>> Announcer: LIVE FROM DOWNTOWN DETROIT, HOME OF WDIV AND CLICK
ON DETROIT.
ON DETROIT. LOCAL 4 NEWS AT 5:00 STARTS NOW!
>> Devin: THE NUMBER OF
CORONAVIRUS CASES CONTINUES TO
RISE AT AN ALARMING RATE.
1117 NEW CASES IN THE PAST 24
HOURS IN MICHIGAN.
AND NOW AS HOSPITALS IN THE AREA
SAY THEY’RE GETTING CLOSE TO
CAPACITY, THE RUSH IS ON AS WE
GET OUR FIRST LOOK INSIDE THE
TCF CENTER BEING TURNED INTO A
FIELD HOSPITAL.
FIELD HOSPITAL. GLAD YOU’RE WITH US FOR LOCAL
NEWS AT 5:00.
A NUMBER OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS AS
MICHIGAN PREPARES FOR A SPIKE IN
CASES.
CASES. >> Sandra: FIRST THE NUMBERS.
TO DATE, MICHIGAN HAS 7615 TOTAL
CASES OF THE VIRUS WITH 259
DEATHS.
DEATHS. EVEN WITH REPORTS TO THE
CONTRARY, GOVERNOR WHITMER HAS
NOT YET OFFICIALLY CANCELED THE
SCHOOL YEAR.
SCHOOL YEAR. MUCH MORE ON THAT IN A FEW
MINUTES.
MINUTES. >> Devin: AS CREWS RUSH TO
CONVERT THE TCF CENTER INTO A
900-BED FIELD HOSPITAL.
OUR TEAM HAS FANNED OUT TO COVER
THE DEVELOPMENTS.
THE DEVELOPMENTS. WE START WITH PRIYA MANN WHO HAD
AN UPDATE FROM MAYOR MIKE
DUGGAN.
DUGGAN. PRIYA?
PRIYA? >> Priya: HE HELD A PRESS
CONFERENCE MOMENTS AGO AND SAID
SO FAR 700 PEOPLE WERE TESTED AT
THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS TODAY.
IN TOTAL MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN TESTED AND HELP IS ON
THE WAY.
THE WAY. AND MORE DETROITERS CAN GET
TESTED.
TESTED. >> FEMA HAS 200,000 SWABS IN A
TRUCK HEADED TOWARD THE STATE OF
MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN. >> Priya: ONCE THE SWABS ARRIVE,
MAYOR MIKE DUGGAN EXPECTS 1,000
PEOPLE A DAY WILL BE TESTED AT
THE STATE FAIRGROUND.
76 DETROIT COPS AND 17
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TESTED
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, 522 COPS
AND 133 FIREFIGHTERS REMAIN
QUARANTINED.
QUARANTINED. >> I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERY
QUARANTINED OFFICER IN THE
DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT IF THEY
HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN TESTED,
ARE BEING TESTED AT THE
FAIRGROUNDS CENTER.
FAIRGROUNDS CENTER. TOMORROW, EVERY POLICE OFFICER
WHO HAS NOT BEEN TESTED WILL BE
TESTED.
TESTED. >> Priya: 22 DOCTORS OFFICES ARE
TAKING IN ANY PATIENTS.
>> THIS WILL TAKE YOU IF YOU
DON’T HAVE MONEY AND DON’T HAVE
INSURANCE, THEY’LL TAKE YOU.
YOU CAN GET A SCRIPT AND THEN
YOU CAN COME OUT TO THE
FAIRGROUNDS.
FAIRGROUNDS. >> Priya: THE CITY APPROVED A
$3.1 MILLION RELIEF FUND FOR
THOSE WITH FEWER THAN 50
WORKERS.
WORKERS. BRIGHT HORIZONS IN MIDTOWN IS
OFFERING FREE CHILD CARE WITH
IMMEDIATE SPACE FOR 40 KIDS.
AS OF TUESDAY AFTERNOON, DETROIT
HAS 20068 CONFIRMED CORONAVIRUS
CASES, 73 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.
>> WE’RE CONTINUING TO LOSE OUR
NEIGHBORS AND THE NUMBER OF
POSITIVE CASES WILL CONTINUE TO
GROW BECAUSE OUR TESTING IS
EXPANDING, AND I EXPECT OUR
NUMBERS WILL GROW FASTER THAN
OTHERS.
OTHERS. >> Priya: DETROIT BEING
CONSIDERED A NATIONAL HOT SPOT.
HE HELD HIS PRESS CONFERENCE
HERE IN EASTERN MARKET SO
EVERYBODY COULD BE SPREAD OUT
AND SAID CONTINUE TO PRACTICE
SOCIAL DISTANCING.
SOCIAL DISTANCING. AND IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A
DOCTOR, THEY HAVE THE
INFORMATION ON THE CITY WEBSITE.
REPORTING LIVE FROM EASTERN
MARKET, I’M PRIYA MANN.
LOCAL 4.
LOCAL 4. >> Devin: LET’S MOVE TO THE
STATEWIDE RESPONSE AND THE
QUESTION ABOUT CANCELING SCHOOL.
GOVERNOR WHITMER HAS NOT MADE IT
OFFICIAL YET.
OFFICIAL YET. >> Sandra: BUT A DECISION IS
COMING SOON ON WHETHER OR NOT
THEY WILL CANCEL THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
YEAR. JASON COLTHORP SPOKE TO THE
GOVERNOR.
GOVERNOR. JASON?
JASON? >> Jason: THE GOVERNOR IS PRETTY
TIGHT-LIPPED WHOON THE PATH
FORWARD IS GOING TO BE.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, SHE’S
CONSIDERING ALL OPTIONS.
ON A DAY WHERE MANY WOULD BE IN
THE THICK OF ENJOYING THEIR
SPRING BREAK, THEY’RE WONDERING
IF THERE WILL BE ANY MORE
SCHOOL.
SCHOOL. THE GOVERNOR UNDERSTANDS THEIR
GROWING IMPATIENCE.
GROWING IMPATIENCE. >> TRUST ME, AS A PARENT WITH A
SENOR AND A JUNIOR MYSELF, I’M
GETTING QUESTIONS INSIDE MY OWN
HOUSEHOLD.
HOUSEHOLD. >> Jason: GOVERNOR GRETCHEN
WHITMER SAID SHE IS STILL
MULLING OVER EXACTLY WHAT TO DO
AND HOW TO PUT WHATEVER DECISION
SHE MAKES INTO MOTION.
>> I THINK THIS IS PRECISELY WHY
IT’S IMPORTANT WE TAKE THE TIME
TO GET IT RIGHT.
IT’S MOST IMPORTANT TO ME THAT
WE’VE GOT A REAL PLAN TO MEET
THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF OUR
STUDENTS AND THAT WE MAKE
DECISIONS BASED ON THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE KIDS NOT WHAT’S
MOST CONVENIENT.
MOST CONVENIENT. >> Jason: SHE HAS CONSIDERED
NIKOLAI VITTI’S SUGGESTIONS OF
ENDING THE SCHOOL YEAR, ALLOWING
CURRICULUMS ONLINE AND CONTINUE
STATE FUNDING.
STATE FUNDING. >> THERE ARE A LOT OF DISTRICTS
ACROSS OUR STATE AND THEY’RE ALL
VERY DIFFERENT AND HAVE
DIFFERENT ACCESS TO RESOURCES.
LISTEN, THE MESSAGE IS THIS:
THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES
AND THIS IS REQUIRING REAL
HARDSHIP ON EVERY ONE OF US,
JUST BY NOT GOING OUT, JUST BY
CLOSING DOWN YOUR BUSINESS, JUST
BY PULLING YOUR KIDS OUT OF
SCHOOL.
SCHOOL. >> Jason: UNPRECEDENTED TIMES,
TO BE SURE.
IF SHE IS LEANING TOWARD
CANCELING THE SCHOOL YEAR, YOU
UNDERSTAND WHY IT’S TAKING SO
LONG.
LONG. WHAT ABOUT SENIORS AND
GRADUATION AND ALL THE WORK
THEY’RE DOING TO EARN COLLEGE
CREDIT AND THEN SOME?
THE GOVERNOR WILL MAKE HER
ANNOUNCEMENT ON THURSDAY.
DEVIN AND SANDRA, BACK TO YOU.
>> Sandra: LOTS TO SORT THROUGH.
AS WE SPEAK, A MAD DASH IS UNDER
WAY INSIDE THE TCF CENTER TO
CONVERT IT INTO A FIELD HOSPITAL
TO TREAT CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS.
>> Devin: OUR FIRST LOOK INSIDE
SINCE THEY GOT TO WORK BUILDING
WHAT WILL BE A 900-BED EVALUATE.
VICTOR WILLIAMS WENT INSIDE.
IT’S IMPRESSIVE HOW FAST THIS IS
HAPPENING, VICTOR.
HAPPENING, VICTOR. >> Victor: ABSOLUTELY.
THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING AT
AN EXTREMELY FAST PACE AND THE
INSIDE ALREADY LOOKS QUITE
DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT. THEY’RE HOPING THAT SAME PLACE
CAN BE USED TO SAVE TONS OF
LIVES.
LIVES. >> THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
CALLS THEM ALTERNATE CARE
FACILITIES.
FACILITIES. >> Victor: THE TCF CENTER WILL
LOOK EXTREMELY DIFFERENT.
>> WE’RE WORKING ON THIS ONE,
AND THERE’S ONE DOWNSTAIRS
CALLED HALL E, WHICH WILL LIKELY
BE FOR 400 ADDITIONAL.
>> Victor: IT’S BEING
TRANSFORMED INTO A MAKESHIFT
HOSPITAL WITH THE CAPACITY TO
SEE AT LEAST A THOUSAND PATIENTS
DURING THE COVID-19 VIRUS
PANDEMIC THAT HAS CHANGED THE
WORLD.
WORLD. >> THIS FACILITY IS SPECIFICALLY
FOR COVID PATIENTS.
THEY’RE GOING TO CREATE NEGATIVE
PRESSURE IN HERE JUST LIKE A
HOSPITAL ROOM, SO THE PATIENTS
CAN USE OXYGEN IF NEEDED, BUT
THEY’LL BE QUARANTINED WITH
OTHER PATIENTS.
OTHER PATIENTS. >> Victor: EACH PATIENT WILL
HAVE SEMI PRIVACY WITH
ELECTRICITY RUNNING TO EVERY
STATION.
STATION. >> WE WANT TO HELP AS MANY AS WE
CAN.
CAN. >> Victor: AND THE HOPE IS THAT
IT WILL HELP DOCTORS GET AHOLD
OF THE VIRUS BEFORE IT’S TOO
LATE.
LATE. >> WE’RE EAGER TO HELP AND HAVE
THE ABILITY TO HELP AND WE’LL
MAKE SURE WE DO THIS AS SOON AND
AS PROFESSIONALLY AS WE CAN.
>> Victor: SOME PEOPLE HAVE TOLD
ME THAT THERE’ A CHANCE THEY
CAN BE DONE EVEN SOONER.
FOR NOW, WE’RE REPORTING LIVE AT
THE TCF CENTER.
VICTOR WILLIAMS, LOCAL 4.
>> Devin: WE ALWAYS MARVEL AT
HOW QUICKLY THE AUTO SHOW GOES
UP.
UP. LOOK AT THIS.
>> Sandra: TONIGHT, MICHIGAN
MEDICINE IS ENCOURAGING EVERYONE
TO PRACTICE AGGRESSIVE SOCIAL
DISTANCING.
DISTANCING. >> Devin: IF WE DO OUR PART, WE
COULD HAVE 65 HERZ FEWER
PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL COME
EARLY MAY.
EARLY MAY. DR. McGEORGE HAS MORE ON WHAT
THEY’RE ASKING US TO DO AND HOW
THEY’RE PREPARING FOR MORE
PATIENTS.
PATIENTS. >> Dr. McGeorge: MICHIGAN
MEDICINE RELEASED TWO
PROJECTIONS, ONE WITH AGGRESSIVE
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ONE WITH
LESS AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS AND HOPE
IT DEMONSTRATES THE DIFFERENCE
WE CAN MAKE IN FLATTENING THE
CURVE EVEN IF WE HAVEN’T SEEN IT
YET.
YET. >> THIS SHOWS TWO SCENARIOS OF
WHAT COULD HAPPEN AT MICHIGAN
MEDICINE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER
OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS.
THE BLUE LINE IS LESS SOCIAL
DISTANCING, AND THE ORANGE LINE
IS IF WE HAVE AGGRESSIVE SOCIAL
DISTANCING.
DISTANCING. >> Dr. McGeorge: THE HIGHER
CURVE REPRESENTS A WORST-CASE
SCENARIO.
SCENARIO. >> ON MAY 4th, 5800 PATIENTS IN
HOSPITALS.
HOSPITALS. WITH THE LESS LOWER MODEL, THE
CENSUS ON THAT SAME DAY WOULD BE
ABOUT 2,000 PATIENTS.
>> Dr. McGeorge: THAT’S 65%
FEWER PATIENTS.
FEWER PATIENTS. SO WHAT DOES AGGRESSIVE SOCIAL
DISTANCING MEAN?
DISTANCING MEAN? >> STAY AT HOME, EXCEPT FOR
THINGS LIKE GROCERIES AND
PICKING UP MEDICINE.
IT MEANS NOT INVITING OVER
NEIGHBORS, FAMILY MEMBERS, OR
FRIENDS WHO DON’T LIVE IN YOUR
HOUSEHOLD.
HOUSEHOLD. IT MEANS KEEPING BUSINESSES
CLOSED AND KEEPING THE SCHOOLS
CLOSED.
CLOSED. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE CONTACT WITH
AS FEW INDIVIDUALS AS POSSIBLE
OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
>> Dr. McGeorge: MICHIGAN
MEDICINE IS LOOKING TO INCREASE
CAPACITY FOR PATIENTS.
>> WE’RE ASSESSING LOCATIONS
OUTSIDE OF THE FOUR WALLS OF OUR
HOSPITALS.
HOSPITALS. ON OUR ATHLETIC CAMPUS, FOR THE
POTENTIAL TO CREATE A FIELD
CAMPUS OF 500 BEDS OR MORE.
THE INITIAL LOCATION WE’RE
EVALUATING AND PREPPING FOR IS
IN THE INDOOR TRACK AT THE
FACILITY ON STATE STREET.
>> Dr. McGeorge: NOW, THE INTENT
IS FOR THE FIELD HOSPITAL TO BE
A STEPDOWN UNIT FOR COVID-19
PATIENTS WHO ARE STABLE TO
CREATE MORE SPACE FOR THOSE
CRITICALLY ILL IN THE HOSPITAL.
MICHIGAN MEDICINE IS LOOKING AT
DORMS AND LOCAL HOTELS THAT
WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE
PATIENTS WHO ARE RECOVERING BUT
AREN’T ABLE TO GO HOME YET, FOR
EXAMPLE, BECAUSE OF
IMMUNE-COMPROMISED FAMILY
IMMUNE-COMPROMISED FAMILY MEMBERS.
MEMBERS. >> Devin: AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE
LEFT AT HOME, WE HAVEN’T TALKED
ABOUT THAT.
ABOUT THAT. HOW MUCH CAPACITY MICHIGAN
MEDICINE HAS LEFT RIGHT NOW?
>> Dr. McGeorge: THEY EXPECT TO
REACH PHYSICAL CAPACITY SOMETIME
WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
AND THAT’S WHY THEY’RE PREPARING
ALTERNATE SITES AND WHY THEY’RE
ASKING EVERYONE TO REDUCE THE
NEED FOR THAT.
>> Devin: ALL RIGHT, DOC, TALK
TO YOU SOON.
>> Sandra: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
WILL NOT BE REOPENING PLANTS AS
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED. THE AUTOMAKER IS DELAYING THE
RESTART TO PROTECT ITS WORKERS
FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.
FORD IS STILL PLANNING TO
PRODUCE VENTILATORS AT THE
RAWSONVILLE COMPONENTS PLANT THE
WEEK OF APRIL 20th.
UAW MEMBERS WILL WORK UNDER
STRICT SOCIAL DISTANCING AND
HEALTH MONITORING CONDITIONS.
>> Devin: ANOTHER BUSY DAY.
WE’RE AWAITING THE DAILY
BRIEFING FROM THE CORONAVIRUS
TASK FORCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
SEE THAT WHEN IT STARTS.
IN THE MEANTIME, LET’S GET TO
BEN.
BEN. >> Ben: NEW MONTH, NEW FORECAST.
THINGS WILL LOOK AND FEEL A
WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT INTO
TOMORROW.
TOMORROW. THE QUESTION IS, HOW LONG WILL
WE HOLD ON TO IT?
WE’LL LOOK AT ALL THAT, NEXT.
>> Devin: THE TRUE UNSUNG
HEROES.
HEROES. NEW TONIGHT, YOU’LL MEET THE
LOCAL GRANDMOTHER AND OTHERS WHO
ARE WORKING 7 DAYS A WEEK TO
FILL A CRITICAL NEED.
HANK?
HANK? >> Hank: I’M HANK WINCHESTER,
"HELP ME HANK."
I HAVE AN IMPORTANT WARNING FROM
THE FBI.
THE FBI. THE SCAMS THEY’RE TRACKING HERE
IN METRO DETROIT THAT ARE
CONNECTED TO THE CORONAVIRUS.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KEEP