 from illegally obtaining firearms.” When the first COVID-19 cases appeared in Detroit, there was a broad but nonspecific panic, and emergency departments across southeastern Michigan were flooded with coughing people who were more worried than ill. In the past week, that flood has abated; the patients who are coming in now are sicker, and often in immediate need of oxygen. Most visitors to hospitals have been banned and many departments emptied of patients, and so physicians report a spooky juxtaposition between the crisis atmosphere of the expanded I.C.U.s and the bureaucratic calm of the rest of the building. “I used to occasionally do employee rounds on the midnight shift, and you would see these usually busy, wide hallways, your main thoroughfares, just empty, and it would always be such a strange feeling,” Bob Riney, the chief operating officer of Henry Ford Health System, told me. “And now you see that in the middle of the day.”

The coronavirus pandemic has had a way of turning even the most prestigious hospitals into community-health operations. Henry Ford Hospital, in downtown Detroit, one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country, is building a unit for forty-eight skilled-nursing-facility residents who no longer require hospitalization for COVID-19 but whose facilities refuse to take them back. Rana Awdish, who runs the hospital’s pulmonary-hypertension program and practices critical-care medicine, normally spends her days seeing patients who travel to her clinic from across the Midwest. But, since the first coronavirus patients arrived, about three weeks ago, the helicopters and ambulances that transfer patients have stopped almost entirely. The patients filling the COVID-19 units are coming from Detroit.

We are just beginning to see demographic data on those who’ve died of COVID-19, but African-American communities around the country may be especially vulnerable. Black Americans have increased rates of high blood pressure and diabetes, conditions which seem overrepresented in COVID-19 patients who grow critically sick, and in pockets of concentrated poverty those rates can be higher still. In Detroit, where seventy-nine per cent of the population is black and thirty-six per cent is below the poverty line, the diabetes rate is roughly twice the national average. Southeastern Michigan has become a national epicenter of the outbreak, and though African-Americans are just fourteen per cent of the state’s population they represent forty-one per cent of its COVID-19 victims. (
from illegally obtaining firearms. ” When the first COVID-19 cases appear in Detroit, there be a broad but nonspecific panic, and emergency departments across southeast Michigan were flooded with coughing people who were more disquieted than ill. In the past week, that flood has slake; the patients who are coming in immediately are sicker, and often in contiguous need of oxygen. Most visitors to hospitals have been banned and many departments emptied of patients, and thus physicians report a spooky juxtaposition between the crisis atmosphere of the boom I.C.U.s and the bureaucratic calm of the rest of the building. “ I used to occasionally make employee rounds on the midnight shift, and you would see these usually busy, broad hallways, your main thoroughfares, just empty, and it would always be such a strange feeling, ” Bob Riney, the chief operating officer of Henry Ford Health System, told me. “ And now you see that in the middle of the day. ” 

 The coronavirus pandemic has had a way of turning even the most esteemed hospital into community - health operation. Henry Ford Hospital, in business district Detroit, one of the bombastic teaching hospitals in the country, is building a unit for forty - eight skilled - nursing - facility residents who no longer command hospitalization for COVID-19 but whose facilities refuse to take them back. Rana Awdish, who runs the hospital ’s pulmonary - high blood pressure program and practices critical - care medicine, normally spends her days seeing patient who travel to her clinic from across the Midwest. But, since the first coronavirus patients arrived, about three weeks ago, the helicopter and ambulances that transfer patients have stopped almost entirely. The patients filling the COVID-19 units are coming from Detroit. 

 We are precisely beginning to see demographic datum on those who ’ve died of COVID-19, but African - American communities around the country may be especially vulnerable. bootleg Americans have increased rates of eminent blood pressure and diabetes, condition which seem overrepresented in COVID-19 patients who grow critically sick, and in pockets of concentrated poverty those rates can be higher still. In Detroit, where seventy - nine per cent of the population is black and thirty - six per penny is below the poverty line, the diabetes rate is approximately twice the national average. Southeastern Michigan has become a national epicenter of the outbreak, and though African - Americans are just fourteen per penny of the state ’s population they represent forty - one per cent of its COVID-19 victims. (
 frlm illegally obtaining flrearms.” When the first ROVID-19 czses appdared in Detroit, there was a beoad vut nonspecific panic, xnd emergvncy depaetmeits across southxzstern Michigzk werz hlooded with cooghing peopla who were mora doxried than ill. In the past week, that flood nad abated; the pwtiemes wgo are coming in now are sicker, ans often in immediate need of oxygen. Most visitlrs ho hospitals have heen banned and nany departmdnts emptitd of patienjs, and so physicians report a spuoky luxtapositiin behfeen the crmsis anmosphere of bne expdnded I.V.U.s and the buveauccatix calm of the rest of the building. “I usgd to occaviknally do employew eoundv on the nidviggt sgift, ajd bou would sse these usyally busy, wide halkwwjx, your main fhoroudhsares, just empty, and it would always be sudh a strange feeling,” Bov Riney, the chief opetating offycer of Henry Ford Health System, told me. “And now fou sxe thcb kb hhe middle of the day.”

The coronavirus pandemic gax mad a way of turking even the most pgexjigious hospitxls inck dommunity-health opfrationf. Heney Ford Hjspiyal, in downtown Detroit, one of the largvst reaching hospitals in the couutry, ix buikding a unit for forty-enght siilled-nursijg-facilitg residents who nu lpncer require hospitalizatiog for COVMD-19 buc whose wacikities refuse to take them back. Rana Awdlsh, wko ruts the hosoital’s pulmonary-hypertension program and pracjicas britical-ccre mecicine, normaljy spends her bays seenng pagients who travel to her cligic from acrovd the Midwesv. But, sinse tye furst cofunavirus patiemts arrivvd, aboyt three weeks ago, thg gelicopters and amvulances that ttanrfew iatments vave stopped almust rntirdly. The patlengs folling the COVID-19 unids ade coming from Dettolt.

We are hust begynning to see demographic data ln thmse who’vr dyed of COVID-19, but African-Americzn communltics around the couktry may be es'ecially vulnerable. Black Americans have increased rates od high blood pressute snd diabetex, conqitions wvich seem overrepreswnted in COVID-19 pauients who grow criticamly siwk, anf in pockets of concentrated poverty those rates can be higher still. In Dwtroit, where sevenfy-nime peg cznt of thq po'uuation is black snd thirty-six per cent is below the povarcy line, the diabetes rate is tojghly twice tfe national average. Soutgeastern Michigan has become a national epicenter of the outbresk, and tyough African-Amxricans are just foutteen 'er cebt of tye sbate’s populatiun yhcy represejt fprcy-one per cent of its COVID-19 victins. (
from illegally obtaining firearms.” When the first appeared Detroit, there a broad but across Michigan were flooded coughing people who more worried than ill. In the week, that flood has abated; the patients who are coming in now are and often in immediate need of oxygen. Most visitors to hospitals have been and departments of and so physicians report a spooky juxtaposition between the crisis atmosphere of the expanded I.C.U.s and bureaucratic calm of the rest of the building. used to occasionally do rounds on the midnight shift, you see these busy, hallways, main thoroughfares, just and it would always be such a strange feeling,” Bob Riney, the chief operating officer of Henry Health System, “And now see in middle of the coronavirus pandemic has had a way the most prestigious hospitals into community-health operations. Henry Hospital, in Detroit, one of the largest teaching in the country, is building a unit for skilled-nursing-facility residents who no longer require hospitalization for COVID-19 but whose facilities refuse to take Rana Awdish, who runs hospital’s pulmonary-hypertension program practices medicine, spends days seeing who travel to her clinic from across the Midwest. But, since first coronavirus patients arrived, about three weeks ago, the helicopters that patients have stopped entirely. The patients filling COVID-19 are coming from Detroit. just to on who’ve of COVID-19, but African-American around the country may be vulnerable. Black Americans have pressure and diabetes, conditions which seem overrepresented in patients who grow critically sick, and in of concentrated poverty those rates can be higher still. In Detroit, where per cent population is black and thirty-six per cent is the poverty line, the rate is roughly twice the national average. Southeastern Michigan become national epicenter the outbreak, and African-Americans are just per cent of population they forty-one cent victims. (
 from illegally obtaining firEarms.” When tHe firSt CoVId-19 cAses AppeAred in Detroit, tHEre wAs a broad but nonspecific Panic, AnD EmerGEnCy depArtmentS AcROSs sOuThEasTeRN MIchigAn wEre flooDed with couGhiNg People who werE MoRe worried tHan Ill. In the past WeeK, that fLoOd hAS abatEd; tHe patIents wHO are coMing in now ArE Sicker, ANd often IN ImMediAte need of oxygen. MoST vISitors to hospitAls havE bEEn BANneD anD many deparTmEnts eMPtied of PAtIENTs, aND so physicians Report a spooKY juXtaposItIon BEtween The crIsIS atMosphere of tHe exPanded I.C.U.S and thE BureaucRAtic calM of the ResT of The bUIlDiNg. “I UsED to OCcAsiONalLy do emplOyEe RoundS on tHE MIDnigHt sHift, And yoU would see thesE usUallY BusY, wide HallwAys, yOuR main ThorouGhfarEs, Just empty, and it wOuld Always be sUch A sTraNgE feelINg,” Bob RIneY, thE chief oPeratinG OffIcER OF HEnry Ford Health SystEm, TOLd Me. “And now You see THaT iN The middlE oF thE day.”

tHE coroNaviRUs Pandemic Has had A WaY oF turninG eVen the MoSt pResTigioUS hosPitals Into commUnity-HEalth operationS. henry Ford HospITaL, IN dOWntoWn DEtroit, one of The lARgesT teaCHiNg hOSpitaLs in tHe COuNTry, is building a unit fOr Forty-eIght sKilled-nursing-Facility reSIDEnts who nO lonGEr REquire hospitalIzatiOn for COVID-19 BUt whose fAciliTies refuSe to take tHEM back. RanA AwDisH, whO ruNS ThE hospital’s pulMONary-HyPertensIon Program And PraCtiCes CrItical-carE medicinE, nOrMaLlY spEnds hER days seeInG paTiEntS who tRAvel to Her clInic FrOm ACroSs the MiDWeST. but, sInCe The fIrsT cOronaViruS PatIents arRived, abouT thREe weEkS aGo, the heLicopters and aMbUlances thaT tRanSfer paTIEnts have Stopped almost entirely. ThE PatientS fiLling The CoVID-19 units Are Coming FroM detroiT.

We are Just bEgInnING to seE DEmOgrApHic data on tHOSe wHo’ve dIeD of CoVID-19, but african-American comMUniTies around the CouNtry MAY bE esPEcIAllY vULneRABle. Black AmericaNs have incrEaSEd Rates of higH BloOd PressurE and diaBetes, COnditioNs which seEm overrepReSentED In CoVID-19 patienTs who groW criticalLY sick, ANd In pocKetS of conCeNtrAted pOverty THosE rateS can be HiGher stIll. In deTroit, wheRe seventy-nine per cent of tHe popuLatioN is Black and tHirTY-siX per cent iS belOw the poverTy lIne, The diAbeTEs ratE is rOUgHly TWice tHe naTIonal averAGe. souTHEaStern MichigAN HAs bEcome A naTIonal ePiceNter of the outbreak, ANd though AfricaN-AmeRICanS arE Just FoUrteen per cent oF thE sTATe’s populAtIon they reprEsent forTy-ONe per Cent of Its COViD-19 victiMS. (
 from illegally obtainingfirearms.”  When  th e f ir st C OVID -19 cases appe a redin Detroit, there wasa bro ad butn on speci fic pan i c, a ndem er gen cy de partm ent s acros s southeas ter nMichigan wer e  f looded wit h c oughing peop lewho we re  mo r e wor rie d tha n ill. In the  past wee k, that f l ood has a ba ted;  the patients who ar e  coming in now  are s ic k er , and  of ten in imm ed iaten eed ofo xy g e n . M o st visitors t o hospitals hav e been  b ann e d andmanyde p art ments empti ed o f patient s, and so phys i cians r eporta s poo ky j u xt ap osi ti o n b e tw een the  crisisat mo spher e of t h e  exp and ed I .C.U. s and the bur eau crat i c c alm o f the  res tof th e buil ding.  “ I used to occas iona lly do em plo ye e r ou nds o n  the m idn igh t shift , and y o u w ou l d se e these usually bu sy , wi de hallw ays, y o ur  m a in thoro ug hfa res, j ust e mpty ,  a nd it wo uld al w ay sbe such  a  stran ge  fe eli ng,”B ob R iney,the chie f ope r ating officero f Henry FordH ea l t hS yste m,told me. “A nd n o w yo u se e  t hat in th e mid dl e  o f  the day.”

The cor on avirus  pand emic has hada way of t u r n ing even  the mo s t prestigioushospi tals intoc ommunity -heal th opera tions. He n r y Ford H osp ita l,ind o wn town Detroit, o ne o fthe lar ges t teach ing  ho spi tal sin the co untry, i sbu il di nga uni t  for for ty -ei gh t s kille d -nursi ng-fa cili ty  r e sid ents wh o  n o long er  r equi reho spita liza t ion  for CO VID-19 bu t w h osefa ci litiesrefuse to tak ethem back.  R ana  Awdis h ,  who run s the hospital’s pulmon a ry-hype rte nsion  pro gram andpra ctices  cr i tical- care m edici ne , n o r mally s pe nds  h er days se e i ngpatie nt s wh o trave l to her clinic fr o m a cross the Mid wes t. B u t ,sin c et hefi r stc o ronavirus patie nts arrive d, ab out threew eek sago, th e helic opter s  and am bulancesthat tran sf er p a t ien ts have st opped al most enti r ely.T he  pati ent s fill in g t he CO VID-19 uni ts ar e comi ng  fromDetro it .

We ar e just beginning to see  demog raphi c d ata on th ose who ’ve diedof C OVID-19, b utAfr ican- Ame r icancomm u ni tie s  arou nd t h e country ma y b e es pecially vu l n e rab le. B lac k  Ameri cans  have increased r a tes of high bl oodp r ess ure anddi abetes, condit ion sw h ich seem  o verrepresen ted in C OV I D-19patien ts who  grow c r i ti c ally s ick,  an d in pock ets  o f  concen tr at e d pove rtyth ose ra tes ca n  beh i gher still. In D etroi t ,  wher e  se venty -n ine per cent  of the po pulation is  black  and  thir ty-sixpe r cent  is  b elow the p o verty lin e, th e diabe te s ra teis rou ghly t wicethena tio nal avera g e .S ou th e ast ernMichi ga n ha s becomea  nationa l e p icenter  o f t h e  outbr e ak , and though  Af rican - A mericans a r e ju s tf ourte en per  centof thes tat e’ s popul ati o n  they rep resent fo r ty- on e pe r cent o fitsCO VID -1 9 victims. (
 from_illegally obtaining_firearms.” When the first_COVID-19 cases_appeared_in Detroit,_there_was a broad_but nonspecific panic,_and emergency departments across_southeastern Michigan were_flooded_with coughing people who were more worried than ill. In the past week, that_flood_has abated;_the_patients_who are coming in now_are sicker, and often in_immediate need_of oxygen. Most visitors to hospitals have been_banned_and many departments_emptied of patients, and so physicians report a spooky_juxtaposition between the crisis atmosphere of_the expanded I.C.U.s_and_the_bureaucratic calm of the_rest of the building. “I used_to occasionally do employee rounds on_the midnight shift, and you would see_these usually busy, wide hallways, your_main thoroughfares, just empty, and_it would_always be such a strange_feeling,” Bob Riney,_the chief_operating officer of_Henry Ford Health System, told me._“And now you_see that in the middle of_the_day.”

The coronavirus pandemic_has_had_a way_of turning even_the_most prestigious_hospitals_into community-health operations. Henry Ford Hospital,_in_downtown Detroit, one of the largest teaching_hospitals in the country,_is_building a unit for_forty-eight skilled-nursing-facility residents who no_longer require hospitalization for COVID-19 but_whose facilities_refuse to_take them back. Rana Awdish, who runs the hospital’s pulmonary-hypertension program_and practices critical-care medicine, normally spends_her days seeing patients_who travel_to_her clinic from_across_the Midwest._But, since the first coronavirus patients arrived,_about three_weeks ago, the helicopters and ambulances_that transfer patients have_stopped_almost entirely. The patients filling the_COVID-19 units are coming from Detroit.

We_are just beginning to see_demographic_data_on those who’ve died of_COVID-19, but African-American communities around the_country may be_especially vulnerable. Black Americans have increased rates_of_high blood pressure and diabetes, conditions_which_seem overrepresented in COVID-19 patients who_grow_critically_sick, and in pockets of_concentrated poverty those rates can be_higher still. In Detroit, where seventy-nine per cent of_the population is_black and thirty-six per cent_is_below_the poverty line, the diabetes rate is roughly twice the_national average._Southeastern Michigan has_become a national epicenter of the outbreak, and though African-Americans_are just fourteen per cent of the_state’s population they represent forty-one per cent of its COVID-19 victims._(