Page 8 - DMN1Q21

The COVID-19 Vaccine
A Letter from the Health Department
Najibah K. Rehman, MD, MPH Medical Director
Detroit Health Department
Dear Detroit Medical Colleagues,
As we approach the one year anniversary of Detroit’s first confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2, it is important think about where we were then and where we are today. You are all heroes. We have made great strides as a community. The conversations I had with many of you at the start of the pandemic have resonated in me over the months, and I have seen the community come together in ways I would have never imagined. I am so proud of you, and although times were extremely challenging, we are better positioned in 2021 to face this.
In the past two weeks, Detroit has seen ~450 confirmed cases and 10 deaths from SARS-CoV-2, compared to ~30,000 confirmed cases and 1835 deaths since the start of the pandemic. To date, positivity in Detroit is 2.8% compared to 3.3% for Metro Detroit, and one out of three cases were found in individuals between 20-39 years of age. We have seen outbreaks in nursing homes, childcare centers, schools, shelters, and manufacturers. COVID-19 cases occupying Detroit’s hospital and ICU beds have decreased, while ventilator use for all hospitalized patients have slightly increased.
Our SARS-CoV-2 investigations team consists of
50 amazing individuals who effectively became epidemiologists overnight. We formed subspecialized teams that follow Detroit’s schools, employers, food establishments, shelters, nursing homes, adult foster homes, psych and substance use disorder facilities, casinos, and City employees. We flag facility addresses
in the Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS),
so if an associated case emerges, we immediately start
an investigation. If an outbreak is suspected, we conduct intensive contact tracing, administer rapid testing outreach to expedite identification of cases for isolation or quarantine, and send environmental health and education teams to assess protocols and workplace settings to tighten operations. My teams keep Detroit safe, and it is so impressive to see their dedication and passion for public health while keeping our economy afloat.
To date, 1661 cases of the U.K. variant, B.1.1.7, have been identified in the U.S. with 12.6% of those in Michigan. We have not yet identified any cases of P.1 (Brazil) or B.1.351 (South Africa) in Michigan. We have identified fewer than 10 cases of B.1.1.7 in Detroit. Thank you to those labs and providers that have sent samples for sequencing, as that is the only way we can identify cases. Currently, the Bureau of Labs (BOL) at MDHHS has the capability to sequence positive cases, so we urge you and your institutions to send samples to BOL. We must continue to surveil for variant cases. My investigations teams are ensuring effective follow-up of confirmed variant cases, exposed individuals and facilities, and are tracking demographic data to understand the epidemiology of the variant in Detroit.
To date, the City has administered ~75,000 first doses
of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to first responders, healthcare providers, 60+ with chronic conditions, clergy, childcare providers, postal workers, individuals with disabilities, K-12 and food workers. The health department is working
8 Detroit Medical News
First Quarter 2021