DETROIT (WXYZ) — Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan gave another coronavirus update on Friday afternoon.
Duggan introduced Conrad Mallett, Jr. as the city's new deputy mayor, and Rev. Horace Sheffield talked about a series of COVID-19 testing events available to the community.
Duggan opened up the press conference with the latest numbers, saying there are now 1,243 Detroiters who have died from coronavirus, but the numbers keep going down.
Sheffield then talked about his experience with coronavirus, and told people how they can get testing in the Detroit communities every weekend and some days during the week.
Those testing sites are throughout the city including at Sinai Grace, the Northwest Activities Center, Perfecting Church and Wayne County Community College District.
They are averaging about 150 phone calls per day to get the testing done, and people can call 313-706-2750 or email testing@dabodetroitinc.com.
Duggan then introduced Mallett as the city's new deputy mayor, and talked about their work at the DMC and how Mallett worked to turn around DMC Sinai Grace.
According to Duggan, he will "lead the overall effort to deal with COVID-19 moving forward," and will start a week from next Monday.
“We all appreciate deeply the leadership you provide to this great city,” he said. “it’s my great pleasure and great honor to come back to the City of Detroit.”
Chief Craig will remain as the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, Duggan said. He added that the City Charter said if Duggan is out of town or unavailable he can file for somebody to act as the mayor.
Duggan said if he is unable to perform and there is an emergency in the city, he trusts Chief Craig to lead the city in an emergency.
Craig also updated coronavirus numbers in the police department. In total, 314 members have tested positive since the outbreak began, but right now, there are 23 people positive – 19 sworn officers and four civilian.
The number of those quarantining are going down, too. Craig said that 1,152 department members have been quarantined. As of today, there are 59 currently quarantined.
Only one civilian member remains in the hospital from COVID, and there were 13 members.
Chief Health Director Denise Fair then spoke about the total numbers for the city. She added there are 10,259 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the city.
She updated the testing strategy in senior facilities, and said so far, they have tested 1,000 residents in 17 facilities and there is an infection rate of about two percent. They are scheduled to test about two dozen more facilities by the end of the month.
Fair also said that by next week they will be able to distribute PPE to seniors in every facility they test – masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.
She is encouraging people to wear your masks, wash your hands, practice social distancing and please stay at home to only go out when necessary.
Duggan reiterated his confidence in the Abbott 15-minute COVID-19 test and also said they're testing the first responders and the city workers on that test.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
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