Over 700 Henry Ford Hospital Workers Positive For Coronavirus
DETROIT, MI — More than 700 employees at Henry Ford Health System, which has hospital locations throughout southeast Michigan, have tested positive for the new coronavirus.
The Detroit News on Monday reported that between 600 and 700 workers have tested positive for the virus since the hospital began tracking employees with the coronavirus in mid-March.
Late Monday, officials from the hospital said that 734 employees had tested positive for the virus. In all, nearly 2,500 employees had been tested, the majority of whom tested negative.
"Our team members are our greatest asset and their health and safety is a top priority as we continue to respond to this pandemic," said Dr. Adnan Munkarah, EVP and Chief Clinical Officer with Henry Ford Health System. "In addition to strict adherence to the use of PPE when caring for COVID-19 patients, we have put a number of aggressive safety measures in place including a universal mask policy for all employees and visitors, and the prioritization of testing for team members who are exhibiting symptoms, even if mild. As a health system caring for a large majority of our region's COVID-19 patients, we know we are not immune to potential exposure and we remain grateful for the courage and dedication of our entire team.”
The news out of Henry Ford Health System comes after the state on Monday reported an additional 110 people have died from the coronavirus. That numbers comes on top of more than 1,500 new cases of the virus.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Monday that three Detroit-area health systems — Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit Medical Center and Beaumont — were "dangerously low" on personal protective equipment.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect a statement provided by Henry Ford Health System confirming the number of employees who tested positive for the coronavirus.
This article originally appeared on the Clinton Township Patch
