staying at Red Roof Inn will be moved to other shelter accommodations. In a Facebook post on Friday, the group criticized the move to switch to warming center programming, citing the county’s approval to redevelop the Red Roof Inn site.

There are some major differences between the first peak of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Michigan and what’s happening right now. More: 4 differences between first Michigan COVID spike and nowOne of those major differences is testing. Despite the increased volume of testing, the positivity rate has still increased to levels not seen in several months. Michigan COVID-19 Testing Data as of Oct. 28, 2020. (MDHHS)Overall, Michigan is 11th in testing rate (per one million) in the U.S., while the U.S. as a whole is 19th in the world in testing rate.

All Kroger pharmacies are expected to offer rapid COVID-19 antibody testing by the end of November, officials said Thursday. Kroger pharmacies across the U.S. are preparing to offer rapid COVID antibody testing to customers by the end of November. Individuals who are not currently experiencing COVID symptoms, but think they may have previously contracted the virus, are eligible to undergo testing at Kroger pharmacies. Officials say the rapid antibody testing is already available at some Kroger stores in Michigan and California. Individuals are encouraged to speak with their primary care physician about COVID testing needs.

LANSING, Mich. – There are going to be 77 new, free COVID-19 test sites in Michigan, according to officials. READ: 4 differences between first Michigan COVID spike and nowThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is launching the new sites thanks to a partnership with Walgreens and the Michigan Primary Care Association. “Cost should never be a barrier to Michiganders who need health care, including COVID-19 testing,” said Gov. “Containing the pandemic requires robust, easily accessible, free testing – and this is a big step in the right direction.”The new partnership with Walgreens has expanded its COVID-19 testing to 36 locations through the state. Michigan’s expansion of its partnership with the Michigan Primary Care Association will ensure patients do not face costs for testing at 47 locations.

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 – Researchers are still seeking ways to screen for coronavirus (COVID-19). The testing of wastewater for evidence of COVID-19 is showing promise. READ: CDC says new guidance on airborne coronavirus transmission was ‘posted in error’The main way epidemiologists have followed the growth of the pandemic is through testing individuals. Wastewater testing will detect a problem much sooner. Yale University researchers have found wastewater can effectively be used to give an early warning of an increase in COVID-19.

DETROIT – From the beginning of the pandemic, testing for the coronavirus (COVID-19) has been a challenge for hospitals. Before COVID-19, when hospitals ran low on supplies, they would simply order more from their usual vendor. The Henry Ford Health System runs more than 1,500 COVID-19 tests each day, so keeping supplies in stock is a challenge. Flu season will put even more strain on labs when they have to test for both the flu and COVID-19. Any combined flu and COVID-19 test will have its own set of supply requirements specific to the testing method, so do-it-yourself solutions will be limited.

An additional five coronavirus (COVID-19) testing sites are opening this week throughout Michigan as part of the states Neighborhood Testing initiative. In addition to no-cost COVID-19 testing sites throughout the state, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is partnering with community members to operate testing sites at locations such as churches, community colleges and nonprofit organizations. This week, five new no-cost COVID-19 testing sites will open in Detroit, Lansing, Niles, Saginaw and Wayne. The state announced last Wednesday a plan to open more than 30 neighborhood testing sites throughout Michigan over the next few weeks. You can find more no-cost testing sites in Michigan online here.

The state of Michigan plans to expand coronavirus (COVID-19) testing with more than 30 new sites across the state in the coming weeks. Additional testing sites planned for Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon, Niles, Saginaw and Wayne are expected to be operational in the coming weeks. Thats why we are working to remove as many barriers as possible to ensure COVID-19 testing is accessible for all Michiganders, said Gov. Additional COVID-19 testing locations will be announced in the coming weeks. You can find more no-cost testing sites in Michigan online here.

DETROIT – As students in some states head back to in-person school, a recent series of reports show the number of COVID-19 cases in children and teens is climbing. Aug. 26, 2020: Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 99,200; Death toll now at 6,424While most children will have mild forms of illness -- and hospitalizations and fatalities among children are still rare -- some will face serious health complications. The American Academy of Pediatrics found cases among children went up 21% between Aug. 6 and 20. “This tells us that children do get this disease,” said Dr. Sally Goza, president of American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Guliz Erdem has treated confirmed and suspected cases at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio.

DETROIT Some people who have been exposed to COVID-19 may no longer need to be tested for the virus. Aug. 26, 2020: Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 99,200; Death toll now at 6,424Previously the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended testing for all close contacts of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection. New guidelines from the CDC claim those who have been exposed, but dont have symptoms might not need to be tested. Testing after a potential exposure is still recommended regardless of symptoms for vulnerable individuals -- such as older adults and anyone with chronic medical conditions. The update does not reference quarantine or isolation after an exposure, but the CDC still recommends it.

DETROIT Right now, researchers around the world are working on more than 165 different coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. There are 31 coronavirus vaccines currently being tested in humans. Several experts have said the first coronavirus vaccines available might not ultimately end up being the most effective. Walter Reed Army Institute of ResearchScientists at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research have played a major role in vaccine development before. The Walter Reed vaccine candidate is considered a second-tier vaccine, meaning it would probably be ready after some of the frontrunners are already producing millions of doses.

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)WARREN, Mich. The city of Warren is working with WSU, WSUPG, and the Macomb County Health Department to offer free coronavirus (COVID-19) drive-thru and walk-up testing. The testing will be held at the Owen Jax Community Center at 8207 E. 9 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48089 on Tuesday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Beaumont Health had a solution Thursday by bringing it all to the curbside. Thursday was the first time Beaumont Health has offered curbside vaccinations. Murphy, a nurse practitioner at Beaumont Teen Health Center, said it’s a great option for those trying to social distance. READ: Here’s what Michigan school districts have planned for the fall amid the pandemicThe Beaumont Teen Health Center will be offering curbside vaccines in Taylor on Aug. 5. More information can be found on the official Beaumont Health website here.

DETROIT – Michigan has ramped up testing in recent weeks, but how has that impacted the positive test rate? In the last two weeks, the average positive test rate was 3.1 percent. Between June 14 - June 28, the positive test rate was 2.4 percent. (MDHHS)So, testing has increased, along with the positive test rate. Despite the increases in cases, it’s a far cry from rates in early-to-mid April, when positive test rates were 30 percent.

YPSILANTI, Mich. From noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, the health departments of Washtenaw County and Livingston County will offer free, drive-thru COVID-19 testing at Whitmore Lake Middle School. The testing site is at 8845 Main Street in Whitmore Lake, Michigan, about 10 miles north of downtown Ann Arbor. We know testing continues to be a challenge for many of us, said Washtenaw County health officer Jimena Loveluck in a statement. Those in need of transportation to the testing site can contact Peoples Express by calling 877-214-6073 by 10 a.m. on Friday, or by calling Livingston Essential Transportation Service at 517-490-7615. Find a list of COVID-19 testing centers in Washtenaw County at https://www.washtenaw.org/3158/Testing

All rights reserved.) WARREN, Mich. Warren is working with WSU/ACCESS to have another coronavirus (COVID-19) drive-thru testing site at Warren City Hall. The event will be held on Thursday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. They will be testing for coronavirus and coronavirus antibodies. Click here to RSVP for the test.

DETROIT In a new study from the University of Michigans COVID-19 survey in their Detroit Metro Area Communities study, the unemployment rate in Detroit is 45%. "The unemployment rate in the city of Detroit remains alarmingly high and has not changed very much in the past month. According to the survey, about 41% of working Detroiters say theyve lost their jobs because of COVID-19. Though many Detroit households continue to face difficult economic conditions brought on by the pandemic, survey results suggest that residents perceive the pandemic to be less serious now than in previous months. About 65% of Detroiters say the pandemic is very serious for them personally, compared to three-quarters of respondents in the previous survey wave.

DETROIT – They are true front line heroes who come into contact with COVID-19 every single day. Most of the people at the State Fairgrounds testing site in Detroit are volunteers who choose to be there to help. June 25, 2020 update: Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 62,306, Death toll now at 5,886When coronavirus first became a problem in Michigan, a testing site was opened in March at the State Fairgrounds. The testing never would have been possible if it weren’t for the volunteers that stepped up. More information on coronavirus (COVID-19):

COVID-19 testing sites volunteers share their reasons for stepping up to help. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

READ: How to improve your mask breathIts called pooled testing, or group testing, basically it uses one test to test multiple people. Pooled testing takes samples from multiple people and mixes them together to be tested. If the pooled sample comes back positive then each sample needs to be retested individually to find which person is positive. The FDA is working on validating pooled testing for COVID-19. Researchers in Germany have been using the technique since mid-March to screen patients and staff at nursing and residential care homes.

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.

County Executive David Coulter will unveil the reopening kits and guidance for Oakland County small businesses during a news conference at the warehouse where the kits are being assembled. The county plans to distribute 10,000 kits utilizing Global Office Solutions of Novi and various downtown development authorities, chambers of commerce, Main Street Oakland County communities, municipalities, and more. Watch Live below:

Gretchen Whitmer has issued an executive order to make it much easier for residents in the state to get tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19). Whitmer said Michigan is ready to expand COVID-19 testing across the state, so she has modified the testing guidelines. One of the most powerful tools that we have in the fight against the virus was the Weinstein tactic, Whitmer said. We owe it to the real heroes of this crisis -- the front line medical staffers, first responders -- to do what we can to stop the spread of this virus, Whitmer said. Were working incredibly hard to make it easier for everyone to get tested, Whitmer said.

Washtenaw County released a list of ongoing and pop-up community testing sites for this week. Tests for residents are being offered through Washtenaw County Public Health in partnership with Michigan Medicine, Packard Health, Kroger and Ypsilanti Community Schools. Heres where you can get tested:Ongoing testing sitesPerry Early Learning Center (550 Perry Street, Ypsilanti Township)Drive-up and walk-up testing is available 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. This site is supported by Packard Health and Ypsilanti Community Schools. Ford Elementary School (2440 E. Clark Road, Ypsilanti Township)Drive-up and walk-up testing is available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

DETROIT Mayor Mike Duggan is defending Detroits use of rapid testing kits now called into question by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The federal agency issued a warning that Abbot Labs 15-minute coronavirus (COVID-19) tests may be giving inaccurate results. Whitmer: There are enough Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths to fill Fox TheatreThere are concerns that the Abbot tests give a negative result when a patient is actually positive. Duggan said the citys medical director tested samples at a state lab -- looking for false negatives. Duggan said various tests are being used in Detroit and the city continues to check the temperature and symptoms of workers.

But the first so-called antigen test — announced Saturday by the Food and Drug Administration — is not quite the kind sought by top government health officials. WHY IS ANTIGEN TESTING IMPORTANT? The new test uses a nasal swab like other screening tests, and delivers results in about 15 minutes. OraSure Technologies has a $710,000 federal contract to develop a saliva-based antigen test that could be performed at home. The company has antigen tests for other viruses — including HIV and Ebola — and those have accuracy rates of over 95%.

“Until there is a vaccine, social distancing is really the best and only tool that we have to prevent spread. The federal government is helping the state aim for 30,000 daily coronavirus tests, Foster said. Michigan ranks 18th-highest among states on the number of tests per 1,000 residents, according to an Associated Press analysis of data collected by the COVID Tracking Project. “Aggressive testing, contact tracing and isolation will be the only way we will get ahead of this disease,” Khaldun said. The number of new coronavirus cases in Michigan grew slowly again, rising less than 1% to a total of about 47,500 since March.

DETROIT – Sinai-Grace Hospital is joining a coalition led by the Detroit Association of Black Organizations to offer free coronavirus testing to Detroit residents this weekend. Additionally, the death toll in Detroit from the disease climbed to 1,156. The free testing will be offered at Sheffield Center Complex located at 12048 Grand River in Detroit. Free testing is being offering Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Sunday, May 10 from 12 p.m.-3 p.m. on site. Read More: Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 46,326; Death toll now at 4,393

DETROIT – Michigan health officials say they’re working to reach a goal of 15,000 coronavirus (COVID-19) tests per day, urging residents to get tested. Michigan, which as of April 21 ranked 24th in the U.S. for testing, has expanded the criteria for testing, opening up tests for people with mild symptoms. We encourage you to visit the online test site locator and call the nearest site regarding next steps,” Khaldun said. It is important to contact the testing site before visiting to check on hours and expectations. To find a testing site, visit Michigan.gov/CoronavirusTest.

While Michigan’s overall tests continue to increase, the rate of testing compared to the population isn’t increasing rapidly. Whitmer points to hopeful signs in Michigan’s COVID-19 fightAs of April 21, Michigan reported 121,298 total tests, which is the 11th most total tests in the U.S. But when compared to tests per 1 million (population), Michigan falls to 25th, with 12,182 tests at that rate. State officials, echoed by many other states, say the federal government needs to play a role in helping states ramp up testing to an acceptable level. Specifically, states say they need help with supplies, like swabs.

LANSING, Mich. – People with mild coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms are now able to get tested. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is expanding testing criteria for coronavirus to include those with mild symptoms. MORE: What the CDC says you should do if you believe you have coronavirus (COVID-19)How 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.

DETROIT – Detroit’s first drive-up COVID-19 testing site opened Friday afternoon at the State Fairgrounds. She’s had a low-grade fever for more than a week, she’s had a scratchy throat and she’s been coughing. “Just to be able to know.”The way it works, any resident of Wayne, Oakland or Macomb counties can come to this site for testing. “Anyone who is scheduled through the call center, with a physician’s prescription can come here,” Hakim Berry, chief operating officer for the city of Detroit, said. The site is made possible through a coalition including Detroit Medical Center, Henry Ford Health System, Trinity Health Systems, City of Detroit, Macomb County, Oakland County and Wayne County.

DETROIT – The city of Detroit opened its first drive-up coronavirus (COVID-19) testing site at the state fairgrounds Friday with the plan to test 100 people and gradually ramp up from there. Cars went in and out of the testing site after it officially opened Friday afternoon. Any resident of Wayne, Oakland or Macomb counties can go to the site for testing. LATEST: Detroit police Chief James Craig tests positive for coronavirus, hundreds of DPD officers quarantinedEither the doctor or the patient can call 313-230-0505 to schedule the drive-up appointment. But Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said the plan went so smoothly Friday that they are prepared for their max, starting Saturday.

Detroit drive-up coronavirus (COVID-19) testing: How to get appointment, who’s eligible, detailsPublished: March 27, 2020, 5:37 pmThe city of Detroit opened its first drive-up coronavirus (COVID-19) testing site at the state fairgrounds Friday with the plan to test 100 people and gradually ramp up from there.