DETROIT (WXYZ) — During a news conference held on Monday, March 23, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced important COVID-19 information and resources to help navigate through the global health crisis.
Below you will find the vital information and resource guide:
If you suspect you have COVID-19If you are feeling sick please stay at home and call your primary care doctor or local hospital hotline (see list below)
- If you have a fever and a cough AND are experiencing any of the following go immediately to the emergency department or call 911 for EMS:
- Difficulty breathing
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Chest pain
- If you have a cough and no fever or are concerned that you may have been exposed to someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19:
- Contact your primary care physician by phone (don’t go unannounced) or
- Seek a telemedicine evaluation or
- Visit an urgent care center or
- Contact a regional hotline or
- Visit a drive-through screening site
- If you have a cough WITHOUT difficulty breathing AND no chronic medical conditions*
- Drink fluids
- Take over the counter remedies for fever and mild discomfort (e.g., Tylenol)
- Stay at home and try and stay at least six feet away from others without symptoms
*Chronic medical conditions include: diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer or heart disease.
Hospital Emergency Rooms are still open for emergency medical care. For all other ambulatory care or office appointments, please call the location to get up-to-date information on hours and scheduling an appointment.
There will be continued updates to the public with additional regional resources as they become available. You can find a list of available hospital services on the city of Detroit’s website.
In need of Food? The City of Detroit’s Recreation Department is providing meals for children at the following sites from 8:30 AM until 1:30 PM Monday - Friday:
- Adams Butzel Recreation Center, 10500 Lyndon
- Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E. Outer Drive
- Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S. Fort Street
Parents and children can pick up two meals (Breakfast and Lunch) Monday through Thursdays. On Fridays, they can request additional meals to get them through the weekend.
As the need for food grows, the City of Detroit is working with Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest to provide alternative sites where families can get groceries. Starting this week, Gleaners will begin providing groceries to families with children at two additional Recreation Centers:
- Roberto Clemente Recreation Center, 2631 Bagley
- 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Every other Wednesday starting March 25
- Coleman A. Young Recreation Center, 2751 Robert Bradby Drive
- 1:30 – 4:30 PM, Every other Saturday starting March 29
More sites are expected to come online soon. Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest are still providing groceries through their existing partners across the region. They are listed on the city’s website at www.detroitmi.gov/coronavirus [lnks.gd].
Also the Detroit Area Agency on Aging is providing frozen meals for seniors ages 60 and up. Seniors can pick up 5 days worth of meals every Wednesday from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at the following City of Detroit Recreation Centers:
- Adams Butzel Recreation Center, 10500 Lyndon
- Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E. Outer Drive
- Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere
- Joseph Walker Williams Recreation Center, 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd.
Bus Schedules: Reduced ServiceDue to the reduction in businesses that can operate under the Governor’s new order, and the expected drop in transit usage, DDOT will be reducing its weekday schedule and suspending some its “express” routes. Service will be maintained Monday through Friday on a standard Saturday schedule. Weekend service will not change at this time. On Monday-Saturday, most lines will run hourly, although major spokes, such as Michigan Avenue, Gratiot and Grand River, will run approximately every 20-30 minutes. During the day, Woodward will run every 10 minutes.
Schedules are available at www.detroitmi.gov/ddot [lnks.gd], as well as at the Rose Parks Transit Center and State Fair Transit Center.
To provide the highest level of service possible on its most heavily traveled routes, DDOT will be temporarily suspending service on “express” routes, which include:
- #40 Russell
- #42 Mid-City Loop
- #46 Southfield
- #80 Villages Direct
- #89 Southwest Direct
- #92 Rosedale Express
- #95 Ryan Express
- #96 Joy Express
Need your Water Turned on?Detroiters who need their water turned on can sign up for DWSD’s Water Restart Plan, and if you sign up before April 9, you don’t have to put any money down. Just come in, sign up and turn your water on. Since the $25 Water Restart Plan was announced on March 9, more than 1,400 customers have taken advantage of it.
- 679 completed service restorations
- 264 avoided a planned shut off by contacting DWSD
- 178 active restoration work orders (DWSD has 10 crews out today)
- 325 additional households where the occupant was not home or that require significant work before restoration can take place. These are expected to be completed by the end of this week.
To help with some of the more difficult restorations, where more systemic issues exist, the city has partnered with Plumbers Local 98 to provide additional workers.
All DWSD Customer care centers will be closed at this time. Customers can call the Customer Service Call Center at (313) 267-8000 or pay bill at detroitmi.gov/paymywaterbill.
How to apply
Residents without water, or who have received a notice they are at risk of service interruption, will only need to call Wayne Metro at 313-388-9799 to make an appointment. Customers also must make a monthly minimum payment of $25 during the time there is a risk of outbreak in Detroit to avoid service interruption. The amount of each customer’s arrearage will be deferred until after the COVID-19 situation is under control. At that time, residents will be transitioned to the WRAP or a 10-30-50 Payment Plan, both of which will keep their water service on as long as they remain current.
Help for the Homeless The city and its partners have been working to expand shelter capacity to accommodate the need for social distancing and isolation of individuals with symptoms. In the last week, the City has identified over 200 new, temporary shelter spaces and City is working to identify another 250 new temporary spaces to shelter individuals.
The need for space is both for motel style-units (shared sleeping and bathroom space) and Dormitory style (separate units with shared bathrooms). The city's contractors will be providing security and screening at each of these facilities. Individuals who have space that may be appropriate for this use should contact Housing & Revitalization Department Director Donald Rencher at rencherd@detroitmi.gov.
The City also is accepting donations of the following items to support its vulnerable population:
- toiletries (soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant)
- hand sanitizer and wipes and
- new recreational supplies (such as games, books, playing cards, and other activities to keep people comfortable while in isolation)
These items can be dropped off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week between 9-5 at 100 Mack Avenue. If you are interested in volunteering for 4 hours number of hours, to help monitor one of the facilities go to (website).
Looking for Work?All major services you need from Detroit at Work—looking for a job, help with your resume, understanding where to file for unemployment—are all available online at Detroit at Work.com, or by calling 1-313-962-WORK.
Temporary DDOT schedule – Effective 3/23/2020
Primary routes will be operating throughout the week on a Saturday schedule. Sunday will remain the same. (Highlighted) “Express Route” service will be suspended until further notice. Schedules are available online at www.detroitmi.gov/ddot
