U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver remarks Wednesday on the nation’s current response to COVID-19 as cases have been on the decline in recent weeks.

Some households in Metro Detroit have started receiving the government’s four free COVID-19 tests being sent out to those who ordered them.

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.

The federal website where Americans can request free COVID-19 tests is now accepting orders.

The White House says the federal website where Americans can request free COVID-19 tests will begin accepting orders on Wednesday.

Our Dr. Frank McGeorge, MD, has been answering questions about COVID-19, the vaccines and masks since this pandemic started.

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.

Michigan residents have waited in line for hours to get a COVID test and at-home rapid tests have been difficult to find.

Pharmacies, urgent cares and doctors offices are seeing the the pre-holiday rush to get vaccinated before spending time with friends and families before the holidays.

If you’re a woman over the age of 40 there are four critical tests you need to stop and schedule right now.

Monday at 6:45 a.m. on Local 4 News today

Tuesday on Local 4 News at 5 p.m.

The U.S. Department of Education has denied Michigan’s request to waive the federal requirement to administer the state summative assessments, the Michigan Department of Education announced Tuesday.

The U.S. Department of Education has denied Michigan’s request to waive the federal requirement to administer the state summative assessments, the Michigan Department of Education announced Tuesday.

DETROIT – Educators in Michigan are dealing with concerns about standardized testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. READ: More than 80% of Michigan schools offering in-person instructionThat decision has sent state educators back to the drawing board. They said there are pros and cons when it comes to standardized testing. There is a need to make sure that all students, no matter their situation and standardized testing can give a glimpse into if students are getting an equal education. Educators said losing standardized testing could harm poor, disadvantaged students and minority students.

DETROIT – Several Detroit Lions coaches must stay away from the team facility until further notice as part of a COVID-19 contact tracing process, the team announced Wednesday. When Matt Patricia was let go as the Lions’ head coach, Darrell Bevell became the team’s interim coach. Now, with two positive COVID cases inside the organization, the Lions might need an interim-interim coach for Saturday’s game against the Buccaneers. Through contact tracing, several coaches are considered close contacts per NFL policy, including interim head coach Bevell. A coach for Saturday’s game has yet to be determined as the Lions and the league continue to communicate.

Detroit Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell stands in the end zone before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field on December 13, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. DETROIT – The Detroit Lions will have several coaches remain away from the team facility until further notice as part of a COVID-19 contact tracing process, the team announced Wednesday. This update comes after the Lions shut down their team facility Tuesday after two people within the organization tested positive for COVID-19. There were no new positive COVID test results on Wednesday, the team said, but several coaches will have to stay away from the facility for now. As a result of the contact tracing process, several coaches will remain away from the team facility until further notice.

The percent of positive tests (as shown by the red line in the chart above) remained flat for weeks since June -- between 3 and 4 percent -- while the number of test results reported increased steadily. The percent of positive went above 5% in October and then went above 14% in November.

Michigan health officials have repeatedly said the positivity rate of COVID-19 tests in the state needs to remain below 3% to show that the spread of the virus is under control. As of this weekend, the state’s 7-day moving average for COVID tests positivity rate was 13.21%, far higher than where state health officials want it to be. Michigan’s COVID tests positivity rate has not been below 3% since early October. Gretchen Whitmer noted in an interview with Local 4 that the 3% benchmark will be important in deciding when to lift new COVID restrictions that go into effect this week. Whitmer said the positivity rate will have to fall below 3% during the three-week period of stricter measures to stop the spread before restrictions could be lifted.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden have tested negative for COVID-19, the Biden-Harris campaign announced Friday. “Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden underwent PCR testing for COVID-19 today and COVID-19 was not detected,” reads a statement from Dr. Kevin O’Connor. “I am reporting this out in my capacity as both Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden’s primary care physician.”Biden also tweeted:I’m happy to report that Jill and I have tested negative for COVID. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 2, 2020Joe Biden was on the debate stage with Trump for more than 90 minutes earlier in the week. Biden has scheduled campaign events later in the day.

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence tested negative for COVID-19 Friday morning, hours after President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were diagnosed with the coronavirus. Spokesman Devin O’Malley says Pence “remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery.”Pence is tested every day for the virus, O’Malley confirmed. Read: Shock, sympathy, criticism: World reacts to Trump infection

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.

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.

Experts are eager to know the real number of COVID-19 cases in Africa, as confirmed cases and deaths have been relatively low on the continent of 1.3 billion people. Thats while Mozambique has just 2,481 confirmed virus cases. The new continent-wide antibodies study will include all African countries, but the ones showing interest to start in the coming weeks are Liberia, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Nigeria and Morocco, Nkengasong said. The Mozambique antibodies surveys detected the virus in all neighborhoods in Nampula and Pemba, National Institute of Health director Ilesh Jani told reporters. The country has more than 28,000 confirmed cases.

MANCHESTER, Mich. On Sunday, the Michigan National Guard will offer no-cost COVID-19 testing from noon to 6 p.m. in Manchester, a village about 22 miles southwest of Ann Arbor. The free pop-up testing will take place in the parking lot of Riverside Intermediate School. Testing will be conducted by teams of Michigan National Guard members. It is supported by the Michigan National Guard and Manchester Schools. Find additional COVID-19 testing resources at www.washtenaw.org/COVID19testRiverside Intermediate School is at 710 E. Main St, Manchester.

DETROIT There seem to be enough coronavirus (COVID-19) tests available in Metro Detroit, but results are often taking so long to come back that the tests are rendered essentially useless. Testing and tracing are pillars of the public health response to COVID-19, but right now testing is falling short across the U.S. For everyone else, COVID-19 test results take more than seven days, or in some cases, even as long as two weeks. LabCorp, another national testing corporation, said on July 19 that its tests are taking an average of 3-5 days to come back from the time of specimen pickup. Anyone who wants a faster result on a COVID-19 test should check with local facilities performing tests in their own labs.

DETROIT Medical experts have been using coronavirus antibodies in the form of convalescent plasma to help patients fighting COVID-19, but new research could take that concept to the next level. RELATED: Evrod Cassimy donates plasma, coronavirus antibodies to help othersThe idea is creative a drug that would not only treat those infected with coronavirus, but potentially help prevent infections too. According to biotechnology company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, phase three clincal trials are now in the works for REGN-COV2, their combination antibody treatment for COVID-19. The drug is a combination of two antibodies -- the proteins the body makes to naturally fight infections. Regeneron was awarded a $450 million contract to manufacture and supply the antibody treatment as part of the federal governments push to get a vaccine by January 2021.

Here we are tracking Michigan’s COVID-19 cases. The following chart shows daily new cases based on the date the positive test was reported along with daily new cases based on the date of onset. That is followed by the date that a positive COVID-19 test result was confirmed. *If you’re having trouble viewing the data below, go here. For context, here are the daily new COVID-19 cases and deaths since March 10:

Published: May 15, 2020, 11:29 amDETROIT – On Friday, Henry Ford Health System provided an update on the latest developments in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. Coronavirus cases as of 10 a.m. Friday, May 15:Total number of Henry Ford Health System patients who tested negative: 24,330Total number of Henry Ford Health System patients who tested positive: 7,080Total number of Henry Ford Health System patients currently admitted: 146Total number of Henry Ford Health System patients discharged home in last 60 days: 1,949Average length of stay in hospital by discharge date: 11 daysAverage ICU days by discharge date: 19 daysThe number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 49,582 as of Friday morning, including 4,787 deaths, state officials report. READ: Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 49,582; Death toll now at 4,787READ MORE: Henry Ford Health: 1,920 coronavirus (COVID-19) patients discharged in last 60 days

On Saturday, May 2, the state reported about 23,500 active cases of COVID-19, the lowest such total since April 13. We’ve been tracking the state’s active coronavirus cases right here, giving us a good look at the “curve” along with total COVID-19 cases reported to date in Michigan. The state also reported an additional 7,317 recoveries from the disease as of May 1, bringing the total to 15,659 recoveries from COVID-19 in Michigan. Also on Saturday, the state reported an additional 11,165 COVID-19 test results, of which only 1,127 were positive. Overall, the state of Michigan has reported a total 207,135 COVID-19 test results since April 17.

A fifth patient in Michigan who has been tested for the coronavirus has shown negative test results for the illness, according to health officials. On Monday, health officials announced the test results returned negative for the coronavirus. Four other possible cases in Michigan have been evaluated by the CDC and came back negative. Overall, there have been 64 referrals for coronavirus evaluation in Michigan. Five patients have been approved for testing at the CDC, and all five have returned negative results.