Detroit on Monday immediately expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all residents 16 and older, a week earlier than planned, as Michigan continues to confront spiking infection rates that rank third-highest in the country.
Mayor Mike Duggan said the seven-day testing positivity rate in the state’s largest city doubled in 10 days, to 10.3%. Hospitalizations also doubled over that period but, unlike during the second wave of cases last fall, involve younger people in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.
“The younger people are getting infected. The younger people are being hospitalized. We have got to start to get them vaccinated,” Duggan said.
Also eligible are non-residents who work in Detroit.
Vaccine eligibility will open to the entire 16-plus population statewide on April 5.
