According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99.2% of June’s COVID deaths were people who were unvaccinated. These deaths could have been prevented.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will begin offering financial support for COVID-19 related funeral expenses.

The Detroit Police and Fire departments came together to do something to keep Skylar’s memory alive for years to come.

DETROIT – Michigan announced 8,516 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, smashing the previous single-day record by more than 1,500 cases. A week ago Friday, Michigan reported 3,700 new cases, so the total has more than double. Dr. Adnan Munkarah, Henry Ford Health top doctor, is worried about the possibility of COVID-19 deaths jumping. “From a national data perspective, we’ve had close to 1,200 deaths in the past 24 hours,” Munkarah said. “In fact, in 100% of our testing, we weren’t getting back the results within 24 hours,” Munkarah said.

As Michigan is experiencing a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, many people are concerned that the number of deaths will also climb in the coming weeks. Some new research suggests COVID-19 deaths might not rise as sharply as they did in the spring. They found death rates were highest in late March -- at 41% for COVID-19 patients in intensive care units -- compared to a much lower 21% for similar patients during that time. But when they adjusted for age and other medical problems, death rates still dropped by 18%, on average. Both papers suggest that improved treatment protocols, newer therapies and lower hospital volumes allowing for better care are working to lower the death rate.

A new report from the CDC finds the U.S. has reported nearly 300,000 more deaths in 2020 than the typical number during the same period in previous years. (As of October 15, 216,025 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in the United States, according to the CDC)The largest percentage increases were seen among adults aged 25–44 years and among Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic) persons, the CDC said. Two thirds of excess deaths during the analysis period (66.2%; 198,081) were attributed to COVID-19 and the remaining third to other causes. The age distribution of COVID-19 deaths shifted toward younger age groups from May through August; however, these disproportionate increases might also be related to underlying trends in other causes of death. Excess Deaths Associated with COVID-19, by Age and Race and Ethnicity — United States, January 26–October 3, 2020.

DETROIT – The city of Detroit is holding a memorial day on Monday to honor more than 1,500 residents who died from COVID-19. On Monday, “Detroit Memorial Day,” families are driving their cars in 15 consecutive funeral processions past nearly 900 billboard-sized photos of loved ones staked around Belle Isle. The photos represent a majority of the 1,500 Detroiters lost to the virus between through early August. Portraits of COVID-19 victims line the street Aug. 31, 2020 on Belle Isle in Detroit. (WDIV)Duggan spoke at 8:15 a.m. at the foot of the bridge to Belle Isle.

DETROIT – The city of Detroit announced a memorial day to honor more than 1,400 residents who died from COVID-19 and invited families to share photos that will be enlarged and displayed at Belle Isle State Park. The photos will be staked along the route of a memorial drive scheduled for Aug. 31, said Rochelle Riley, the city's director of arts and culture. “This is a very special thing for those of us who have lost people,” Riley said Wednesday. An Aug. 31 fireworks show to honor first responders, hospital workers and others on the front line of the coronavirus fight was announced weeks ago. Detroit residents so far make up roughly 25% of Michigan's 6,000 COVID-19 deaths.

DETROIT Health officials have confirmed the survival rate for people with the coronavirus (COVID-19) is high, but thats no reason to relax safety measures that have been put in place. One of the numbers that has been circulating on social media is that COVID-19 has a 98% or higher survival rate. That would make the case fatality rate 3.9%, so based on confirmed cases, about 96% of people survive. The problem is even a fatality rate of 0.4% can be crippling. Local 4s Dr. Frank McGeorge recommends exercising caution when seeing the survival rate numbers on social media.

DETROIT A new study found the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths in the early months of the pandemic might have been underestimated by nearly 30%. Researchers looked at the total number of deaths between March 1 and May 30 of this year and compared that to the historical number of deaths in the same time frame. In Michigan, experts identified 6,100 deaths above what should be expected, with roughly 4,800 attributed to COVID-19. During the COVID-19 peak in March and April, deaths from diabetes rose 96%. The authors of the study suspect some of the deaths happened among people unwilling to seek medical care due to coronavirus fears.

RIVERVIEW, Mich. – Kathy McGuire lost her 87-year-old mother, Sara, to coronavirus (COVID-19). On June 15, Whitmer ordered that all nursing home staff and residents be tested for coronavirus. McGuire’s mother was a resident in Rivergate Terrace in April when she got sick. In March and April, Rivergate insiders and families told Local 4 that COVID-19 was spreading like wildfire. “I would ask her why would you not come forth to protect our senior citizens, loved ones in nursing homes, who were the most vulnerable?” McGuire said.

Kathy McGuire lost her 87-year-old mother, Sara, to coronavirus (COVID-19). If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

DETROIT Michigan is considering a change to its controversial nursing home policy. Initially we reported 49% of Michigans COVID-19 deaths came from nursing homes in the Metro Detroit area. A second look now shows a lesser number of 29.7% of Michigan COVID-19 deaths occurring in Metro Detroit nursing homes. The new numbers are based on a more accurate understanding of the City of Detroit nursing home deaths. READ: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 nursing home data by county, facilityLocal 4 contacted the Detroit, Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county health departments to try and get a handle on Southeast Michigan nursing home coronavirus deaths.

Gretchen Whitmer emphasized the serious threat still posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) by comparing the number of the states deaths to the capacity of the Fox Theatre. As of Friday, 4,825 deaths have been linked to the coronavirus in Michigan. The latest update comes a day after protesters took to the state Capitol and rallied against Whitmers extended stay-at-home order. READ: Whitmer says gatherings of 10 people could be allowed on May 28During her Friday briefing, Whitmer tried to emphasize that the coronavirus is still a threat to Michigan. I want you to imagine as though you are standing on the stage of the Fox Theater in Detroit, which holds over 5,000 people.

Gretchen Whitmer has formed a panel of students, parents and experts to help the coronavirus (COVID-19) task force if and when students will be able to return to school in the fall. It is made up of students, parents, front line educators, administrators and public health officials, Whitmer said. This panel will use a data-informed and science-based approach with input from epidemiologists to determine if, when and how students can return to school this fall and what that will look like.The governor closed school buildings to students on March 16. The Task Force will now be informed by the Return to School Advisory Council. My hope is that by organizing a formal process informed by public health experts, we can give school districts much-needed direction heading into the 2020-2021 school year.The panel will include more than 20 members, representing K-12 administrators and educators, health experts and community stakeholders.

LIVONIA, Mich. – The Livonia community is mourning the loss of a former Franklin High School football coach and his wife. Armand Vigna, 84, died Tuesday of coronavirus (COVID-19) -- and just 12 hours later his wife of 61 years, Ruth Vigna, died. Friday night almost felt like a game night -- but the people there were mostly former players and coaches. The school honored Vigna with the marquee lights, field lights and lit the scoreboard up with the final score from the 1975 championship game. One final Friday night lights for the former coach and his wife.

DETROIT – The family of the first Michigan child to die from coronavirus (COVID-19) spoke Monday afternoon, sharing their pain after losing their daughter. Skylar Herbert, 5, died Sunday morning at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Before Skylar’s death, the youngest person to die from COVID-19 in Michigan was 20. As of Monday afternoon, the state’s death toll is 2,468, and 32,000 people have tested positive for the virus. MORE: Community shows support for family of 5-year-old Detroit girl who died from coronavirus

Detroit is making national headlines after a series of pictures from inside a local hospital went viral. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Meijer officials announced Saturday the first COVID-19 deaths of Meijer team members amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Related: Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 23,993; Death toll now at 1,392Meijer officials say they will not share any additional details regarding the deaths out of respect for the team members, their families and their privacy. 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. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

Some could have occurred days or weeks earlier but they were added to the official count after death certificates were matched to a registry of confirmed coronavirus cases, the state health department said. “It appears from current COVID-19 cases and modeling that the curve is significantly flattening,” university spokeswoman Mary Masson said. Separately, Mayor Mike Duggan reported seven more deaths among Detroit nursing home residents, raising the city’s total to at least 18. About 27% of Michigan’s coronavirus cases and 25% of deaths were Detroit residents. TESTINGThe state health department expanded the priority testing list to people who are allowed to work in person under Whitmer’s stay-home measure.

RIVERVIEW, Mich. – Rivergate Terrace Nursing Home in Riverview is a massive rehabilitation home that has become a COVID-19 hot spot. Officials with the nursing home have confirmed seven residents have died and many more testing positive for COVID-19. As we received notification of each positive test, any resident who was known to have contact with the resident who tested positive was immediately isolated. Three of the 21 residents who tested positive have returned to our facility and are under the isolated care of our facility associates. We have been and will continue to follow all CMS, CDC and state and local health department guidelines concerning COVID-19.

DETROIT – On March 18, Michigan reported its first COVID-19 related death. The death toll in Michigan has continued to rise, by more than 100 per day in the last four days. Related: Michigan extends ‘stay home’ order to April 30: What you need to knowFor comparison, between November 2019 and March 21, 2020, Michigan reported 210 flu-related deaths, according to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. Related: Michigan now reporting coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery numbersOakland County has 4,247 confirmed cases, the second-most in Michigan. Genesee County (755), Washtenaw County (637), Kent County (233), Ingham County (222), Saginaw County (205), Livingston County (181), Monroe County (165), St. Clair County (162) and Jackson County (131) all have more than 100 confirmed cases.

LIVONIA, Mich. – A Ford Livonia Transmission plant worker has died due to coronavirus (COVID-19), according to UAW President Rory L. Gamble. “Today, we also mourn the loss of a UAW brother from the Ford Livonia Transmission plant. On behalf of myself and the International Executive Board, our prayers and support go out to his family and friends,” Gamble said. He served this union tirelessly for decades, starting at the GM Fisher Body Plant 2 in Flint, Michigan. Today, we also mourn the loss of a UAW brother from the Ford Livonia Transmission plant.

DETROIT – Officials have confirmed three coronavirus deaths in the state of Michigan Thursday -- all three at hospitals in Metro Detroit. ORIGINAL STORY: 3 confirmed coronavirus deaths in Michigan: What we know about the patientsThe most recent was woman in her 50s from Wayne County died at McLaren Oakland Hospital in Pontiac. RELATED: Woman at McLaren Oakland Hospital is Michigan’s third confirmed coronavirus deathOfficials said she had underlying health conditions prior to contracting the virus. “It may just be the more testing we do, the more positives we have,” said Oakland County executive David Coulter. He was Michigan’s second confirmed coronavirus death.

3 confirmed coronavirus deaths at Metro Detroit hospitalsPublished: March 19, 2020, 5:16 pmOfficials have confirmed three coronavirus deaths in the state of Michigan Thursday -- all three at hospitals in Metro Detroit.

DETROIT – Officials have confirmed three coronavirus deaths in the state of Michigan -- all three at hospitals in Metro Detroit. A man who tested positive for COVID-19 died early Wednesday morning at the hospital, health officials said. Officials with Henry Ford Health System announced the state’s second confirmed coronavirus death before 9:45 a.m. Thursday (March 19). Minutes after the state’s second coronavirus-related death was confirmed, health officials announced the first death from the virus in Oakland County. A woman at McLaren Oakland Hospital in Pontiac became the third confirmed death in the state, officials said.