Henry Ford Health System announced Thursday it is partnering with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to increase access to monoclonal antibody treatments.

Every week, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services puts out new data on different aspects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday the state would be expanding its use of COVID treatments in an effort to combat rising hospitalizations.

“They can help the immune system identify pathogens in the body so helping the immune system recognize the virus in the body and they also are part of the immune system and the mechanism that blocks the viruses from being able to get into the cells,” said registered dietitian Erin Gussler. It turns out more than 80% of those patients were deficient in vitamin D and 47% of the general population had a deficiency. The higher percentage of vitamin D deficiencies among hospitalized COVID-19 patients suggests an association -- however they did not find a relationship between vitamin D levels and the severity of their coronavirus infections. This aligns with another study of 489 patients from the University of Chicago Medicine that found there could be an association between vitamin D deficiency and the likelihood of catching coronavirus. Nonetheless, given the mounting data, it is a good idea to correct any deficiency in vitamin D.

DETROIT As more studies of possible new coronavirus (COVID-19) treatments continue to ramp up, more unfavorable findings about hydroxycholorquine have streamed in. Local 4s Dr. Frank McGeorge is still involved in a hydroxycholorquine study at Henry Ford Hospital. The WHIP COVID-19 study is still enrolling people. But its notable that other recent studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association also failed to identify any benefit to hydroxycholorquine. The WHIP COVID-19 study is looking at something that hasnt been well examined: preventative use of hydroxycholorquine before infection.

DETROIT – New medications and treatments for coronavirus (COVID-19) are being tested in medical centers across the country. READ: FDA approves plasma therapy treatment for coronavirusHenry Ford Hospital physician Dr. Scott Kaatz took care of some of the first coronavirus patients admitted to the hospital. He was enrolled in the convalescent plasma study while he was being treated at the hospital. “I was unconscious, paralyzed, on a ventilator.”Before he went on the ventilator, Kaatz was able to video chat with his family via Skype. So far 14 coronavirus patients have undergone transfusions of convalescent plasma at Henry Ford.