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The latest coronavirus updates: Sunday, April 5, 2020

Posted at 11:31 AM, Apr 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-05 15:43:41-04

(WXYZ) — All of the updates on the coronavirus and the incredible impact it's having on our lives can be hard to keep up with. To help you keep up, we'll post this daily blog on our homepage. You can find all of our stories on our coronavirus page.

2:43 p.m.

There are now 617 deaths and 15,718 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan, according to the Johns Hopkins map on coronavirus cases and deaths by state.

This is now 77 more deaths from Saturday and 1,493 new positive cases.

2:33 p.m.

A Detroit postal worker has died from the coronavirus, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union said. Anthony Smith was a mail handler with Local 307. He's the first known mail handler death caused by the virus.

1:05 p.m.

Bioengineers with Beaumount Health have created a process that extends the life of N95 masks, which is critical during the coronavirus crisis as health professionals have had to deal with shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The two-step process will allow for N95 masks to be used two to three more times, according to Beaumont Health.

9:07 a.m.

The Michigan National Guard is expanding its support during the coronavirus crisis by serving Forgotten Harvest Food Bank in Royal Oak beginning April 6, according to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office.

According to the governor's office, 10 airmen from the 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base will be serving at the Royal Oak Forgotten Harvest, and that will last through the end of April. Already, National Guard members in Michigan have been serving at food banks in Comstock Park, Ann Arbor, Pontiac and Flint.

9 a.m.

Metro Detroit is expected to reach a peak in the coronavirus pandemic within the next six to seven days, said Dr. Deborah Birx with the White House coronavirus task force. More specifically, Birx says in Michigan, Wayne and Oakland counties will see the brunt of these increased cases and deaths from the coronavirus.

Additional Coronavirus information and resources:

Read our daily Coronavirus Live Blog for the latest updates and news on coronavirus.

Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.

View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.

Find out how you can help metro Detroit restaurants struggling during the pandemic.

See all of our Helping Each Other stories.

See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.