Warren City Hall will be closed this week due a "significant spike" in COVID-19 cases among employees involving several departments, according to Mayor Jim Fouts.
One department administrator is currently on a ventilator at a nearby hospital and has been sedated until his oxygen levels go up, the mayor stated in a released.
Hardest hit departments include:
-Warren Police Department
-District CourtWarren Community Center, library will remain open, Mayor Fouts says. We're working to learn exactly how many people within each department have tested positive thus far @wxyzdetroit
— Jenn Schanz (@JennSchanzWXYZ) November 9, 2020
"Our Police Department and District Court also has significant spikes. The Warren Community Center and Libraries will be open at this time. I urge everyone to continue wearing masks, keeping a distance from others and only go out if absolutely necessary," Fouts said. "The predicted spike in COVID-19 cases has now hit Michigan and Warren. We have more employees positive than at any other time since this pandemic began in March. Hence the closure of city hall to the public. I am taking steps to make sure all employees are tested. We are currently disinfecting the court, city hall, and the police department. The court also has a significant number out with COVID-19 so they too will be closed except for important cases!"
According to Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer, the department has had nine officers test positive for COVID-19 and several other officers quarantining at home. None of the officers are in the hospital.
On Thursday, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state's chief medical executive, said Michigan could see 100 or more deaths per day from COVID-19 by the end of December if Michiganders don't change their behaviors.
RELATED: Whitmer: Michiganders need to do everything they can to slow COVID-19 spread
The last time the state reported 100 or more deaths from COVID-19 in a single day was on April 30 with 101 deaths. The highest one-day death total was on April 16 with 164 deaths.