The Bronson health care system posted an open letter on Sept. 1 that made several misleading claims.

The letter advocates for people to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Here are the questionable claims made:

Claim #1: “Nationally, approximately 99% of individuals dying from COVID-19 are unvaccinated.”

This statistic relies on data from periods when only a small portion of the population was eligible for a vaccine. More recent statistics suggests that a larger share of COVID-19 patients and deaths are vaccinated individuals. For example, in the state of Michigan, the most recent data on breakthrough cases shows those vaccinated accounted for 23% of cases, 21% of hospitalizations and 18% of deaths from Aug. 1-Aug. 30.

Claim #2: “In fact, it is most alarming that pediatric hospitalizations are on the rise due to the complications of COVID-19 infection. As kids return to school, the most important thing parents can do is get them vaccinated as soon as they’re eligible and urge everyone in your family to mask up in public.”

There has been a large percentage increase in pediatric hospitalizations of patients with a confirmed positive test, the number of cases remains small.

On Aug. 9, there were seven confirmed pediatric cases in Michigan that tested positive for COVID-19. That number increased to 16 as of Sept. 8.

Claim #3: “We are seeing our emergency rooms and hospital beds and intensive care units fill up again with this fourth surge of COVID-19, with more than 1,000 individuals now hospitalized with a preventable virus.”

The statewide hospital bed occupancy rate was 77% as of Sept. 8. None of the 132 hospitals surveyed reported being over capacity.

According to the state, from Sept. 1-7, only 6% of the inpatient beds are being used by patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

Statewide, 2,410 of the 3,038 ICU beds were occupied, or 79%. None of the state’s eight regions reported being over capacity for ICU beds.

As of Sept. 5, the seven-day average for emergency room visits from people arrived with COVID-like symptoms was 1.1%

Some parents at Saline Area Schools are upset with sex ed material the district plans to give to children with developmental disabilities from seventh grade and higher, with one parent calling it “stick-figure porn.”

Parents will be able to opt out of the curriculum, but that isn’t satisfying parents who fear their children will be ostracized for not agreeing to go through the class.

Michigan Capitol Confidential was emailed copies of the visual displays used in the curriculum, which the school district confirmed would be included.

The images display stick figure people in various sexual positions. The “Genderbread Person” image that addresses biological sex in one slide states, “Your body parts ... identify you as a male, female or maybe someone in-between.”

Some of the images are sexually explicit. They may be seen by clicking the links below.

Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5, Image 6, Image 7

Saline Superintendent Steve Laatsch confirmed that the curriculum will include the illustrations.

Laatsch said in an email: “This curriculum is evidence-based and medically accurate, designed with the knowledge of the needs of students with significant disabilities; the materials have visual supports to help the impaired students access and understand the concepts and words that are associated with sex education. While typically developed students may be able to understand by just reading the words, these students need evidence-based visual supports.”

Laatsch said there were several opportunities for parents to review the material and opt out.

Laatsch said in an email: “Michigan State Law provides parents the opportunity to view materials in advance, observe the instruction, and opt their child out without penalty. This curriculum is organized in a module fashion to allow parents, teachers, and caregivers to select content customized to meet the needs of each individual student. For every lesson, there are multiple opportunities for parents to sign off and engage in follow-up discussions at home.”

Raelyn Davis is a mother of children who attend the district. She is concerned the district will eventually adopt the curriculum for all students.

Davis is concerned that the curriculum promotes same-sex attraction, same-sex couples and abortion, issues she said should be left to the parents to guide their children.

“It is too graphic. It goes into too much details on some issues, and not enough on others. There are too many reasons to opt kids out instead of the occasional exception,” Davis said in an email.

Ben DeGrow, director of education policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, said the Saline controversy highlights the importance of school choice in this state.

“Parents should have a right not only to be upset about how important delicate matters are taught, but also to take charge of basic decisions about their children’s academic and moral development,” DeGrow said. “If they don’t like what they see in the classroom and the school can’t resolve it to their satisfaction, they should be able to redirect the funds designated for their child to a different education of their choosing.”