COVID Tracker | Deaths spike this week after seasonal surge; cases fall

January 16, 2024

Bridge Staff

Michigan Health Watch

Coronavirus Michigan

Michigan Health Watch

COVID Tracker | Deaths spike this week after seasonal surge; cases fall

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Last updated: Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 5:11 p.m. This post will be continuously updated with Michigan coronavirus locations and updated COVID-19 news.

For more interactive maps and charts, see the Michigan Coronavirus Dashboard, showing vaccine distribution information, case numbers, locations, deaths and demographics.

Michigan public health officials reported an additional 156 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, the most reported in a single week since November 2022.

Of those, 92 occurred in December, bringing the monthly total to 228 — the most in a month since 273 in February 2023.

Even so, the total was the lowest for the month of December since the pandemic began: There were 621 that month in 2022, compared to 3,394 in December 2021 and 3,316 in December 2020.

While more deaths could be reported in coming weeks, 2,222 COVID-19 deaths were reported in 2023, by far the lowest of the pandemic. There were 9,325 deaths in 2022, 15,004 in 2021 and 13,019 in 2020.

The increase in reported deaths followed a weeks-long increase in confirmed cases and hospitalizations that now appears to be in decline.

Confirmed cases fell 36 percent this past week to 4,785. That was the second straight week of decline. Hospitalizations, which hit 1,275 on Jan. 3, fell to 999 on Monday, the lowest since it was 962 on Dec. 20.

Of the deaths, 22 were in November and 25 in January.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Jan. 7

Cases fall 3 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases fell 3 percent to 7,414 this week, down from 7,607 the week before, according to new state health data released Tuesday.

That ended nine straight weeks of increases. Confirmed COVID-19 deaths, which typically occur weeks after an initial infection, rose 16 percent this week to 65 from 56.

The number of reported deaths has increased five consecutive weeks, from 26 in the week ending Dec. 19.

Of the deaths, 58 were in December and four in January. The state has now recorded 136 COVID-19 deaths in December 2023, up from 129 in November.

There were 621 COVID-19 deaths in December 2022; 3,394 in December 2021 and 3,316 in December 2020.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 fell to 1,200 on Monday, a drop from 1,260 the week before. The most recent peak was the 1,275 on Jan. 3, which was the highest since 1,294 on Jan. 4, 2022.

Tracker updates at a glance:

Jan. 2, 2024: Cases jump 10 percent
Dec. 19, 2023: Cases jump 12 percent
Nov. 14, 2023: Cases jump 30 percent
Oct. 3, 2023: Cases fall 13 percent
Sept. 26, 2023: COVID cases fall for first time since July; hospitalizations rise
Sept. 5, 2023: Cases rise 14 percent
Aug. 2, 2023: Cases jump 13 percent
June 20, 2023: 695 cases this week; historic low levels continue
May 30, 2023: Cases down 22 percent
Feb. 28, 2023: Cases mostly flat

Tuesday, Jan. 2

Cases jump 10 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 10 percent to 7,607, up from 6,903 the week before, according to new state health data released Tuesday.

It’s the ninth straight week of increased counts, dating to the first week of November. The current daily average of 1,087 is the highest since the first week of January 2023, when it was 1,133.

The state also reported 56 additional COVID-19 deaths, up 22 percent from 46 the week before and more than triple the 17 reported the week of Dec. 19.

Of the deaths, 36 occurred in December and 17 in November.

For 2023, the state has now reported 2,025 COVID-19 deaths. There were 9,325 in 2022, 15,004 in 2021 and 13,019 in 2020, the first year of the pandemic.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have risen markedly, with 1,149 COVID-19-postive patients as of Dec. 27, the last day the state has reported a total. That’s up from 1,067 on Dec. 26 and from 962 on Dec. 20.

The state reports COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Dec. 29 and Jan. 1 were state holidays.

Tuesday, Dec. 19

Cases jump 12 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 12 percent to 6,879 from 6,133 the week before, according to new state health data released Tuesday.

The state also reported 26 additional COVID-19 deaths, up 53 percent from 17 the week before. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 were 941 on Monday, up slightly from 944 the week before.

Of the deaths, 13 were in December and 12 in November. For the year, 1,926 have died, by far the fewest since the pandemic began in 2020. There were 9,325 COVID-19 deaths in 2022. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Dec. 12

Cases jump 5 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 5 percent to 6,133 from 5,823 the week before, according to new state health data released Tuesday.

The state also reported 17 additional COVID-19 deaths, down from 22 the week before, a 23 percent decline.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 increased 2 percent to 944 on Monday from 922. However, hospitalizations hit 991 last Wednesday, the highest since early January.

Of the deaths, 16 occurred in December and nine in November. For the year, 1,899 have died, by far the fewest since the pandemic began in 2020. There were 9,326 COVID-19 deaths in 2022.

Amid the upswing in cases, the Biden administration and state health officials continue to make testing free to the public. Residents can log onto COVID.gov/tests to order up to eight at-home tests per household. Free home tests are available at some Michigan libraries, although supplies are limited and some libraries may no longer participate.

The state also provides a list of free testing sites, including MDHHS community sites. Michiganders can also call the state’s COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136. The CDC also provides a searchable list of free testing sites across the country.— Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Dec. 6

Cases rise 40 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 40 percent to 5,823 from 4,171 the week before, while weekly hospitalizations increased 7 percent to 922 from to 864, according to new state health data.

The reason for the surge in cases is unclear, but hospitalizations are at their highest point since mid-January.

The state also added another 22 COVID deaths, bringing total deaths to 39,235, according to data released Tuesday.

The state health department also provides a list of free testing sites across the state, including MDHHS community sites. Michiganders can also call the state’s COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136. The CDC also provides a searchable list of free testing sites across the country. — Robin Erb

Tuesday, Dec. 5

Cases jump 6 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 6 percent to 4,171 from 3,936 the week before, while deaths fell 46 percent to 18 from 33 reported last week, according to state data released Tuesday.

The state on Monday also reported 804 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, a 23 percent increase from the 655 reported a week before. That marks the highest COVID patient count time since late January.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests.

Typically, only lab-administered tests are reported to the state, but case counts are nonetheless an indication of overall trends.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Nov. 21

COVID cases rise 26 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 26 percent to 3,936, up from 3,317 the week before and the most since 4,463 were reported March 28, according to state data released Tuesday.

The state also reported 33 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down one from the 34 reported last week.

Of the most recent reported deaths, 19 were in November and 14 in October. Since Oct. 1, there have been 170 reported COVID-19 deaths, down from the 1,234 reported in October and November 2022.

But the state on Monday also reported 655 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, a 30 percent increase from the 503 COVID patients reported a week earlier. It marks the highest COVID patient count time since 678 were reported April 3.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests.

Typically, only lab-administered tests are reported to the state, but case counts are nonetheless an indication of overall trends.

Weekly confirmed cases have risen over 50 percent in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties since Oct. 31 and 71 percent in Detroit and 66 percent in Kent County. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Nov. 14

Cases jump 30 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 30 percent to 3,317, up from 2,408 the week before and the most in more than a month, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The state also reported 34 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down 28 percent from the 47 reported last week.

Of the most recent reported deaths, three occurred in November, 26 in October and four in September.

On Monday, the state reported 503 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, up from 465 reported a week earlier and the most hospitalizations in a month.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Typically, only lab-administered tests are reported to the state, but case counts are nonetheless an indication of overall trends. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Nov. 7

Cases rise 4 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 4 percent to 2,408, up from 2,319 the week before, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The increase follows last week’s decline but the overall rate has been relatively unchanged over the past five weeks.

The state also reported 47 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, up from seven last week but equal to the 47 reported the week prior.

Of the most recent reported deaths, 48 occurred in October and one in September. Four earlier deaths were reclassified as not caused by COVID-19.

The state has also reported 107 deaths for October. In October 2022 there were 610 COVID-19 deaths.

On Monday, the state reported 465 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, down slightly from the 476 reported a week earlier. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Oct. 31

Cases, deaths decline again after brief rise

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases fell 4 percent to 2,319, down from 2,408 the week before, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The decline follows last week’s increase, the first in a month, and this week's cases remain below the four-week average of 2,345. The state also reported seven confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down from the 47 reported last week.

Of the most recent reported deaths, nine occurred in October. Two deaths from 2022 were reclassified as not caused by COVID. So far in 2023, there have been 1,710 COVID-19 deaths, down from 9,335 in 2022.

On Monday, the state reported 476 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, up from the 459 reported a week earlier.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Oct. 24

Cases rise 5 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 5 percent to 2,408, up from 2,289 the week before, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The increase is the first in a month, and confirmed weekly COVID-19 deaths also rose from 20 to 47 this week, the most since May 9. Of the deaths reported this week, 38 occurred in October.

There have been 110 deaths reported for September and 50 in October. In 2022, there were 523 in September and 610 in October.

On Monday, the state reported 459 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, down from the 497 reported a week earlier. A year ago there were 1,005 COVID-19-positive hospital patients.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Oct. 17

Cases fall for fourth week

Confirmed COVID-19 cases fell for the fourth consecutive week to 2,289, down 3 percent from 2,357 the week before, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

Confirmed COVID-19 deaths also fell, with the state reporting 20 on Tuesday, down 46 percent from 37 the week before.

Of the deaths, 17 were in September and six in October. Another four were removed from other months following a review of medical and health records.

Although more deaths could still be recorded for September, there have been 99 so far, up from 59 in August; there were 523 in September 2022.

On Monday, the state reported 497 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, a number relatively unchanged from the 503 patients reported a week earlier. A year ago there were 1,074 COVID-19-positive hospital patients. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Oct. 10

Cases down 27 percent

Newly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell for the third consecutive week to 2,357, down 27 percent from 3,241 a week ago, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The decline came as deaths increased to 37 this week from 17 a week ago. That is the most since 43 were reported June 6.

Of the deaths, 33 were in September and four in October. The increase in deaths mirrors the rise in hospitalizations that appears to have peaked at about 500 statewide; the state reported 503 on Monday, up from 489 a week earlier but down from 518 last Wednesday.

The deaths pushed September’s total to 82, the most since 136 were recorded in May.

The decline in cases appears to be accelerating: Case counts, likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests, fell 4 percent three weeks ago, 13 percent last week and now 27 percent this week. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Oct. 3

Cases fall 13 percent

Newly confirmed COVID-19 cases this week fell to 3,241, down nearly 13 percent from a week ago, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

It’s the second straight week of falling confirmed infections after two months of steady — and at times substantial — increases.

At the same time, the number of hospitalized patients who tested positive for COVID fell below 500 on Monday, with 489 COVID-positive patients reported. Hospitalizations had risen steadily beginning in late July, jumping from 102 on July 24 to a peak of 508 Sept. 25.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Typically only lab-administered tests are reported to the state but case counts are nonetheless an indication of overall trends. This week’s decline follows a relatively smaller decrease last week of 4 percent.

The state this week also reported 17 deaths tied to COVID, down 35 percent from the previous week.

So far in 2023 there have been 1,599 confirmed COVID-19 deaths — far fewer than earlier in the pandemic. There were 9,342 COVID deaths in 2022, 15,006 in 2021 and 13,017 in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Sept. 26

COVID cases fall for first time since July; hospitalizations rise

Newly confirmed COVID-19 cases this week fell to 3,713, down 4 percent from a week ago, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday. At the same time, the number of hospitalized patients who tested positive for COVID topped 500 for the first time since the spring.

The decline in weekly confirmed cases is the first in two months, since the week ending July 25. Case counts rose steadily from 670 that week to 3,866 last week before this week’s drop.

State confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount, experts say, because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or they rely on take-home tests and don’t report the results.

But reported case counts are a crude indication of overall trends and this week’s decline follows a relatively small increase last week of 5.5 percent following weeks where case counts rose between 19 and 45 percent each week.

The state this week also reported 26 deaths tied to COVID, up from 25 a week earlier. Of the reported deaths, 21 occurred in September and four in August.

On Monday, the state reported 508 COVID-19-positive hospital patients, up 8 percent from the 469 reported a week earlier. It’s the first time over 500 since 506 COVID-19-positive patients were reported on April 17. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Sept. 19

Weekly cases increase 6 percent, smallest jump in 2 months

Newly confirmed COVID-19 cases this week rose to 3,866, up 6 percent from a week ago, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday. It’s another increase, but the smallest weekly increase in eight weeks.

The number of new cases confirmed by the state is likely a vast undercount, experts say, because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or they rely on take-home tests and don’t report the results.

But the reported case counts are a crude indication of overall trends and the number of cases has risen steadily since mid-July. In the previous three weeks they increased by 39, 14 and 45 percent.

The state reported 25 deaths tied to COVID this week, up from 20 a week earlier. Of the reported deaths, 16 occurred in August and seven in September; two others were from earlier months.

Through August, there have been 1,529 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Michigan this year, compared to 6,960 through the first eight months of 2022 when the total for the year was 9,344.

On Monday, the state reported 469 COVID-19-positive hospital patients, up 18 percent from the 396 reported a week earlier. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Sept. 12

Cases increase 45 percent in one week

Confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 3,666 this week, up 45 percent from 2,528 a week ago, while confirmed deaths rose to 20 from six last week, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

Confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount, experts say, because many people either no longer test when they have symptoms or take home tests. But the numbers indicate overall trends, and the case tally has risen steadily since mid-July.

Of the deaths, 13 occurred in August and six in September; one was also recorded from March.

On Monday, the state reported 396 COVID-19-positive hospital patients, up from 388 on Sept. 6 and 371 on Friday. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Sept. 5

Cases rise 14 percent

Confirmed COVID-19 cases rose by 14 percent to 2,528 this week from 2,112 a week ago, while confirmed deaths fell to six from nine last week, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

State confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount, experts say, because many people either no longer test when they have symptoms or just take home tests. But they do indicate overall trends and the number of cases has risen steadily since mid-July.

All of this week’s reported deaths occurred in August, during which there have been 24 total COVID-19 deaths, though that number will rise because it can take weeks for all death records to be recorded.

The trend is a steep decline in deaths this year as cases have fallen while immunity has risen and treatments have been developed, with May (135), June (78), July (44) along with August and September (currently none) the months with the fewest COVID-19 deaths since March 2020.

Because of the Labor Day holiday, the last report on COVID-19 hospitalizations was on Friday, when 289 COVID-19-positive patients were reported, up from 273 the previous week. — Mike Wilkinson

Aug. 29

Cases jump 33 percent

Confirmed COVID-19 cases rose by 33 percent to 2,112 this week from 1,664 a week ago, while confirmed deaths rose to nine from eight last week, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

Case counts have risen since early July, but remain low overall compared to the earliest months of the pandemic in spring 2020.

Of the deaths, eight occurred this month and two in July. Following a review of medical and health records, the state removed one COVID-19 from January’s count.

In June and July, the state has reported 122 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, an average of two per day. Between January and the end of May, the state reported 1,362 COVID-19 deaths, an average of nine per day.

On Monday, the state also reported 281 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, up from 217 a week earlier. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Aug. 22

Cases rise 19 percent

The number of COVID-19 cases confirmed by the state rose 19 percent to 1,664 from 1,395 this week, while reported deaths increased to eight from two, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

Of the deaths, three occurred in July and four in August. So far, the state has reported 42 COVID-19 deaths in July, compared to 411 in 2022. The 10 deaths in August compare to 290 that same month in 2022.

On Monday, the state also reported 217 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, up from 205 a week earlier. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Aug. 15

Cases yo-yo back down

The number of COVID-19 cases confirmed by the state fell 25 percent from 1,864 to 1,395 this week and the state reported two COVID deaths.

Last week’s cases were up from the previous week partially because more than 600 cases were attributed to the recent receipt of older lab results.

The state also reported five new deaths tied to COVID in August but removed three others following a review of medical records, leading to a net increase of two.

There have now been 38,859 confirmed COVID-19-related deaths in the state since the pandemic began in 2020. Of those, 1,482 were recorded this year. There were 78 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in June and 39 recorded so far in July. Those represent the fewest by far of any months since March 2020.

On Monday, the state also reported 205 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, a 21 percent jump from the 169 reported a week earlier. It’s the first time that number rose above 200 since there were 206 on June 15.

— Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Aug. 9

Cases jump, but deaths fall to lowest level since 2020

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan jumped to 1,864 from 761 this week, though more than 600 cases were attributed to a dump of older lab results, according to new data released Tuesday.

However, the week-over-week increase was still about 480 cases, or 64 percent more than the week before.

On Monday, the state also reported 169 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, a 29 percent jump from the 131 reported a week earlier.

But the state also Tuesday reported just five new confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down from 14 the week prior and the fewest in a week since the earliest days of the pandemic.

Of those deaths, one occurred in August and the others in July.

The 40 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in July is the fewest in any full month since March 2020. There were 411 COVID-19 deaths in July 2022, 150 in July 2021 and 227 in July 2020. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Aug. 2

Cases jump 13 percent

Confirmed COVID-19 cases increased 13 percent to 761 from 670 in the past week, the most in nearly two months, according to weekly reports released Tuesday from Michigan state officials.

Hospitalizations increased to 131 on Thursday from a low of 102 on July 24, while the state reported 14 COVID-19 deaths, compared to 15 a week ago.

Despite the upticks, cases had recently reached annual lows.

Nationwide, COVID hospitalizations are increasing in recent weeks, which some experts say may be a sign of a slight summer wave. — Robin Erb

Wednesday, July 26

Cases down 5 percent

Following a brief jump last week in newly confirmed Michigan COVID-19 cases, it appears the virus’ spread has slumped once again, according to the latest data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The number of COVID-19 cases this week dropped nearly 5 percent, from 703 last week to 670 cases this week, while weekly deaths dropped from 21 to 15.

Additionally, the state reported Wednesday there were 115 hospital patients statewide with confirmed COVID-19, compared to 110 a week earlier. That’s a slight bump, but continues a stretch of unprecedented low numbers of COVID-positive hospital patients.

The number of COVID-positive patients dropped to below 200 (185) for the first time seven weeks ago, on June 7. That number has remained below 200 since then, falling to 112 on July 17, 110 a week ago, 103 on Friday, and to 102 on Monday.

In comparison, more than 4,000 COVID-positive hospital patients overwhelmed hospitals on a daily basis during the height of COVID surges in 2021 and 2022.

— Robin Erb

Tuesday, July 18

Cases rise 32%, ending four straight months of declines

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan rose last week for the first time since March 21, health officials announced Tuesday.

The number of COVID-19 cases this week climbed 32 percent to 703 this week from 534 last week, while weekly deaths rose 75 percent to 21 to 21. Of the deaths, nine occurred in July and 12 in June.

Also, the state on Monday reported there were 112 hospital patients statewide with confirmed COVID-19, down from 134 a week earlier. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, July 11

Cases fall 2 percent

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan fell 2 percent to 534 this week from 546 the week before, the 18th straight week of declines, according to state data released Tuesday.

The number of COVID-19 deaths this week fell to 12 from 18 the previous week. Of the deaths, nine occurred in June and four in July.

The state has not reported 10 or more deaths on a single day since 10 were recorded April 30. So far, there have been three days in June with no reported COVID-19 deaths: June 8, 10, and 13.

Though additional deaths could be still be reported for those days — it can take weeks for all deaths to be recorded — the state last reported no deaths on a single day on March 17, 2020, just days after Michigan recorded its first case of COVID-19.

Also, the state on Monday reported there were 127 hospital patients statewide with confirmed COVID-19, nearly identical to the 123 reported a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, July 5

Cases down yet again

Weekly newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan remained level this week, with the state reporting 546 cases, compared to 548 the week before.

The number of newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths this week fell to 18 from 27 the previous week. Of the deaths, 16 occurred in June.

So far there have been 51 COVID-19 deaths reported in June, by far the fewest of any other month since the pandemic began. The next fewest was the 135 in May. The June totals will likely rise, though not by much, because it can take weeks for some deaths to be reported.

Also, the state on Wednesday reported there were 123 hospital patients statewide with confirmed COVID-19, down from 167 a week earlier. It is the lowest level of the pandemic. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, June 27

Cases fall for 13th straight week

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan fell for the 13th straight week, with the state reporting 548 cases, down from 695, health officials reported on Tuesday. That represents a 19 percent decline.

The number of newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths rose from 17 to 27. Of the deaths, 19 occurred in June and four in May.

However, with just a few days left in June, there have been just 35 reported COVID-19 deaths in June, though that number may rise because it can take weeks for all cases to be reported.

Still, it is by far the fewest in a single month and just a sliver of the 135 in May, which was the previous low since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The virus’ deadly impact has clearly waned as a combination of vaccines, natural immunity and improved therapies have worked to blunt the impact of the coronavirus.

In March there were an average of 9 COVID deaths per day, then 7 per day in April and 4 a day in May. For comparison, in December 2021, as the delta and then the omicron variants hit, the state averaged 109 COVID-19 deaths a day.

Also, the state on Monday reported there were 167 hospital patients statewide with confirmed COVID-19, up from 144 on Friday.

The state last week discontinued reporting suspected COVID-19 hospitalizations to better match new federal guidelines.

Since June 7, hospitals in Michigan have stayed below 200 confirmed COVID-19 patients. Prior to then, there had never been fewer than 200 since the earliest weeks of COVID.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, June 20

695 cases this week; historic low levels continue

Newly confirmed COVID-19 cases this week in Michigan remained low and steady; with 695 new cases counted, about the same as last week's total of 697.

Because Monday was a state holiday, the latest hospital data, showed there were 226 hospital patients statewide with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The next hospital data will be released on Wednesday.

Hospitalizations are at their lowest level since after the first month of the pandemic. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, June 13

Cases fall 9.4 percent

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 9.4 percent to 695 from 767, while deaths dropped 61 percent to 17 from 43, Michigan health officials reported on Tuesday.

Of the deaths, seven occurred in June, nine in May and one in April.

On Monday, the state reported 219 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive patients in Michigan hospitals, down from 286 the week before.

Hospitalizations are at their lowest level since after the first month of the pandemic. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, June 6

Cases fall for 10th straight week

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 20 percent to 767 from 954 the previous week, while weekly COVID-19 deaths rose 87 percent to 43 from 23, Michigan health officials announced Tuesday.

At an average of 110 cases a day, the weekly count is the lowest reported by the state since the earliest days of the pandemic. Experts, however, have said there are likely significantly more cases because home tests are not included in official tallies.

Even so, reported cases have dropped for 10 consecutive weeks, an indication of a profound decline.

Hospitalizations are down as well, with the state on Monday reporting that there were 286 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive patients.

Hospitalizations have been at or below 300 since May 26, the longest stretch that low since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Of the deaths, 35 occurred in May, five in April and two in June. Though more deaths will likely be attributed to May as additional death records are filed, the 113 so far remain the fewest in any month of the pandemic, records show. The next fewest was 150 in July 2021. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, May 30

Cases down 22 percent

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 22 percent to 954 cases, down from 1,220, while deaths fell 36 percent to 23 from 38, Michigan health officials reported on Tuesday.

Of the deaths, 20 occurred in May and the rest were earlier months. So far, May is the least deadly month ever since the pandemic began, with 77 reported deaths. So far, there were 209 reported in April. It can take a couple of weeks before all deaths for a particular month are recorded.

On Friday, the state reported 294 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive patients in Michigan hospitals. The week prior, the state reported 324 COVID-positive patients.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, May 23

COVID cases fall 19 percent

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 19 percent to 1,220 from 1,509, while deaths fell 5 percent to 36 from 38, Michigan health officials reported on Tuesday.

Of the deaths, 29 were in May, four were in April and three were in February.

On Monday, the state reported 341 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive patients in Michigan hospitals. Last week, the state reported 385 COVID-positive patients.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, May 16

COVID cases down 14 percent

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 14 percent to 1,509, while deaths fell 22 percent to 49 from 38, a 22 percent drop, Michigan health officials reported on Tuesday.

Of the deaths, 17 were in May, 18 in April and three in February.

On Monday, the state reported 385 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive patients in Michigan hospitals. Last week, the state reported 389 COVID-positive patients.

The number of hospitalizations is at the lowest since July 2021.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, May 2

Cases fall 14 percent

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 14 percent to 1,826, while deaths fell to 50 from 64 the previous week, Michigan health officials reported on Tuesday.

Of the deaths, one occurred in May, 45 in April and two in March.

On Monday, the state reported there were 456 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive patients in Michigan hospitals, down from 505 a week earlier but up from 451 on Friday.

Overall, statewide hospitalizations of COVID-19-positive patients are at the lowest level since July 2021. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, April 26

COVID cases fall again

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 21 percent to 2,110, the fourth consecutive week of declines, while COVID-19 deaths rose to 64 from 37 the previous week, Michigan health officials reported.

Of the deaths, 50 occurred in April, 4 in March and 10 in January.

On Wednesday, 448 COVID-19 positive patients were in Michigan hospitals, the fewest since there were 407 on July 30, 2021. A week ago there had been 563. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, April 21

Hospitalizations fall below 500

The number of COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan fell below 500 on Friday for the first time in a year as the spread of the virus continued to wane.

And for the first time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported this week that all 83 counties in the state were at “low risk” for the spread of COVID-19.

The CDC has provided “risk assessments” based on case and hospitalization rates since February 2022. Residents in counties with “high” risk were recommended to wear masks regardless of health or vaccination status.

Last week, four Upper Peninsula counties were considered “medium” risk but the drop in hospitalizations has reduced those risk levels. Currently in the U.P., six COVID hospital patients were being treated as of Friday, down from 28 on March 31.

Similar drops have occurred across much of the state. The hospitals in the six counties of metro Detroit had 438 COVID-19-positive patients on March 31 but just 260 on Friday, a 40 percent drop. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, April 18

Weekly cases fall for third straight week

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 12 percent to 2,667, the third straight week of declines, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The state also reported 37 newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down from 71 the previous week. The 268 deaths in March and the 265 so far in April are among the fewest reported in any months since the pandemic began just over three years ago.

On Monday, 594 COVID-19 positive patients were in Michigan hospitals. A week ago there had been 658.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, April 11

Cases fall 17 percent

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 17 percent to 3,017, the lowest level since July 2020, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The state also reported 71 newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths, up from 52 the previous week, a 37 percent increase. Of the deaths, 28 were in April, 44 in March and one in February.

On Monday, 658 COVID-19 positive patients were in Michigan hospitals, the fewest since there were 600 on Aug. 6, 2021. A week ago there had been 785. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, April 4

Weekly cases down 19 percent

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 19 percent to 3,616, the lowest level since the week ending July 28, 2021, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The state also reported 52 newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down from 63 the previous week, an 18 percent decrease.

Of the deaths, three were in April, 45 were in March and two in February.

As the pandemic has waned, far fewer people who may have the virus are taking a laboratory test — the 36,095 tests reported last week was the fewest since April 10, 2020, at nearly the beginning of the pandemic.

That means the number of confirmed cases is likely a substantial undercount of the real total.

However, hospitalizations have remained a barometer of the severity of infections and the number of COVID-19-positive hospital patients was 785 on Monday, down from 806 a week ago.

Overall, hospitalizations have remained steady for three weeks. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, March 28

Cases up 7 percent

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases rose 7 percent to 4,463, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The state also reported 63 newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down from 71 the previous week, an 11 percent decrease.

Of the deaths, 58 were in March and one in February.

The number of COVID-19-positive hospital patients was 806 on Monday, nearly unchanged from the 804 a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

March 21, 2023

Weekly cases fall to lowest point since July 2021

Weekly COVID-19 cases fell 33 percent to 4,191, the fewest since the week ending July 30, 2021, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The state also reported 71 confirmed COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, up from 55 the previous week, a 29 percent increase.

Of the deaths, 61 were in March and nine in February. Through the first three months of the year, there have been 815 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, compared to 4,935 during the first three months of 2022 when the omicron variant slammed the state and nation.

The number of COVID-19-positive hospital patients was 804 on Monday, up from 770 a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, March 15

Cases drop 17 percent

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 17 percent this week to 4,981, while reported deaths fell 33 percent from 82 to 55, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The cases fell even further, however, because the state said 500 of the new cases were from older, previously unreported laboratory results. Last week, cases were inflated by over 2,000 for the same reason.

Of the reported deaths, 34 occurred in March, and 20 in February.

Michigan reported 770 COVID-positive hospital patients as of Monday, up from 737 a week earlier. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, March 7

Cases jump because of one-day surge

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases jumped 22 percent this week to 6,069, while reported weekly deaths fell 23 percent from 107 to 82, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The jump in cases appears to be the result of a spike on Feb. 28, when positive tests soared to 2,584 were reported. Over the six days just before and after Feb. 28, the state averaged 736 positive tests.

Of the reported deaths, four were in January, 60 in February and 13 in March. There have been 233 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in February compared to 539 in February 2022.

Michigan reported 737 COVID-positive hospital patients as of Monday, down from 803 a week earlier. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Feb. 28

Cases mostly flat

Weekly statewide confirmed COVID-19 cases rose by 10 to 4,975, while reported deaths jumped to 107 from 63 in the past week, state health officials reported Tuesday.

Of the reported deaths, 92 occurred in February and 12 in January. So far, there have now been 173 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in February compared to 439 in January.

Michigan reported 803 COVID-positive hospital patients as of Tuesday, up from 776 a week earlier. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Feb. 21

Cases up 4 percent

Michigan public health officials reported 4,965 weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, up 4 percent from the 4,788 cases the previous week.

The state also reported 63 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, up from 43 last week, a 47 percent increase.

Of the reported deaths, 47 occurred in February and 13 in January. So far there have been 81 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in February compared to 427 in January.

By comparison, there were 1,885 deaths attributed to COVID in January 2021, and 2,885 in January 2022.

Michigan reported there were 776 COVID-positive hospital patients in the state as of Tuesday, up from 740 on Friday. It is the highest level since Jan. 25 when there were 833 COVID-19 patients in the state. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Feb. 14

Cases rise, hospitalizations decline again

COVID-19 cases rose 13 percent this week to 4,788 from 4,256, the first increase in eight weeks, state officials reported Tuesday.

The state also reported just 43 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, the fewest since the end of May and less than half of the 90 deaths reported a week ago.

Of those deaths, 20 occurred in February, 18 in January, four in December and one in November.

The state on Monday also reported a drop in hospitalizations, with 669 COVID-19-positive people currently being treated, down from 708 on Friday. There were 668 people hospitalized with COVID-19 a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Feb. 8

COVID cases up 2.3 percent

Weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 2.3 percent to 4,256 this week, the seventh straight week of declines, state officials announced Tuesday.

The cases averaged 608 a day, the lowest average rate since July 31, 2021, when it was 603.

The state also reported 90 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down from 200 the previous week. Of those, 74 occurred in January and 14 in February.

So far, the state has reported 396 COVID-19 deaths from January. A year ago, during the omicron surge, there were 2,885 COVID-19 deaths in Michigan.

Hospitalizations are ticking up, meanwhile, with 739 COVID-positive patients statewide on Monday, up from 668 on Friday. That’s the first increase since Jan. 4. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Feb. 1

Cases fall 5 percent

Confirmed COVID-19 cases declined for the sixth consecutive week in Michigan, falling 5 percent to 4,356, public health officials reported Tuesday.

But the state also reported 205 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, the most since 223 were reported Nov. 22 and three more than the 202 reported last week.

Of the deaths recorded in the past week, 84 occurred in December and 119 in January. So far in 2023, there have been 326 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. A year ago, in January 2022, there were 2,885 COVID-19 deaths as the omicron variant hit the state.

The average daily case count, 622, is the lowest since August 2021, but experts say the prevalence of home tests has made confirmed laboratory test results an unreliable barometer of the spread of COVID.

Hospitalizations are a better indicator, and they fell to 726 patients with confirmed or suspected infections, down from 895 a week earlier and 1,416 on Jan. 4.

It is the fewest COVID-19-positive patients since April 29, when there were 714. A year ago, there were 3,423 COVID-19 patients in the state’s hospitals. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Jan. 24

COVID cases down 9 percent

Weekly COVID-19 cases fell for the fifth straight week, declining 9 percent to 4,586 from 5,026, state officials announced Tuesday.

The state also reported 202 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, including 95 in December, 103 in January and four in November.

COVID-19 hospitalizations declined to 895 on Monday, down from 940 on Friday and down over 500 since reaching a recent high of 1,416 on Jan. 4.

The trends in Michigan mirror those reported across the country despite the rising spread of a new coronavirus variant, dubbed XBB.1.5, which is considered the most transmissible variant yet.

Just under 10 percent of the nearly 51,000 people in Michigan getting a coronavirus lab test had a positive result, down from 10.3 percent last week.

It marks the first time under 10 percent since April 28, 2022, when it was 9.7 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Jan. 20

COVID hospitalizations fall

The number of COVID-19-positive hospital patients in Michigan fell to 940 on Friday, the fewest since there were 904 on July 18.

COVID-19 hospitalizations have fallen by a third since they hit 1,416 on Jan. 4. Every region of the state is reporting declines.

It’s also the first time the hospitalization total has been less than 1,000 since Nov. 23, when there were 963 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19.

The biggest numerical drop was in the six counties of metro Detroit, where the number of patients fell 32 percent to 569 from 838 since Jan. 4.

The reduction in hospitalizations has mirrored a four-week decline in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, even as a new variant, XBB.1.5, becomes more common.

The variant, accounting for 49 percent of cases nationwide, is blamed for 24 percent of cases in the Midwest region that includes Michigan. It’s considered the most transmissible variant yet, but XBB.1.5 has not triggered a surge of cases or an increase in illnesses that require hospitalization. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Jan. 17

Cases fall 29 percent

COVID-19 cases fell 29 percent this week to 5,026, the fewest reported since the week ending April 3, 2022, Michigan officials reported Tuesday.

The case count fell for the fourth consecutive week, but the state also reported a 9 percent increase in COVID-19 deaths: 149 compared to 137 last week.

Of those deaths, 78 occurred in December and 66 in January.

The decline in cases comes as hospitalizations declined 279 to 1,082, the least since Dec. 2, when the state reported 1,054 patients.

Michigan also reported that 10.3 percent of the over 55,000 tests administered in the past week came back positive. That’s the lowest percent positive since April 29, 2022, when 10.1 percent were positive.

It’s the fewest number of weekly test results reported since the April 2020, when Michigan, like most states, was trying to ramp up testing in the face of the coronavirus.

The drop in cases also occurs as a new variant, dubbed XBB.1.5, becomes more common in the nation and the Midwest. It’s considered the most transmissible variant yet, but it has not triggered increasing numbers of serious illness in the northeast, where it makes up over 80 percent of cases.

In the region that includes Michigan, XBB.1.5 makes up 14 percent of cases, up from 8.2 percent the week before. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Deaths double to 137

Michigan reported 137 new confirmed COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, more than double the 54 reported the previous week.

The deaths are the highest reported since Dec. 13, when the state reported 144 deaths.

Of the new deaths, 101 occurred in December and 34 in January. The holidays likely delayed the reporting of many of the December deaths until this week.

The state also reported 7,081 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, down nearly 11 percent from the 7,930 reported last week and the fewest since 7,074 in the week ending Nov. 29.

As of Monday, there were 1,267 patients in Michigan hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down from 1,361 on Friday and 1,416 on Jan. 4, which had been the highest since mid-February. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Jan. 3

Cases and deaths decline

Michigan public health officials on Tuesday reported 7,930 weekly COVID-19 infections and 54 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, both lower than last week.

After five weeks in which new confirmed infections rose, they fell 21 percent last week and 9 percent this week. And after reporting 100 COVID-19 deaths on Dec. 20, the state reported 89 last week and 54 this week.

Because of the holidays, testing data was not available and the latest hospitalization data is from Dec. 28, when the state reported 1,397 COVID-19-positive patients. That’s the highest number since Feb. 23 when there were 1,579 COVID-19 patients. The next update on hospitalizations will be on Wednesday. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Dec. 20

Cases rise for fifth straight week, hit 11,074

Confirmed COVID-19 cases rose 9 percent this week to 11,074, the fifth consecutive week of increases, Michigan officials reported Tuesday.

The state also reported 100 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down 31 percent from the 147 reported last week. Of the reported deaths, 68 occurred in December, 22 in November and 13 in October.

For the year, there have been 8,808 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down from 15,009 in 2021 and 13,020 in 2020.

The number of hospital patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 was at 1,375 on Monday, the most since 1,579 on Feb. 23.

Michigan now has two western Upper Peninsula counties — Dickinson and Menominee — that are considered “high” risk for the spread of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC recommends everyone in a “high” risk county wear a mask in public, regardless of their health or vaccination status. Last week Schoolcraft County, also in the Upper Peninsula, was rated “high” risk.

Despite the overall trends of increasing cases, the rate of infections is far lower than it was in January, when as many as 5,000 COVID-19-positive people were in hospitals. Nearly 4,400 people died from COVID-19 in January and February, nearly half of the 2022 total. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Dec. 13

Weekly cases jump to 10,202

Michigan reported 10,202 new confirmed weekly cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, up 9 percent from a week earlier, the fourth consecutive week of increasing cases.

The state also reported 147 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down 23 percent from 187 last week. Of those deaths, 68 occurred in November and 68 in December.

The state reported Monday that 1,225 people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 were in Michigan hospitals, the most since 1,228 on Oct. 26.

The increase in hospitalizations was highest in Wayne, Washtenaw and Monroe counties, where 403 people were being treated. That’s the highest since February and March — but well below the 1,500 hospitalized in mid-January in that region.

Testing results showed that 12.8 percent of coronavirus lab tests came back positive, unchanged in the past week. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Dec. 6

Cases rise 32 percent

Michigan reported 9,331 weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, up 32 percent from the 7,074 cases last week, while weekly deaths nearly doubled to 187 from 94 last week.

Of the deaths, 154 occurred in November, 19 in October and 16 in December. With the latest count, the 592 deaths in October make it the month with the third most deaths in 2022 behind January (2,886) and February (1,503).

On Monday the state reported there were 1,135 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, up from 1,054 on Friday and 1,109 a week earlier. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Nov. 29

Cases up 2 percent

Michigan reported 7,074 new weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, up 2 percent from 6,927 last week, while deaths fell 57 percent to 94 from 223.

This week, there were 1,029 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in Michigan hospitals on Monday, up from 963 on Nov. 23.

Testing data showed that 12 percent of nearly 64,000 tests in the past week were positive, up from 11 percent the previous week.

Case counts, overall, were falling in 62 of the state’s 83 counties in the past week, and no counties in the state have a COVID-19 “risk” level above medium.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assesses the risk of spread based on case counts and hospitalizations. In counties considered “high” risk the CDC recommends everyone, regardless of health or vaccination status, to wear a mask in public indoor settings. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Nov. 15

Weekly cases jump to 11,145

Michigan reported 11,145 new weekly confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, a 40 percent jump from the 7,966 reported the previous week.

Cases increased largely in metro Detroit, roughly doubling in Monroe, St. Clair and Wayne (excluding Detroit) counties and up at least 50 percent in Detroit, Macomb and Oakland counties.

However, many of the new cases reported this week occurred from July through October and were part of a backlog from a laboratory, Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, told Bridge Michigan in an email. The backlog was added to the state's data on Nov. 12, Sutfin said

That resulted in a big jump in the number of reported lab tests: From Nov. 12-14, the state reported an average of 100,000 daily results, far higher than the average of roughly 77,000 over the previous three weeks.

The state also reported 108 additional confirmed COVID-19 deaths. Of those, six occurred in September, 46 in October and 50 in November.

On Monday the state reported there were 1,098 COVID-19-positive patients being treated in Michigan hospitals, down from 1,153 on Wednesday and 1,197 a week earlier. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Nov. 9

Cases decrease 14 percent

COVID-19 cases declined 14 percent this week to 7,966 new confirmed cases this week, while deaths climbed 17 percent to 141, Michigan health officials announced Wednesday.

The state reported 1,153 COVID-19 positive patients in state hospitals on Wednesday, down from 1,197 on Monday and 1,261 a week ago.

Of the 141 reported deaths, 100 occurred in October, 34 in November and five in September. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Nov. 4

No counties are high-risk

For the second consecutive week, all Michigan counties are considered at low or medium risk for the spread of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In high-risk counties, of which there are only 70 nationwide, the CDC recommends everyone, regardless of health or vaccination status, wear masks in public indoors spaces.

In Michigan, however, case counts and hospitalization rates remain low enough overall that 55 counties are “low” risk and 28 are “medium.” Two-thirds of the population lives in “medium” risk counties, including those in the four most populous counties: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Kent.

The state also reported Friday that 1,210 COVID-19 positive patients are in Michigan hospitals, down from 1,261 on Wednesday, the highest number since Feb. 25. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Nov. 1

Cases fall 4 percent

Weekly cases fell 4 percent to 9,266, from 9,670 the previous week, while deaths fell 7 percent to 120 from 131, state officials announced Tuesday.

Cases averaged 1,324 per day, down from 1,381 this past week and have been falling for six of the past seven weeks.

The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Michigan rose on Monday, hitting 1,246, the highest since there were 1,337 on Feb. 25. There were 1,082 a week earlier and 1,219 on Friday.

Of the 120 reported deaths, 107 occurred in October, bringing that month’s total to 360 so far. That compares to 636 in October 2020, the first year of the pandemic, and 1,306 last October as the delta variant sent cases and deaths soaring.

The percent of positive coronavirus tests fell slightly to 13.4 percent, down from 13.7 percent the week before. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Oct. 25

COVID cases fall 1 percent

Confirmed COVID-19 rose less than 1 percent to 9,670 weekly cases, up a total of 84 since last week, Michigan officials reported on Tuesday.

The state also reported confirmed COVID-19 deaths fell 4 percent to 130 this week, down from 136 the previous week.

After more than two years of big swings up and down, Michigan is in one of its longest stretches of flat to declining cases.

In both 2020 and 2021, cases were rising rapidly in the fall, heading toward peaks in December and January. This year, Michigan has reported falling case counts since mid-August when they nearly hit 2,800 a day.

Those case counts are not a reflection of overall cases because of the prevalence of home testing. However, hospitalizations, considered a better indicator of overall trends, have been flat to declining as well.

On Monday, the state reported 1,082 COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, down from 1,196 on Friday and 1,219 a week ago. Overall, hospitalizations have remained between 1,000 and 1,225 for nearly three months.

Of the 130 deaths reported this week, 116 were in October and seven in September. So far, there have been 258 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in October, on pace to be the fewest since there were 412 in April.

In contrast, there were 2,887 — 93 a day — in January at the peak of the omicron wave and another 1,502 in February. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Oct. 18

Cases down 3 percent

Michigan on Tuesday reported 9,586 confirmed COVID-19 cases this week, down 3 percent from 9,857 the week before. Weekly reported deaths rose 17 percent to 136 from 116 the previous week.

Of the reported deaths, 41 occurred in September and 91 in October.

Hospitalizations increased 6 percent to 1,219, up from 1,151 on Friday and 1,096 the previous week. That is the biggest weekly increase since Aug. 3.

Hospitalizations have hovered between 1,000 and 1,225 patients for 2 ½ months and remain a fraction of the 5,000 patients who were being treated in early January at the peak of the omicron wave. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Oct. 14

CDC: No Michigan counties are high risk for COVID

For the first time since the first week of July, no Michigan county is considered a “high” risk for the spread of COVID-19, according to a Thursday analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Just two Upper Peninsula counties were considered to have high risk last week but both Gogebic (medium) and Delta (low) are no longer considered high risk.

Nationwide, just 67 counties are considered high risk, where the CDC recommends all people, regardless of vaccination and health status, wear masks in indoor public spaces.

The 67 counties mark the lowest level since late April.

A month ago, 431 counties were considered high risk. There are 3,143 counties, parishes or boroughs in the United States.

Michigan public health officials also reported an increase in the number of COVID-19 positive hospital patients on Friday.

There were 1,151 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 1,081 on Wednesday and 1,104 a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Oct. 11

Cases fall 11 percent again

Weekly COVID-19 cases fell 11 percent to 9,857 from 10,118, while weekly deaths declined to 116 from 120, health officials reported Tuesday.

That marks the fourth straight week of declining cases, while hospitalizations fell 6 percent to 1,096 from 1,161 a week ago.

Since July 29, the number of patients has consistently been roughly between 1,000 and 1,225. At the worst of the pandemic in January, just over 5,000 COVID-19 patients were being treated in Michigan hospitals.

Of the 116 deaths reported, five occurred in August, 61 in September and 44 in August. So far in 2022, there have been 7,430 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

That would likely keep COVID-19 as the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer. In 2020, 13,109 died of COVID-19 in Michigan and 15,002 died in 2021. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Oct. 4

Cases drop 11 percent

COVID-19 cases in Michigan declined for the third straight week, dropping 11 percent this week from 11,310 to 10,118, state officials reported Tuesday.

The decline brings the average to 1,445 new cases per day. Rates are falling in Detroit and 65 of the state’s 83 counties, including all of the 10 most populous.

Michigan also reported another 120 confirmed COVID-19 deaths this week. Of those, 102 were in September, eight in October and six in August.

Hospitalizations inched up to 1,161 Monday from 1,058 Friday and 1,091 a week ago.

Over the past week, 14.3 percent of coronavirus laboratory tests were positive, down from 14.9 percent a week ago. The number of people seeking a lab test fell to 67,174 in the past week, down from nearly 73,000 the week before.— Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Sept. 30

Only one county still high risk

Monroe County is the only county in Michigan now considered high risk for the spread of COVID-19, according to the latest analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A week ago, seven counties were considered high risk — where the CDC recommends everyone, regardless of vaccination status or health, to wear a mask in indoor public settings. The week before, there were 14 high-risk counties.

It’s another sign that the number of cases is slowly falling. Hospitalizations of confirmed COVID-19-positive patients fell to 994, the first time below 1,000 since there were 991 on Aug. 8.

All told, 1,058 patients had confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Friday, down from 1,103 on Wednesday and 1,142 a week ago.

Over the past two weeks, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has fallen 13 percent and 11 percent, respectively, the state reported Tuesday. They are now at their lowest point since early July. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Sept. 27

COVID-19 cases fall for second consecutive week

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan fell by 13 percent this week to 11,310, down from 12,959 last week, the state reported Tuesday. That reduces the daily average to 1,616, the lowest since the week ending July 5.

The state also reported 131 additional confirmed COVID-19 deaths. Of those 23 occurred in August and 105 in September. For September, there have been 272 total confirmed deaths so far; in 2021 there were 840 September deaths.

Case counts were steady or falling in most of the state and in all of the most populous counties. Reported COVID-19-positive hospitalizations fell on Monday to 1,091. It marked the first time that number was below 1,100 since there were 1,072 patients on Aug. 1.

And although laboratory coronavirus tests have become less of a barometer of trends with the advent of easily accessible home tests, the percent of tests coming back positive fell for the second straight week, with 14.8 percent of nearly 86,000 tests coming back positive in the past week, down from 16.3 percent. It had been at 18.3 percent two weeks ago.

The last time the rate was lower was July 1, when it was 14.7 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Sept. 23

High-risk counties fall to 7

Seven of Michigan's 83 counties are now considered high risk for the spread of COVID-19, down from 14 last week, according to the latest analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The counties now considered high risk include Macomb and St. Clair in southeast Michigan, as well as Delta, Dickinson, Iron, Gratiot and Montcalm in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

The CDC has recommended that people in high risk counties, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings in public indoor settings to reduce the chance of contracting the virus.

Also, the latest hospitalization data from the state shows a slight drop in the number of COVID-19-positive patients. Hospitals across the state were treating 1,142 COVID-19 patients as of Friday, down from 1,163 on Wednesday.

Since late July, the number of patients who were COVID-19 positive has held steady between 1,000 and 1,200. There are also 121 people with COVID-19 who are in intensive care, down from a recent high of 158 on Sept. 9.

Far fewer of the current COVID-19 patients have been in intensive care units, roughly 10 to 15 percent.

At the height of the delta wave in December, over 20 percent of all COVID-19 patients were in ICUs, peaking at 1,035 on Dec. 13. Over the next 10 days, an average of 116 people died from COVID-19 each day, the worst stretch since December 2020. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Sept. 20

Cases down 11 percent

COVID-19 cases fell 11 percent over the past week to 12,949 or an average of 1,850 per day, while deaths dropped to 119 from 152 the previous week.

Case counts have fluctuated widely in the past few weeks due to a big drop in reporting over the Labor Day weekend. The most recent numbers confirm that cases overall have stabilized since June, with no big spikes.

In all, Detroit and 70 of 83 counties reported fewer cases this week, while hospitalizations statewide remained largely the same at 1,174.

Since July 29, when there were 1,013 COVID-19-positive patients, the number has never eclipsed 1,227.

Hospitalizations are considered a more reliable metric than cases because many people rely solely on home testing, the results of which do not end up in the official tallies.

But the percentage of positive coronavirus tests done at a laboratory is falling as well.

Over the past week, 16.3 percent of laboratory tests came back positive, down from 18.3 percent the week before. That’s the lowest weekly rate since it was 16 percent the week ending July 5. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Sept. 13

Cases jump 16 percent

The state reported a 16-percent increase in the number of weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with 14,606 cases, up from 12,592 the previous week.

However, the cases reported last week, which were down 13 percent from the previous week, were likely artificially low because of reporting delays due to the Labor Day holiday, as has frequently happened around holiday weeks.

The number of COVID-19-positive hospital patients on Monday stood at 1,221. That was higher than the 1,174 reported Friday but nearly identical to the 1,224 reported a week ago.

For the first time since late July, the share of coronavirus tests that came back as positive fell below 20 percent. Over the past week, 18.2 percent of laboratory tests were positive, down from 20.1 percent a week ago. Since it was 19.7 percent for the week ending July 29, the rate has ranged from 20 to 21.6 percent.

The state also reported 152 new confirmed COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, up from 68 the previous week, with most of the newly recorded deaths traced back to earlier months. The total included four from July, 79 from August and 72 from September, records show.

So far in 2022, there have been 6,948 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, or an average of 27 a day. In August the state averaged 13 a day.

At the current rate, COVID-19 will remain the No. 3 cause of death in Michigan in 2022 behind heart disease, of which there were over 27,000 deaths in 2021, and cancer (more than 21,000 in 2021). — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Sept. 6

New COVID-19 cases fall for second straight week

Michigan public health officials reported 12,592 newly confirmed COVID-19 weekly cases Tuesday, a 13 percent drop from the previous week, when 14,537 were reported.

The state averaged just under 1,800 cases per day; however, the holiday weekend could have delayed some tests, as they did in the week following July 4.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also reported 68 COVID-19 deaths. Of those, nine occurred in September and 56 in August and two in July.

Through Tuesday, 34,818 people in Michigan are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, according to the state. Of those, 6,727 deaths have occurred in 2022, for an annualized rate of just over 10,000. In 2021, 15,001 died; 13,018 died of COVID-19 in 2020.

Though the number of cases has fallen two weeks in a row, the number of COVID-19-positive patients treated in Michigan hospitals rose Tuesday to 1,227, the highest since there were 1,337 on Feb. 25. At that time, patient levels were falling rapidly after hitting 5,009 on Jan. 10.

The state also reported that 20 percent of all coronavirus tests came back positive in the past week. That rate has been relatively unchanged since the end of July. Officials say many people who get infected do not seek a laboratory test, indicating the spread of the disease is likely higher. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Sept. 2

Hospitalizations hit 6-month peak even as cases decline

Hospitalizations from COVID-19 have reached their highest level since late February, while 18 counties are now considered high risk for spread of the virus, up from nine last week.

As of Friday, 1,197 patients statewide are COVID-19-positive, up from 1,161 and the most since there were more than 1,300 on Feb. 25.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends indoor mask usage in the following counties considered high risk: Baraga, Calhoun, Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Iron, Macomb, Menominee, Monroe, Ontonagon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee and Tuscola.

The designation comes amid rising rates in those counties, even though overall cases fell 10 percent statewide this week.

On Thursday, the CDC on Thursday recommended a redesigned COVID booster that targets the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.

The updated boosters — one by drugmakers Pfizer and BioNTech, and the other by Moderna — target BA.5, the subvariant now responsible for nearly all U.S. COVID infections.

The Pfizer booster is authorized for anyone 12 years and older; the Moderna booster is authorized for anyone 18 years and older. Doses are to be given at least two months after the last COVID dose. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Aug. 23

Cases fall 10 percent

COVID-19 cases in Michigan fell nearly 10 percent to 14,537 from 16,092 the previous week, health officials reported on Tuesday.

Overall, cases have fallen 26 percent in the past two weeks, while hospitalizations remained flat at 1,150. The state also reported 101 deaths in the past week, or nearly 15 per day, which has been the average since mid-July.

Health officials warn there are likely more cases as people test positive at home, but cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all a fraction of what they were in this January at the height of the omicron wave. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Aug. 26

CDC: Nine counties still at high risk

Nine Michigan counties face a high risk of COVID — just half the number of counties than a week ago, according to the latest risk map by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The three-tier designations are recalculated each week based on new cases and hospitalizations.

In southeast Michigan, Wayne, Macomb and Washtenaw remain “high” risk, according to those calculations, but Livingston and Macomb counties fell back to medium risk over the week.

Also in the “high” risk category are Mason and Crawford counties in northern Michigan, and Chippewa, Luce, Delta and Ontonagon in the Upper Peninsula. Seventeen counties in Michigan’s lower peninsula are rated at “medium” risk.

The CDC recommends that anyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask in indoor public settings in “high” risk counties.

Residents who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease should consider avoiding non-essential indoor, public activities, according to the CDC. For those with serious health conditions, masks are recommended in counties with “medium” risk as well.

Hospitalizations have remained relatively stable over the past month. On July 29, the state’s hospitals reported 1,103 patients had confirmed or suspected COVID. As of Friday, 1,131 patients were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID. Unknown is how many of those patients were hospitalized for reasons other than COVID. — Robin Erb

Tuesday, Aug. 23

Michigan COVID cases slow slightly; hospitalizations stable

Michigan added another 16,092 confirmed COVID cases to its total on Tuesday — or about 2,229 each day for the past week.

That boosted the total number of confirmed COVID infections to 2,385,018 since the beginning of the pandemic, but it also marked a decrease from the previous week’s addition of 19,592 confirmed cases.

At the same time, COVID hospitalizations across the state have remained relatively stable. As of Tuesday, 1,164 hospitalized patients had confirmed or suspected COVID infections, though it’s not clear how many of them came in for COVID or if the virus was detected while they were being treated for another condition.

Throughout August, that hospitalization number has fluctuated between 1,072 and 1,164, in contrast to hospitalizations in January at the height of an omicron-fueled winter surge, when more than 5,000 people were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID.

Also this week, the state added another 112 deaths, or about 16 per day over the past seven days.

Health officials worry that cooler weather and a return to school could fuel a resurgence, and they hope that a newly formulated vaccine — one that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now considering — might tamp down any steep case climbs from new strains of the Omicron variant. — Robin Erb

Friday Aug. 19

18 counties now deemed ‘high’ risk for COVID

Most of southeast Michigan is back in the “high” risk category for the spread of COVID-19, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The designation, reported late Thursday, reverses a switch to “low” and “medium” risk for the region. The CDC now estimates that Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston and 13 other Michigan counties have elevated rates of spread of the virus.

The CDC recommends that anyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask in indoor public settings in “high” risk counties.

Michigan public health officials reported a steep, 46 percent, rise in cases on Tuesday after a one-week decline that was attributed, in part, to a delay in getting laboratory tests.

The CDC’s community levels data is based on new cases and hospitalizations. For those with serious health conditions, masks are recommended in counties with “medium” risk as well.

Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan fell on Friday, to 1,131 from 1,166 on Wednesday. Since July 29, the level of hospitalizations has hovered between 1,013 (July 29) and 1,166.

At the peak of the omicron phase in mid-January, Michigan hospitals were treating over 5,000 COVID-19-positive patients. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Aug. 16

Cases jump 46 percent

COVID-19 cases rose 46 percent in the past week, with Michigan public health officials reporting 19,592 weekly cases Tuesday, up from 13,437 the previous week.

The increase comes a week after the state reported a 24 percent drop in cases, which ended a four-week rise in new confirmed cases. Case rates rose in Detroit and in 66 of the state’s 83 counties over the past week.

Some of the increase, however, is attributable to a delay in laboratory results last week that made it appear cases fell more than they did last week, said Chelsea Wuth, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Hospitalizations remain relatively stable: As of Monday, 1,114 patients were confirmed or suspected of being COVID-19 positive. Since July 29, hospitalizations have stayed between 1,013 and 1,162.

In January, the state’s 164 hospitals had just over 5,000 COVID-19 patients at the height of the omicron surge.

The state on Tuesday also reported 88 additional confirmed COVID-19 deaths. Of those, 58 were in August, 27 in July and two in June. The state had reported 109 deaths the previous week.

The percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive was 20.9 percent over the past week, down from 21.5 percent last week. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Aug. 9

COVID-19 cases fall 24 percent

COVID-19 cases fell 24 percent this week to 13,437, the first decline since June, Michigan health officials reported Tuesday.

The rate of weekly new cases is falling in Detroit and 69 of the state’s 83 counties.

The state also reported 109 deaths — including 41 from August, 56 in July and nine in June. At the worst of the omicron wave in January, an average of 92 people were dying of COVID-19 every day.

Hospitalizations remained steady, at 1,101 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, down from 1,116 on Friday and 1,135 Wednesday. In January, there were 5,009 people being treated for COVID-19 in Michigan hospitals.

The percent of positive tests over the past week rose to 21.5 percent from 20.3 percent. Experts say that many people who are testing positive are doing so via home tests that are less likely to be confirmed by a laboratory test. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Aug. 5

18 counties now 'high' risk

Eighteen Michigan counties with rising case and hospitalization rates are now considered “high” risk for the spread of COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The designation comes with a recommendation that everyone, regardless of vaccination or health status, consider wearing masks indoors when in public settings.

The counties include most of metro Detroit, including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties. A week earlier, 12 counties had the “high” risk designation. These are the current "high" risk counties: Baraga, Calhoun, Dickinson, Houghton, Iron, Kalkaska, Keweenaw, Luce, Mason, Menominee, Oceana, Kalamazoo, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne.

Friday, state officials reported that 1,116 hospital patients are confirmed or suspected to be COVID-19-positive, down from 1,135 on Wednesday which was the highest number since late May.

The weekly number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen for four weeks, up to an average of 2,513 daily cases on Tuesday. At the height of the initial omicron wave in January, the daily state average was nearly 17,600. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Aug. 2

Cases jump 6 percent

COVID-19 cases rose 6 percent in the past week to 17,590 from 16,586, with rates increasing in 40 of 83 counties, state officials reported Tuesday.

Since the week of July 4, confirmed weekly cases have risen nearly 43 percent, but experts say that is likely an undercount because many people are testing positive with home tests and riding out the illness without a confirming test that would be included in the state’s weekly count.

Hospitals across much of Michigan are reporting more patients, with 1,072 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID statewide, the most since May 25.

Though the latest variant of omicron is more transmissible and blamed for the nationwide increase in cases, a smaller fraction of COVID-19 patients are in serious condition: As of Tuesday, 107 of the COVID-19 patents statewide were in intensive-care units, compared to more than 1,000 during the worst of the delta and first omicron waves.

Over the past week, the state reported an additional 90 COVID-19 deaths, down from 96 the week before.

From Dec. 1 through January, as delta and omicron hit the state, there were an average of 101 COVID-19 deaths per day.

Since April 1, the average is 11 per day.

If that rate continued for a full year, that would be 4,015 deaths — more than the No. 8 cause of death in Michigan, diabetes (3,408) and more than No. 9 kidney disease (1,940) or No. 10 pneumonia/influenza (1,880). Heart disease (27,090) was the No. 1 cause of death in Michigan in 2020 (COVID-19 was No. 3 that year at 11,362).

The percentage of laboratory tests that came back positive rose to 20.3 percent, up from 19.4 percent. In early January, a third of tests were coming back positive and as many as 500,000 people were getting tested each week. Over the past week, 95,057 people were tested. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, July 28

CDC: Wear masks indoors in 12 counties

A new risk assessment map from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends residents and visitors in a dozen Michigan counties wears masks indoors, reflecting a three-week climb in COVID-19 cases.

The precautions are recommended in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Monroe in metro Detroit; Kalamazoo in southwest Michigan; Manistee in northwest Michigan; and Schoolcraft, Delta, Marquette, Ontonagon and Gogebic in the Upper Peninsula.

Residents who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease should consider avoiding non-essential indoor, public activities, according to the CDC. Residents should have ready access to testing. (Free testing resources in Michigan can be found here.)

The map is updated weekly and based on COVID cases, hospitalizations and the percentage of inpatient beds occupied by COVID patients.

Cases and hospitalizations have increased in recent weeks. As of Friday, 1,013 Michigan patients had COVID, up from 686 a month ago. Many COVID patients may be in the hospital for other ailments and tested positive upon admission.

Still, the seven-day rolling average of cases — at 2,369 — is below the two previous omicron-fueled spikes in January and May, when cases peaked at 17,589 and 3,575, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration may make a new, more targeted COVID booster available this fall, according to national news sources.

The new booster would specifically target BA.5, an omicron subvariant which appears to be more transmissible, though it’s not clear that it causes more serious disease than previous omicron iterations. — Robin Erb

Tuesday, July 26

Cases jump 19 percent

COVID cases rose 19 percent this week, while hospitalizations increased 8 percent, but rates still remain far below levels during other surges.

The state health department added another 16,586 confirmed cases this past week or 2,369 per day, up from last week when there were 13,956 cases, an average of 1,994 per day.

Hospitalizations rose to 975 on Monday from 904 last week. Many patients likely tested positive for the virus after entering hospitals for other ailments: Only 4 percent of patients, 33, are on ventilators, state records show.

In the past week, Michigan recorded another 96 deaths linked to COVID this past week, bringing the total to 34,250 throughout the pandemic. — Robin Erb

Friday, July 22

Four counties at high risk

A federal COVID tracker has deemed four new Michigan counties to be at “high” risk of COVID transmission, but downgraded another four counties that were flagged last week.

Residents and visitors in the Upper Peninsula’s Marquette, Alger and Schoolcraft counties are urged to mask indoors as well as residents and visitors in Benzie County, in the state’s northwest corner, under U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for counties at the highest risk level.

The CDC in February began differentiating risk from county-to-county in three tiers — low, medium and high risk — based on several factors: new COVID cases in the past week, new COVID hospitalizations and the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID patients. The county risk map is updated weekly.

In more rural counties with few hospital beds available for seriously-ill COVID patients, risk levels can swing quickly. Still, “there is widespread transmission of COVID right now, no question about it,” said Dan Thorell, interim health officer of the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department.

Hospitalizations, meanwhile, have remained fairly stable for several weeks because vaccines and previous infections boost the odds that a new infection isn’t severe and treatments help keep people from getting seriously ill, he said. And he and others have said the state’s totals are undoubtedly a dramatic undercount, given the wide availability of home tests whose positive results are not consistently reported.

All of this means the continued spread of cases is “a little less concerning because the hospitalization rates have not tracked with the number of cases that are actually out there,” he said.
Throughout the state Friday, 950 adults and children were hospitalized with suspected or confirmed COVID infections, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. That’s about 200 more people than just a month ago, but remains far below the levels during the last surge when hospitalizations peaked at 5,009 Jan. 10. - Robin Erb

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

COVID cases inch up again

Michigan health officials reported 13,956 new confirmed COVID cases for the past week on Tuesday, an average of 1,994 per day, the second week of rising cases.

That’s up from an average of 1,968 daily cases last week and 1,510 the week before

The state also recorded another 106 deaths in the previous week, bringing the total number of deaths to 34,154 since the pandemic began, according to state records.

Officials have said that much of the current caseload is driven by the BA.5 subvariant, which appears to be more transmissible, though it’s not clear that it causes more serious disease than previous omicron iterations. Despite four counties deemed “high” risk of transmission by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, new cases, deaths and COVID hospitalizations overall remain far below levels during several statewide surges.

Statewide, 904 patients were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID, which is relatively unchanged over the past week. — Robin Erb

Friday, July 15

Four counties deemed high risk

As the BA.5 subvariant fuels the newest COVID cases nationally, four Michigan counties, including three in the Upper Peninsula, are now listed as areas of high risk.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assesses community risk based on three factors: new COVID cases in the past week, new COVID hospitalizations and the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID patients. The CDC updates its county risk map each week to help assess risk and guide individual decisions. (More details on the guidelines are here.)

In Kalamazoo County in southwest Michigan and in the U.P.’s Gogebic, Delta and Iron counties, the CDC recommends residents mask when indoors and step up self-testing before being in contact with someone at high risk of severe COVID. It’s also recommended to wear a mask around anyone who is especially vulnerable to COVID.

Thirty-four Michigan counties now are considered medium risk, compared to 68 counties the previous week.

But it’s not clear the BA.5 subvariant causes more severe disease.

In other data released Friday, it appears that hospitalizations have not significantly changed statewide. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, 905 patients in hospitals Friday had confirmed or suspected COVID. Of those, 102 were in intensive care units. That number remains far below hospitalizations earlier this year when the first omicron variant cases shot hospitalizations to 5,009 patients on Jan. 10. — Robin Erb

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Pharmacies can now prescribe COVID treatment drug

Michigan residents can now get a COVID-19 treatment drug directly from pharmacies rather than needing a prescription from a doctor.

On July 7, the federal Food and Drug Administration added pharmacists to the list of health care professionals who are allowed to prescribe Paxlovid, Pfizer’s antiviral pill used to mitigate symptoms of COVID-19.

The order took effect in Michigan on Wednesday, when state regulators issued guidance to pharmacies acknowledging that the FDA order superseded state rules on prescriptions of drugs.

Paxlovid is an antiviral therapy that consists of two medications, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, that are taken in conjunction to block an enzyme in the body which the virus needs to replicate. Pfizer reported the drug is 89 percent effective at reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations. Paxlovid prescriptions are free of charge.

There are limits on who can get a prescription directly from a pharmacist. Those seeking Paxlovid will need to have a physical or digital copy of health records that are less than a year old that includes blood work for the pharmacist to review for potential liver or kidney problems, and a list of all medications the person is taking; without that, pharmacists are legally not allowed to prescribe Paxlovid. As an alternative, pharmacists can consult with the patient’s doctor. — Ron French

Thursday, July 14

Cases jump 30 percent

Michigan announced nearly 13,800 weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, a 30 percent increase from the prior week.

The state averaged 1,968 daily cases, up from 1,510. The cases released Tuesday represent a nearly 15 percent increase over the week before the July 4 holiday.

The state also reported 122 confirmed COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, up from 57 a week ago. Those include 52 from July and another 65 in June.

The state reported that 17.1 percent of all coronavirus tests in the past week came back positive, up from 15.6 percent. Experts say, however, that many more tests are likely taken at home and never recorded with the state through more definitive laboratory testing.

Case rates are rising in Detroit and 45 of the state’s 83 counties, records show. However, they are far lower than the rates reported during the initial omicron wave in late December and January.

At the peak of that wave, there are just over 5,000 COVID-19-positive hospital patients on Jan. 10. As of Monday, there were 912 statewide, up from 830 on Friday and 762 on July 1. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, July 5

Cases drop 12 percent

The number of new confirmed Michigan cases of COVID-19 fell in the past week, with the state reporting 10,570 weekly cases Tuesday, a 12 percent drop.

But the decline, which follows last week’s 11 percent increase, may have been affected by the July 4 holiday: the number of people seeking a coronavirus test fell over 24 percent week over week.

Over that time, however, the percent of tests coming back positive rose from 12.6 percent to 15.3 percent.

Also, the state reported Wednesday that there were 837 current COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals, an increase from the 762 reported on July 1. It’s also the first time the state’s 164 hospitals have reported more than 800 COVID patients since June 15, when there were 851.

Most of the increase in COVID-19 patients occurred in Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties and the 13-county region surrounding Kent County in West Michigan.

The patient count rose from 173 to 202 in the three counties north of Detroit and from 94 to 128 in West Michigan.

The state also reported on Tuesday an additional 57 COVID-19 deaths, down from 146 the previous week. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

New COVID-19 cases up 10 percent as deaths also rise

After five weeks of steady decline, new COVID-19 cases in Michigan rose 10 percent to 12,008 for the week ending Tuesday.

That put the daily average at 1,715, a 10 percent increase from the 1,546 daily average reported last week.

Detroit and 36 of the state’s 83 counties reported increases, but overall rates remain relatively low.

The state also reported 146 COVID-19 deaths, the most in weeks. Of those, 107 were in June and 32 in May.

After a steep reduction in cases and deaths following the surge caused by the omicron variant in late December and through February, monthly deaths fell in March (546) and April (267). So far 427 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in May and another 239 in June.

Also slowing was the reduction in the number of COVID-19 hospital patients statewide.

In the last month, hospitalizations had fallen from 1,146 to 777. Since Monday, though, there are only four fewer COVID patients in Michigan hospitals.

Over the past week, 12.5 percent of the more than 105,600 coronavirus tests came back positive, up from the 12.1 percent the previous week. The number of tests being sought rose over 10 percent from the 95,200 the previous week.

Across the nation, other variants of omicron are blamed for increases, and Michigan is now reporting that those variants are comprising an increasing share of local cases.

The two variants — BA.4 and BA.5 — have shown an ability to infect those who had prior infections or who had been vaccinated, according to The New York Times. It is unclear if they produce more severe cases. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, June 21

Cases fall for fifth straight week

COVID-19 cases in Michigan fell for the fifth straight week, with state public health officials on Tuesday reporting 9,275 cases for the past week.

This week the state began reporting weekly data on Tuesdays to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The average number of daily confirmed cases reported — 1,546 — was a 16.5 percent drop from the daily average of 1,852 last week.

The state also reported 47 deaths over the past six days, or just under 8 a day. Last week, the state reported 110 COVID-19 deaths, or nearly 16 a day.

COVID-19 hospitalizations also fell to 777 from 855 last Wednesday. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, June 17

CDC downgrades threat in SE Michigan

Most of southern Michigan, the most populous part of the state, is no longer considered high risk for COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the threat level was downgraded in Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw and Saginaw counties, it increased in 10 northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula counties that are now considered— where the CDC recommends everyone wear masks indoors in public.

The change was triggered by an increase in hospitalizations in Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties.

Michigan also reported that, statewide, the number of COVID-19-postive hospital patients was 851 on Friday, down from 855 on Wednesday and 903 a week ago.

The state, which only reports case data once a week, reported Wednesday that the weekly number of confirmed COVID-19 cases fell 17 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, June 15

Cases fall 17 percent

Weekly COVID-19 cases fell 17 percent to 12,965 cases from nearly 15,600 the week before, Michigan officials reported Wednesday.

The state also reported 110 new COVID-19 deaths, up from 105 last week.

Case counts have now been falling for four straight weeks after a seven-week rise as an omicron subvariant raced across the state and nation.

But after several weeks of increased hospitalizations, patients fell to 855 this week from 911 on Monday and 939 a week ago.

Patient levels fell in all but one region of the state. They rose slightly — from 93 patients to 95 — in the 13 counties of west Michigan surrounding Grand Rapids.

Positive cases fell 11.4 percent from 13.5 percent a week ago. The weekly rate had been above 14 percent since May 4 until last week, peaking at 16.5 percent on May 17. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, June 10

Biden drops COVID restriction for air travel

With the vacation season in full bloom, the Biden administration announced Friday it is dropping the requirement that everyone flying in the United States must have a recent negative COVID-19 test, multiple press outlets reported.

The administration had dropped mask requirements on planes in April.

The requirement, which called for a negative test within one day of a return flight, expires at 12:01 Sunday.

Michigan public health officials also reported Friday that the number of COVID-19-positive hospital patients fell again, to 903 statewide, down from 939 on Wednesday and 973 on Monday.

COVID-19 hospitalizations peaked at 1,168 on May 23 and have largely fallen since then, mirroring a decline in new confirmed coronavirus infections. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Weekly cases fall 4.2 percent to 15,583

New COVID-19 cases in Michigan fell again this week, decreasing 4.2 percent to 15,583 confirmed weekly cases, state officials announced Wednesday.

Beginning the first week of April, cases rose for seven weeks, but they have declined in each of the past three. Last week, they fell 25 percent.

The drop in cases mirrors one experienced across much of the nation as the latest surge fades. But Michigan officials reported an additional 105 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, up from 33 the week before.

Of those, 94 were in May and 19 in June (following a review of medical and health records, 9 deaths previously considered COVID-19 were removed from the state’s totals).

The number of COVID-19-positive hospital patients fell again on Wednesday as well, to 939, down from 973 on Monday and a recent peak of 1,168 on May 23.

Over the past week, 13.4 percent of all coronavirus tests came back positive, down from 14.6 percent the previous week. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, June 6

COVID hospitalizations down to 973 patients

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Michigan dropped to 973 patients on Monday from 998 Friday and the recent peak of 1,168 on May 23.

Though most of the decline was in the hospitals in Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties, other areas reported slight increases, including a region that stretches from the Thumb through Bay City and up Lake Huron’s coast.

That region’s hospitals are now treating 138 COVID-19-positive patients, equal to the peak last reported on Wednesday. Central Michigan hospitals have 94 patients, the highest in the current surge that began in mid-April.

Those numbers, though, are still significantly less than patient counts in January as omicron flooded the state.

The hospitals in metro Detroit’s six counties are now treating 533 COVID-19-positive patients, compared to 2,978 on Jan. 10.

Michigan only reports cases and deaths on Wednesdays but does report hospitalizations three times a week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also shows average daily COVID-19 admissions in Michigan have fallen 16 percent, from a peak of 191 on May 22 to 160 on Monday. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, June 3

Hospitalizations dip below 1,000

Michigan hospitalizations for COVID-19 fell to 998 on Friday from 1,068 on Wednesday, the first time the state has been below 1,000 since May 11, when there were 903 patients.

Following a two-week decline in new cases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now considers only 10 Michigan counties “high risk,” down from 14 last week and 22 two weeks ago.

In “high” risk counties the CDC recommends everyone wear a mask indoors in public settings, regardless of health or vaccination status.

After the blast of cases caused by the omicron variant, hospitalizations fell for weeks, hitting a low of 470 on April 6 before rising slowly but steadily, peaking at 1,172 on May 25.

The biggest drops were in the six counties of metro Detroit, the home of 31 percent of the state's total COVID-19 hospitalizations. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, June 1

Cases fall 25 percent

New COVID-19 cases fell 25 percent this week to 16,262, the second straight week of declines, Michigan public health officials announced Wednesday.

Cases cell in all but seven of the 83 counties in the state, including all of the most populous ones.

The number of weekly cases fell 35 percent in Saginaw County, 34 percent in Detroit, 33 percent in Monroe and suburban Wayne counties, and 28 percent in Macomb County and 27 percent in Oakland County

Michigan also reported 33 COVID-19 deaths, the lowest in months and far below the 121 reported in the previous week.

In recent weeks, health officials have expressed optimism that a recent wave of omicron variants is declining after sweeping the nation and world. The wave has tended to produce less severe illness among the infected.

That’s led to a smaller percentage of those requiring hospitalizations and intensive care. Of the 1,068 current COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan hospitals — nearly unchanged from last week’s 1,072 — 116 are in ICU, or 11 percent of all COVID-19 patients.

During earlier waves, the ICU rate was equal to 20 percent to 30 percent of all COVID-19-positive patients — and the death toll was far higher.

The state reported that 224 people had died of COVID-19 in May. That’s the third-fewest of any month since the pandemic began in March 2020. Only July 2021 (154) and July 2020 (227) recorded fewer deaths. Just five months ago, in January, 2,873 died from COVID-19, the fourth-worst month of the pandemic.

The number of people seeking confirmatory testing fell 24 percent, from 163,734 to 124,358. The percent of those tests which were positive fell slightly, from 15.8 percent to 14.6 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, May 27

High-risk counties fall to 14

There's good news headed into Memorial Day weekend: COVID-19 hospitalizations are down and the number of counties considered high-risk fell from 22 to 14, according to data released Friday.

COVID-19 hospitalizations fell to 1,041 on Friday from 1,072 on Wednesday and 1,168 on Monday, the peak of the latest wave.

The number of COVID-19 intensive-care patients fell to 106 on Friday from 112 on Monday.

The decline in hospitalizations and a 13 percent decline in cases over the past week helped drive a reduction in the number of high-risk counties, places where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone wear masks indoors in public settings.

Counties no longer considered high-risk: Grand Traverse, Otsego, Crawford, Emmet, Antrim, St. Clair, Benzie, Delta, Luce, Chippewa and Presque Isle counties. Those now considered high risk this week: Calhoun, Manistee and Alger counties.

Metro Detroit’s Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Monroe are still considered high risk. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, May 25

COVID-19 cases fall 13 percent

Michigan on Wednesday reported 21,675 confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past week, a 13 percent weekly drop and the first decline since the end of March.

The state averaged 3,096 daily cases over the past week, down from 3,575 the previous week.

Beginning the first week of April, weekly cases had steadily risen, from 4,876 the week ending April 6 to 25,024 last week.

Officials acknowledge that many more cases exist in the state because so many with the virus are administering home tests.

Case rates fell in 64 of the state’s 83 counties, including all of the most populous counties: Cases fell 22 percent in Macomb County, from 2,839 weekly cases to 2,228, 15 percent in Washtenaw, 14 percent in Kent, 13 percent in Oakland and 11 percent in suburban Wayne.

Weekly cases rose in 19 counties but most have far fewer overall cases and lower rates than the more populated counties.

COVID-19 hospitalizations also fell, dropping nearly 100 since Monday, the most since early March. As of Wednesday there were a reported 1,072 COVID-19-positive patients being treated, with the hospitals in metro Detroit’s six counties recording the biggest declines.

Hospitalizations began rising in mid-April as the latest omicron variant swept the Michigan and the country.

However, the latest variant generally causes less severe illnesses, like the original omicron variant. During the wave of cases spurred by the delta variant, 20 percent to 25 percent of all COVID-19 patients were in intensive care, data shows.

As of Wednesday, there were 109 COVID-19-positive patients in intensive care, or about 10 percent of all COVID-19 patients.

Despite encouraging trends, confirmed COVID-19 deaths nearly doubled to 121 over the past week from 63 the week before. Of the deaths, 106 occurred in May with the rest were in previous months, from November through April. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, May 18

Cases jump 8 percent

COVID-19 cases rose 8 percent in the past week to 25,024 confirmed cases, Michigan officials reported Wednesday, after five straight weeks in which they increased by at least 30 percent.

Cases averaged 3,575 a day, up from 3,309 the previous week

The case count rose 44 percent last week and between 31 percent and 39 percent in each of the previous four weeks as the latest omicron variant spread across the state.

Case rates in most of the state’s most populous counties were relatively unchanged, including Oakland, Macomb, Kent and Washtenaw counties. They rose in Detroit, from 31 daily cases per 100,000 people to 42 cases per 100,000.

On Wednesday the state also reported 63 additional COVID-19 deaths over the previous week, a slight drop from the previous week’s 66 deaths.

Despite case counts rising six-fold since early April, from 4,800 a week to 25,000, weekly deaths have ranged from 77 five weeks ago to 52 two weeks ago.

Despite the spike in new coronavirus cases, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services told Bridge Michigan this week that the state remains in its “Recovery (Post Surge)” designation in part because of the reduced severity of those who have been hospitalized and because there has not been a spike in deaths.

On Wednesday the state reported 1,146 hospitalizations.

Compared to previous surges, there are still far fewer people getting seriously ill.

There are now 119 patients in intensive care and 39 on ventilators.

On Feb. 25 and Aug. 23 when there were a similar number of COVID-19-positive patients, there were twice as many in intensive care (244 on Feb. 25; 258 on Aug. 23) and three times as many on ventilators (133 on Feb. 25; 126 on Aug. 23). — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, May 13

CDC recommends masks for half of Michigan

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending that everyone in 16 Michigan counties — over half the state’s population — wear masks indoors in public.

Increases in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations triggered the heightened designation, with Michigan now having the most counties in the “high” risk category outside of the northeast part of the United States.

The “high” risk category suggests that it would be safer if everyone, regardless of health of vaccination status, wear masks indoors when in public.

The change affects much of southeast Michigan, including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties, where increases in cases and hospitalizations have been the most stark.

But it also includes numerous counties in the northwestern corner of the lower peninsula, two Upper Peninsula counties (Mackinac and Chippewa) and Calhoun County. All told, more than 5 million people live in the affected counties.

Last week, the CDC identified only Grand Traverse County as “high” risk based on increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations. It is among the 16 now designated “high” risk.

The CDC’s “community levels” guidelines, however, are just recommendations. Most of the state has been under “low” or “medium” risk for weeks; in those counties it was considered safe for healthy people to remain maskless.

Most states have no counties with “high” risk counties, except most of New England, New Jersey and Delaware and a few other states.

On Friday the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported that 1,003 hospital patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.

That’s an increase of 127 from Wednesday and 256 in a week, the largest weekly increase since COVID-19 hospitalizations began to rise in the second week of April.

Though many of the hospitalizations are in southeast Michigan, they are rising elsewhere, having doubled in the Upper Peninsula (from 11 to 22) and in northern Michigan (from 21 to 44) in the past week. West Michigan hospitals saw COVID-19 patients increase from 66 to 108 in the past week.

As hospitalizations have increased, so too have deaths. In April, Michigan’s hospitals reported an average of two deaths a day. So far in May the average has been five a day. In January, however, the state’s hospitals reported an average of 56 daily COVID-19 deaths, according to CDC data analyzed by Bridge Michigan.

As of Friday, 5.4 percent of Michigan’s hospital beds were occupied by COVID-19-positive patients, up from 2.9 percent a month ago. At the peak of the omicron surge in January, more than a quarter of all beds were occupied by COVID-19-positive patients. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, May 11

COVID cases jump 44 percent

COVID-19 continues to surge in Michigan, as confirmed cases jumped 44 percent over the past week to 23,166, according to data released Wednesday.

Among the state’s more populous counties, the biggest jumps were in Kent, (up 67 percent to 1,316), Ingam (51 percent to 1,316), Macomb (48 percent to 2,632) and suburban Wayne (43 percent to 3,855)

The surge, which began six weeks ago, has led to increases in hospitalizations and deaths but not as dramatic as previous surges. As of Wednesday there were 903 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 being treated, up from 876 on Monday and 737 a week ago.

Brian Peters, the CEO of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, told Bridge Michigan that a significant portion of hospitalized cases involve patients who came in for other treatments. All patients are tested regardless of symptoms.

Over the past week, the state reported 66 more confirmed COVID-19 deaths, up from 52 the previous week.

Since the first omicron wave hit in mid-December, COVID-19 deaths have plummeted. There were 2,870 in January, 1,499 in February, 546 in March and 238 in April. So far in May there have been 41.

Peters said the lower death toll can be attributed to the less-lethal nature of the current variants and increased immunity accrued from vaccinations and prior infections. There are also now more widely distributed therapies for COVID-19.

The percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive hit 16 percent over the past week — traditionally a rate that indicates widespread infections and which, in the past, led to far more hospitalizations and deaths.

In February, when the positive rate was similarly high but falling, there were over 2,000 people being treated for COVID-19. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, May 9

Hospitalizations jump to 876

COVID-19 hospitalizations rose to 876 statewide on Monday, up from 774 on Friday and 729 a week ago, according to newly released Michigan numbers.

Most of the increase is in hospitals in six counties in southeast Michigan. The COVID-19 patient census in those counties — Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Monroe — increased from 490 to 557 between Friday and Monday.

Although Michigan only reports updated data on cases and deaths on Wednesdays, it has continued to report hospitalization numbers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

COVID-19 hospitalizations also increased to 88 from 79 in the region that includes the Thumb, Bay City and Lake Huron shoreline counties and to 74 from 66 in west Michigan

The increase in hospitalizations has been slow but steady for about a month after hitting 470 on April 6 at the end of the initial omicron surge.

New variants of omicron have driven the latest increase but the overall impact has been muted in terms of hospitalizations. During the delta surge last fall, hospitalizations rose quickly, an indication that omicron, though worrisome for those with health conditions, has led to less severe illnesses.

Because of rising hospitalizations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified Grand Traverse County as a “high” risk county, the only one in Michigan.

The risk levels suggest masking recommendations; healthy people in counties at medium or low risk can remain safe without wearing masks in most settings.

But the “high” risk category includes a recommendation for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a well-fitting mask in most indoor settings. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, May 6

COVID cases jump 32 percent

The number of new COVID-19 cases rose 32 percent this week, with Michigan reporting 16,084 weekly confirmed cases Wednesday, up from 12,174 the week before.

The case count has risen by more than 30 percent in each of the last four weeks as the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive is 12.4 percent over the past week, up from 9.3 percent a week ago.

But as case rates have risen, the number of COVID-19 deaths has declined. The state reported 52 new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, down from 68 a week ago and 77 in the preceding week.

The increased spread of new coronavirus cases has led to an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, but it has been a more modest increase compared to prior surges.

There are now 737 COVID-19 patients in Michigan, up from 729 on Monday and 634 a week ago and 487 a month ago.

Last August, when new COVID-19 cases rose like they have in the past month, hospitalizations tripled from 400 to more than 1,200 in four weeks. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, May 2

Positivity rate hits 10 percent

The percent of positive coronavirus tests in Michigan was at 10 percent over the past week, up from 8 percent the previous week.

Michigan has the fifth-highest positive rate in the country, behind Florida (10.9 percent), Nevada (10.8), Hawaii (10.4) and Utah (10.4), according to data compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rising rates have led to more cases and an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations with 729 in Michigan on Monday, up from 714 on Friday and 624 last Monday.

At the peak of the omicron wave, there were 5,009 COVID-19 patients being treated statewide on Jan. 10.

Last fall, when weekly positive test rates first hit 10 percent, there were more than 1,800 COVID-19 patients statewide, far more than are now being treated. That's an indication of the reduced severity of the omicron variant and the sub-variants it has spawned.

More thorough data will be available on Wednesday, when Michigan releases weekly tallies on cases and deaths. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, April 29

Hospitalizations climb past 700

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 rose to more than 700 patients statewide on Friday, a 23 percent increase in a week.

Hospitals are now treating 714 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 634 on Wednesday and 580 a week ago. The last time the patient count was over 700 was on March 14, when it was 729.

The increase in COVID-19 patients comes as infection rates in the state have risen for four weeks but remain well below the peak of just over 5,000 on Jan. 10.

Most of the increase in COVID-19 patients was reported in the hospitals in the six counties of metro Detroit. Those hospitals saw hospitalizations rise 103, from 369 to 472, a 28 percent increase.

Hospitalizations in west Michigan increased 52 percent from 46 to 70.

The rise is also reflected in new “community risk” assessments from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which estimates the COVID-19 risk in counties based on hospitalizations and case rates.

Michigan now has 12 counties at “moderate” risk, up from four a week ago. One of the new “moderate risk” counties is Oakland, the state’s second-most populous. Ten counties in northwest and northeast parts of the lower peninsula are also considered “moderate risk.”

In counties with “low” or “moderate” risk, the CDC suggests healthy people can remain maskless in indoor settings but warns that those at higher risk, including the elderly, may want to continue wearing facial coverings.

Michigan only releases detailed case count and COVID-19 death information on Wednesdays. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, April 27

Cases jump for 4th straight week

COVID-19 cases rose for the fourth consecutive week, up nearly 40 percent to 12,174 Wednesday, from the 8,753 cases reported a week ago.

Michigan is averaging 1,739 cases a day, up from 1,246 a week ago. At the peak of the omicron surge, the daily average was above 17,000 in mid-January.

The weekly cases have risen from 4,876 for the week ending April 6, to 6,651 the following week to 8,753 last week.

The state also reported 58 additional COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, up from 68 the previous week and 77 the week before that.

Cases are increasing fastest in metro Detroit, with case rates highest in Washtenaw (35 daily cases per 100,000), Oakland (28), Wayne (25), Macomb (23) and Detroit (23 cases per day per 100,000). Those rates are all higher than they were a week before.

Statewide, hospitalizations are up to 634 from 532 a week ago. Some of those patients, experts said, were admitted for other ailments and were discovered to have COVID-19.

The percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive rose to 8.8 percent over the past week, up from 7.2 percent the previous week. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, April 20

Hospitalizations top 600

Michigan’s hospitals were treating 624 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 as of Monday, the first time over 600 since March 18, when there were also 624.

Although the state is only reporting new cases and deaths on Wednesdays, it continues to update COVID-19 hospitalizations three times a week. They have slowly increased since April 13, when there were 513.

Almost all of the growth in COVID-19 patients has been reported in hospitals in the six counties of metro Detroit.

Because of a technical problem the state had not reported updated hospital numbers since Wednesday.

Since then, the number of patients has risen from 532 to 624, and 88 of the 92-patient increase occurred in metro Detroit.

On Jan. 10, Michigan hospitals were treating 5,009 COVID-19 patients.

Case counts are slowly rising in Michigan and the nation but increases in hospitalizations have tended to lag behind.

The latest testing data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and analyzed by Bridge Michigan shows that 7.8 percent of coronavirus tests were positive in the week ending on Friday, up from 6.3 percent the previous week.

That is the tenth highest rate in the nation; Michigan’s rate was eighth highest the previous week. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, April 22

1,246 cases per day on average

Michigan on Friday reported 8,723 COVID cases in the past week, or 1,246 per day, a 31 percent increase from the previous week and 56 percent more than two weeks ago.

Caseloads are up in 44 of the state’s 83 counties, but overall infection rates remain low, an average of 12 daily cases per 100,000 people. At the peak of the omicron wave, the rate was 170 cases per 100,000 people.

The state also reported 68 additional confirmed COVID-19 deaths over the past week, or roughly 10 per day. There were an average of 11 daily COVID-19 deaths the week before.

Only two counties have case rates above 20 per 100,000 residents: Washtenaw County (33 of 100,00) and Oakland County (21 of 100,00).

The latest testing data shows the percentage of positive coronavirus tests is now at 7.2 percent, up from 5.5 percent a week ago.

The last time cases and testing rates rose this fast, last July and into August, hospitalizations doubled in less than two weeks to over 900 COVID-19 patients.

As of Wednesday, though, statewide hospitalizations have increased to 532 from 478 on March 30 — an indication that widespread vaccinations, natural immunity and an apparently weaker strain of the virus are contributing to fewer serious illnesses. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, April 13

Infections jump 36 percent

The average number of COVID-19 infections jumped nearly 36 percent in the past week in Michigan, averaging 950 confirmed cases per day as of Wednesday, up from 697 a week ago.

Over the past week, there have been 6,651 confirmed infections, compared to 4,876 the prior week.

The rate of cases is 10 per 100,000 residents, still low compared to a high of 170 in mid-January. The rate of new cases is rising fastest in metro Detroit and is climbing in 46 of the state’s 83 counties.

Despite the increase, hospitalizations remain relatively steady. There are now 496 patients statewide, compared to 511 on Monday and 470 a week ago.

The increase may be attributable to an omicron subvariant, BA.2, which is considered more transmissible than omicron but also less likely to result in severe illness.

Still, for the unvaccinated, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, COVID-19 continues to pose a serious health risk.

The state also reported 77 additional confirmed COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, or an average of 11 per day over the past week.

Since the initial omicron wave peaked, average daily deaths have plummeted. The state was averaging nearly 100 daily COVID-19 deaths in mid-January, falling to less than 10 by April 1.

The rise in cases corresponds as well with an increase in the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive. Over the past week, 5.4 percent of tests were positive, compared to 4.7 percent a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, April 11

Hospitalizations up a hair

The number of patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 rose Monday to 511, the first time above 500 since March 28.

Patient volumes have fallen since the omicron wave peaked in mid-January at just over 5,000, but there has been a small increase since hitting a recent low of 473 on April 1, according to data released Monday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Michigan is reporting case, death and testing data only on Wednesdays. It is continuing to release hospital data three days a week.

Federal hospital data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which measures daily admissions for COVID-19 among other indicators, shows a slight rise in the average of daily COVID-19 admissions. Over the past week, the state’s hospitals are admitting an average of 84 new patients a day with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from the mid-70s at the beginning of April.

In mid-January, the average was over 600 a day, according to the CDC data analyzed by Bridge Michigan.

Testing compiled by the CDC shows that the percentage of positive coronavirus tests has remained flat, averaging 4.3 percent of all tests, nearly identical to the 4.2 percent of the week before. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, April 6

Spring break travel may be to blame for uptick

Washtenaw County officials say an increase in COVID-19 cases may be tied to travel by college students over spring break.

The county is reporting 24 new cases per 100,000 over the past week, up from 15 the previous week. None of the more populous counties has a rate above 10 per 100,000.

Washtenaw reported 203 cases on Wednesday and an average of 90 per day over the past week, up from an average of 57 daily cases.

“We are definitely seeing a bit of an increase,” said Susan Ringler Cerniglia, spokesperson for the county health department.

Both the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University have recently gone on break, she said.

Statewide, Michigan public health officials reported 3,215 new confirmed infections since Friday, an average of 643 per day. The state is now only going to report cases and deaths on Wednesday.

The new cases pushed the seven-day average to 697 cases per day, up from 638 on Friday. Overall the rate of new cases has largely stayed between 600 and 800 for a month.

The percent of new coronavirus tests coming back positive has been rising and on Wednesday it stood at 4.7 percent for the past week, up from 4.4 percent on Friday. Data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, analyzed by Bridge Michigan, shows Michigan with the third-highest rate in the country.

Experts are keeping a close watch on case counts with the emergency of the BA.2 subvariant of the omicron variant. Like omicron, is less likely to cause serious illness but it is more transmissible and has been linked with surges in Europe and Asia. It now accounts for over 70 percent of new cases in the United States and has been found in cases throughout Michigan.

The state also reported an additional 70 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, or an average of 14 for each of the past five days.

The number of patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 went down on Wednesday, to 470. It had risen to 497 on Monday up from 473 on Friday. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, April 5

Hospitalizations up for first time since January

The number of hospitalized patients in Michigan with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 rose Monday for the first time since mid-January, with 497 now being treated statewide.

It’s a small increase of 24 since Friday but represents the first increase since the state reported a far higher number — 4,918 patients — during a virus surge on Jan. 14.

Increases in hospitalizations were reported Monday in six of the state’s eight “emergency preparedness” regions, though the rise in two of the regions (northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula) were by a single patient each.

Patient counts in west Michigan increased from 66 to 77, in central Michigan from 32 to 42, in east-central Michigan (which includes the Thumb and Lake Huron shoreline) from from 34 to 41 and southwestern Michigan from 40 to 46.

Combined, the two regions in metro Detroit fell by 12, from 265 to 253 COVID-19 patients.

Overall, the rate of new COVID-19 infections have remained low for over a week, though the percentage of recorded coronavirus tests coming back positive has risen in the past two weeks.

More COVID information from the state will be available Wednesday when the latest data comes out. Just this week, Michigan switched from thrice weekly postings of COVID cases, deaths and testing to releasing the data only once a week. That data will now come out on Wednesdays.

In other COVID news, Michiganders on Medicare Part B, which covers medical costs, can now get up to eight free at-home COVID tests each month at participating pharmacies, including Michigan’s 260 Rite Aid locations and participating CVS, Walgreens, Kroger and Costco pharmacies.

Beneficiaries should bring their Medicare card. The free tests add to the ongoing effort by the Biden administration to make testing easily available as a way to track and stop the spread of COVID-19.

Michiganders also can still receive free at-home COVID tests at 70 Michigan libraries. Testing remains free at sites throughout the state as well. (Find testing locations here and here.) — Mike Wilkinson and Robin Erb

Friday, April 1

Positive test rate for COVID rises again

The percent of recorded COVID-19 tests coming back positive has risen in the past 10 days, including 5.1 percent coming back positive over the most recent two days, the state reported Friday.

The overall rate remains relatively low, 4.4 percent over the past week, but that’s up from 3.4 percent a week ago.

Overall new cases remain relatively low, with the state reporting 1,661 new cases Friday, an average of 830 for both Thursday and Friday. That put the seven-day rate at 638 daily cases, up slightly from Wednesday’s weekly rate of 626 daily cases.

Case counts have begun to rise in some states, including parts of New England, as experts suspect the more transmissible BA.2 subvariant of omicron gains hold. The subvariant is being blamed for rising cases in Asia and Europe and it has been detected in a growing number of samples in Michigan.

The state also reported 33 additional COVID-19 deaths on Friday, including 27 earlier deaths that were tied to COVID following a review of health and medical records.

The number of patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID remained nearly unchanged, with 473 being treated statewide, down from 478 on Wednesday.

For the first time since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopted a community risk-level model, all counties in Michigan are now considered safe enough that the CDC is not recommending healthy individuals wear masks in indoor settings. Hospital rates in northwestern Michigan have fallen enough that the last six counties with a “high” risk are now considered “medium” risk.

Friday also marks the last day Michigan public health officials will release updated COVID-19 data three days a week. Beginning next week, data will be released only on Wednesdays.

Michigan joins several states in making the move to fewer days of public reporting. Alaska and Missouri recently announced going to weekly reporting. Alaska, like Michigan, has been reporting three days and Missouri five. Indiana, now reporting five days a week, is going to three days, according to the data team at a New York Times list, which it shared this week with Bridge Michigan. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, March 30

New cases remain steady but positive test rate rises

Michigan public health officials reported 1,550 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, or a daily average of 775 for Tuesday and Wednesday.

That put the seven-day rate at 626 daily cases, unchanged from Monday.

However, the percent of recorded coronavirus tests coming back positive inched up on Wednesday, to 4.6 percent over the most recent two days. That increased the weekly rate to 3.7 percent, up from 3.4 percent on Monday.

A lower percentage indicates less community transmission of the disease.

The state also reported 72 additional COVID-19 deaths.

The increase in the percent of positive tests comes as the state has discovered more cases linked to the omicron BA.2 subvariant, considered more transmissible than the initial variant of omicron that hit the state in December, January and February.

As of Monday, 217 cases of the BA.2 subvariant have been confirmed in Michigan, according to state data provided to Bridge Michigan. About 63 percent of them, 137 in all, were confirmed in metro Detroit’s Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties.

Health experts are unsure whether BA.2 could spark another surge. Where it’s most prevalent, in New York and New England, case counts have started to rise but remain relatively low. It has been blamed for sharper increases in several European and Asian countries.

Hospital admissions, now considered a more important barometer of whether restrictions should be adopted, continue to fall. Michigan reported 478 patients statewide with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, the first time below 500 since July 30, when there were 407 COVID-19 patients.

On Jan. 10 there were 5,009 statewide, the most ever during the pandemic.

Michigan officials also announced Wednesday that anyone, including those returning from a spring break vacation, can find free at-home COVID tests at 70 Michigan libraries. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has shipped 24,000 test kits to the libraries, to be offered on a first-come, first-served basis under the expanded program. (Find library locations here.)

Michiganders are asked to limit them to five per household. Testing remains free at sites throughout the state as well. (Find testing locations here and here.) — Mike Wilkinson and Robin Erb

Monday, March 28

State to slow COVID updates as cases ebb

With new COVID-19 infections at their lowest level since July, Michigan health officials announced they will only release updated data once a week starting next Monday, April 4.

The state reported 1,258 new infections Monday, an average of 419 for each of the past three days. That lowers the weekly average to 627 daily cases, down from 651 on Friday.

It’s the lowest weekly average since it was at 603 daily cases on July 31.

The state also reported eight additional COVID-19 deaths.

Lynn Sutfin, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said Monday the decision to pare back reporting aligns with a national shift adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

She also noted that the current pace of updates, now three times a week, “do not inform policy or contribute to the national surveillance program.”

“There has been documented variation in the day-to-day reporting of COVID-19 infections due to behaviors in testing, frequency of reporting from laboratories or providers and case processing,” Sutfin said in an email exchange with Bridge Michigan. “This variation can skew the true trends in disease occurrence.”

The current COVID data has, in key categories, matched earlier patterns. When there were an average of about 600 daily infections in July and August, as there are now, there were similar numbers of patients being treated in Michigan hospitals, about 500.

On Monday there were 510 patients being treated at hospitals across the state for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That’s down 28 from Friday and down nearly 680 from a month ago.

Hospitalizations, rather than case numbers, have become a more reliable measure of the virus’s prevalence in part because many people are taking home tests that are not necessarily reported and, likewise, many positive cases, if they are mild, do not end up in the statewide statistics.

The CDC moved to a new, “community level” model in late February that puts more emphasis on hospital capacity than on case counts. With the change, the CDC has said that a vast majority of the country is now safe enough for healthy people to eschew masks in most settings. Only six northern Michigan counties fall into the “high-risk” category where indoor masking is recommended but not mandated.

Previously, CDC guidelines would have labeled far more of the state and nation as at “high risk” based on similar case counts. But with a smaller proportion of those infected requiring hospitalization, in part because the omicron variant is causing less severe illness, the CDC has turned to hospital capacity as a better metric.

Since the omicron-fueled surge peaked on Jan. 19, when the state was averaging nearly 17,600 new cases a day, infections have been falling fast and deaths began falling a few weeks later, around Feb. 1.

The state also reported Monday that 3.4 percent of recorded coronavirus tests over the past week have come back positive, the same rate as on Friday. A lower percentage is an indicator of limited community spread of the virus. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, March 25

Cases, positive rates remain low

Michigan continues to emerge from the omicron wave of COVID-19 cases, with hospitals treating fewer COVID-19 patients and fewer, on average, new cases.

The state reported 1,575 new cases, or an average of 788 for Thursday and Friday. That lowered the average daily rate to 651 cases over the past week. It’s the lowest daily average since Aug. 1 when the average was 633 cases.

The percent of recorded COVID tests that came back positive in the state also fell substantially, with 3.2 percent of 46,000 tests over the most recent two days coming back positive and the weekly rate falling to 3.4 percent on Friday, down from 4.7 percent on Wednesday. A low positivity rate is a sign of low community transmission of the disease.

The state reported there are now 538 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 being treated in the state’s hospitals, down from 565 on Wednesday.

The state also reported 38 more deaths linked to COVID-19, including 35 in March and two in February. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, March 23

Michigan’s COVID-19 cases, positive tests remain stable

The steep and nearly constant drop in COVID-19 cases has slowed in Michigan, with the state reporting 1,558 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, leaving the seven-day rate nearly unchanged.

New cases averaged 779 for both Tuesday or Wednesday, putting the weekly average at 822 daily cases, up slightly from Monday’s average of 819 cases.

Over the past three weeks, the average has bounced between 675 and 830 every day after falling sharply from an all-time high average of 17,589 daily cases on Jan. 19. The current averages are the lowest the state has reported since August.

As cases have fallen, the number of people hospitalized for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 has dropped too and stood at 565 on Wednesday, down 30 from Monday and from 1,579 a month ago.

The percent of new coronavirus tests coming back positive — 3.3 percent over the two most recent days — stands at 4.7 percent over the past week, identical to the weekly rate over the past six days. That also includes, however, 825 old tests put into the system Friday, hundreds of which were from January and February.

A lower test positivity rate — the state’s goal is to be at or below 3 percent — is indicative of limited community spread of the virus.

The state also reported 95 additional COVID-19 deaths, 86 of which came after a review of medical and health records of earlier deaths. Of those, 71 occurred in March, 21 in February, one in January and two in December. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, March 21

Fewer than 500 new cases a day

Michigan reported 1,423 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, or an average of 474 cases a day on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

That put the seven-day average at 811 daily cases, nearly unchanged from Friday’s average of 819 cases. The state was averaging just over 1,500 daily cases a month ago.

The state also reported Monday eight additional COVID-19 deaths.

Michigan hospitals also continue to treat fewer COVID patients, with 595 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 currently admitted. It’s the first time the patient count fell below 600 since it stood at 513 patients early last August.

Over the most recent three days of testing, 3.7 percent of the more than 49,500 COVID tests recorded by the state came back positive, just above the 3 percent target set by the state as an indicator of low community spread of the disease. A month ago the average was over 8 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, March 18

2,770 new cases, 50 more deaths in Michigan

Michigan reported 2,770 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, including 825 old backlogged cases.

Without the older cases, the state averaged 972 new cases for both Thursday and Friday, or 1,385 with them.

The state also reported 50 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 35 that followed a review of health and medical records.

Because of the backlogged cases, the percent of positive tests over the past two days was 6.7 percent, well above the 3.3 percent averaged over the past week. It’s unclear when the backlogged cases actually occurred.

The state’s 164 hospitals reported treating 624 patients who have confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down from 690 on Wednesday.

It appears many of the backlogged cases came from metro Detroit, with Detroit reporting 680 cases, nearly seven times more than the 102 reported on Wednesday.

There were 489 new cases in suburban Wayne County, up from 219 on Wednesday and case counts were elevated in Oakland, Washtenaw and Macomb counties as well.

The state said the 825 cases were from a “backlog of previously unreported historic test results received and processed” on March 17. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, March 16

Michigan reports 1,540 cases

Michigan reported 1,540 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, or an average of 770 for Tuesday and Wednesday, lowering the seven-day average to 675 daily cases.

The percent of tests coming back positive was 3.3 percent over the most recent two days and over the past week, pushing the state closer to its target of 3 percent, which is a sign of low community transmission of the virus.

The state also reported 118 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 107 that followed a review of health and medical records. Two of the deaths occurred in December, five in January, 57 in February and 53 in March.

The state’s 164 hospitals are treating 690 people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, the first time below 700 since Aug. 6 when it was 600.

The daily case rate is falling in most of Michigan. However, Detroit has had an uptick in cases, reporting an average of 49 cases per day — or 8 cases per 100,000, over the past week, up from 30 daily cases or 5 cases per 100,000 in the previous week.

That’s far below the 1,200 daily cases (225 cases per 100,000) the city was experiencing in early January when it was the first area in Michigan to get slammed by the omicron variant.

But the increasing count mirrors what some western European countries have experienced as a subvariant of omicron is blamed on rising caseloads in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and other countries. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, March 16

1,365 cases over past three days

Michigan reported 1,365 new COVID-19 cases over the past three days on Monday, or an average of 455 per day, lowering the seven-day average to 703, down from 745 on Friday.

The state also reported 24 additional COVID-19 deaths.

The percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive fell to 3.4 percent over the past week, and 3.7 percent over the most recent three days. A month ago, the rate was 11.5 percent. A lower percent positive rate indicates less community spread of the virus.

There are now 729 patients being treated in Michigan hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down from 772 on Friday.

The average rate of cases and the number of COVID-19 hospital patients are the lowest since reported early August. The last time the positive test rate was lower was July 20 when it was 3.3 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, March 11

Only 6 counties remain high-risk

Only six of 83 Michigan counties remain in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of high-risk counties where mask usage is still recommended, according to new data released Thursday.

Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Presque Isle, St. Clair and Sanilac are listed as having high risk levels under the CDC’s new community risk guidelines. Those counties are home to 261,000 people, or 2.6 percent of the state’s population.

A week ago, 17 counties were in the high-risk category. Healthy residents in counties with low and median risk can safely go maskless in indoor settings, according to the federal agency.

The change is a reflection of a largely statewide reduction in new COVID-19 cases and fewer COVID-19 patients in the state’s 164 hospitals.

On Friday, the state reported 1,819 new COVID-19 cases over the past two days, a daily average of 910. The seven-day average fell to 745 daily cases, down from 748 on Wednesday.

The state also reported 772 patients are hospitalized for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down from 832 on Wednesday. The last time it was lower was on Aug. 9, when there were 752 COVID-19 patients.

Also, the state reported that just 2.9 percent of over 62,100 coronavirus tests taken in the most recent two days came back positive, the lowest rate since July 17-18. The state has made 3 percent the target as a sign of no community transmission of the virus.

The state reported 45 COVID-19 deaths, including 38 of which came from a review of medical and health records of earlier deaths. Of all the deaths, 38 occurred in March and six in February. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, March 9

Positive tests fall below 4 percent

The percent of positive coronavirus tests fell below 4 percent on Wednesday, hitting 3.6 percent for the past two days and 3.7 percent over the past week, levels that suggest low community spread.

The state reported 1,739 new cases, or an average of 870 for each of the past two days. The seven-day average fell to 748 daily cases, down from 800 on Monday.

The state also reported 240 COVID-19 deaths, 220 of which came from a review of medical and health records of earlier deaths. Of the earlier deaths, three were in December, 35 in January, 144 in February and 58 this month.

The number of hospitalized patients in Michigan with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 fell to 832, down from 875 on Monday. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, March 7

Seven-day daily average down to 800 cases

Michigan reported 1,656 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, or an average of 552 over each of the past three days, as well as 16 deaths.

That lowered the seven-day average to 800 cases a day, down from 830 on Friday. It was at 5,500 daily cases a month ago.

There are now 875 patients in Michigan hospitals being treated for confirmed and suspected COVID-19, down from 972 on Friday. The last time there were fewer was Aug. 11 when there were 859 COVID-19 patients.

Over the most recent three days of coronavirus testing, 4.4 percent of 50,459 tests were positive. Over the past week the rate is 4 percent, above the 3 percent target to indicate no community transmission. But two weeks ago the rate was nearly 8 percent and it was 19 percent a month ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, March 4

Daily cases below 1,000

For the first time since Aug. 7, the average daily count of new COVID-19 cases has fallen below 1,000.

The state reported Friday 1,842 new cases over the past two days, an average of 921 per day. The weekly daily average now stands at 830 new cases.

Case rates have plummeted since mid-January when the state was averaging over 17,000 daily cases as the omicron variant swept the state.

In addition to falling cases, fewer people seeking tests are getting positive results, an indication of slowing community spread. Of more than 62,000 tests reported the past two days, just 3.3 percent were positive — approaching the level (3 percent) the state has considered the threshold for no community-wide spread of the virus.

The state also reported Friday 68 additional COVID-19 deaths. In January the state averaged 91 COVID-19 deaths a day — but 39 per day since.

The state’s hospitals reported fewer than 1,000 patients for the first time since Aug. 18, when there were 944. On Friday there were 972 patients being treated with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, March 2

2,105 new cases in past 2 days; positive rate below 4%

Michigan on Tuessday reported its lowest rate of positive COVID tests since July 21, 3.8 percent out of 29,504 tests.

That brings the rate in the past week down to 6 percent, another indication of the swift decline in cases. It was 8 percent a week ago and 21.4 percent a month ago.

The state reported 2,105 new cases on Wednesday, or 1,052 for each of the past two days.

The seven-day daily average fell to 1,012 from 1,050 on Monday.

There are now 1,092 patients in Michigan hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down from 1,188 on Monday. A month ago there were 3,202.

The state also reported 233 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 207 that came after a review of medical and health records. Of those, 174 were in February, 48 in January and five in March. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Feb. 28

Average of 620 cases per day over past 3 days

Michigan reported 1,860 new COVID-19 infections on Monday, an average of 620 a day for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

That’s the fewest the state has reported since 440 daily cases were reported for July 24 to July 26.

The drop in cases mirrors a drop in the positive test rate, with the state reporting 6 percent of 49,300 tests over the past three days coming back positive — rates similarly not reported since late July. A month ago it was 26 percent.

The state also reported just 26 COVID-19 deaths, though Monday reports typically are lower. There have been 987 reported COVID-19 deaths in February, well below the 2,780 that occurred in January.

The drop in cases is statewide but profound in Detroit, which reported more than 225 cases every day for every 100,000 residents — by far the highest in the state.

On Monday, the weekly average in Detroit was 6 cases per 100,000.

The steady drop in new cases have prompted government leaders at the national, state and local level to relax pandemic recommendations, including on indoor mask usage.

Based on the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, masks are optional for most healthy people in 66 of the state’s 83 counties, including the state’s most populous ones.

One of the big factors for those changes has been hospital capacity and the state reported that there are now 1,188 patients statewide being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19.

That’s a drop of 1,048 patients in just the past two weeks and over 2,200 fewer than a month ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Feb. 25

1,560 cases per day

Michigan reported 3,120 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, or 1,560 for each of the past two days.

That pushed the seven-day daily average down to 1,293 cases, down from 1,925 a week ago.

Case counts have fallen markedly in the past month as the surge from the omicron variant subsides. Average daily cases fell 632 in the past week, nearly 1,400 the week before and over 3,800 daily cases two weeks ago.

The state also reported 96 additional COVID-19 deaths. There have now been 964 COVID-19 deaths in February compared to 2,782 in January.

Just over 8 percent of tests in the past week came positive, down from 9.1 percent a week ago. A month ago the rate was 30.5 percent.

The number of people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 fell to 1,337 on Friday, the lowest since it was 1,254 on Sept. 3. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Feb. 24

5,931 cases in 5 days

Michigan reported 5,931 new COVID-19 infections over the past five days on Wednesday, dropping the seven-day average to the lowest point since mid-August.

Over the past week the state has averaged 1,394 cases a day, the lowest since it was 1,339 a day on Aug.18. A month ago the state was averaging nearly 16,000 cases a day.

But the state also reported 312 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 250 that came after a review of health and medical records. Of all the reported deaths, 227 occurred in February and 73 in January.

There have now been 878 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in February over 23 days. In January there were 2,774.

The percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive fell again, with 7.7 percent of the tests over the past week coming back positive. That rate was 9.8 percent last Friday and 31 percent a month ago.

The number of patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 fell as well, down to 1,657 on Wednesday. There were 1,745 patients a week ago and just over 4,200 a month ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Feb. 18

Another big drop in cases, down to 3,827 in past two days

Michigan on Friday reported 3,827 new COVID-19 infections over the last two days, lowering the seven-day rate to 1,925 daily cases, the lowest since Sept. 8.

A week ago, the average daily rate was 3,306, while a month ago, it was 17,164 daily cases. Michigan has followed the trend elsewhere with a steep spike in cases and then an equally steep decline.

The state also reported 112 COVID-19 deaths on Friday.

The falling case count comes as the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive fell to 6.8 percent over the most recent two days, down from over 30 percent just over three weeks ago.

And far fewer are even seeking tests, another sign of the lower spread of the disease: Over the past week, nearly 191,400 tests were administered. That compares to over 500,000 in the week of Jan. 15.

As case counts have fallen, policy makers have made changes, removing school mask mandates in 10 counties as the state rescinded its recommendation for people to wear masks in most indoor settings. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Feb. 17

Wayne County lifts school mask mandate

Wayne County has lifted its health order requiring masks in indoor settings, including those in schools, but students in Detroit will likely continue to be under a mask order for another month or more.

According to a brief, five-line announcement from the Wayne County Health, Human & Veteran Services Thursday, Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Avani Sheth, rescinded an August order that included a school mask mandate, effective at 8 a.m. Thursday. The office covers all of Wayne County except the city of Detroit.

Wayne’s decision came a day after the state relaxed its mask recommendation, citing the slowing spread of COVID. For the first time in four months, the number of hospitalized patients in Michigan with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 this week fell below 2,000.

Michigan’s remaining county-wide school mask mandates, including those in Oakland and Washtenaw counties, expire at the end of this month, although schools may set their own mask requirements. Meanwhile, the CDC is poised to update its mask guidance.

But even as Wayne County rescinded its order, Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti reaffirmed that the district’s mask mandate will continue in a statement Thursday.

School district and Detroit city health leaders agree that lifting the mask order “will occur a little later than other school districts due to the city’s lower vaccination rates and higher transmission rates,” Vitti said in the statement.

Additionally, not all students will consent to testing, and there is concern of “another surge after spring break.”

“Once those obstacles are cleared, we would consider lifting the mask requirement,” he continued.

That likely will happen as early as mid-March, Vitti said.

Meanwhile, the CDC is poised to update its mask guidance. — Robin Erb

Wednesday, Feb. 16

Hospitalizations below 2,000 for first time since October

The number of patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Wednesday fell below 2,000 for the first time since Oct. 8 as the omicron wave continues to recede.

The state reported 1,967 COVID-19 patients statewide, the fewest since 1,971 on Oct. 8. On Jan. 10, there were 5,009 COVID-19 patients statewide.

The state also reported that 9.6 percent of all tests in the past two days were positive, the first time below 10 percent since the end of September. It was over 30 percent for three straight weeks beginning on Dec. 31.

There were 4,271 new infections reported Wednesday, or 2,136 for each of the past two days. That again lowered the daily rate to 2,195 over the past week, down from 3,600 a week ago.

Health officials also reported an additional 312 COVID-19 deaths, including 274 that came after a review of health and medical records. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Feb. 14

Daily cases dip below 3,000

The daily average of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Michigan fell below 3,000 on Monday for the first time since late September.

The state reported 5,380 new infections since Friday, or 1,793 per day for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. That lowered the seven-day average to 2,660. It was last below 3,000 on Sept. 29, when it was 2,941.

By every metric the state provides, the news is positive: Fewer people are seeking coronavirus tests and far fewer are coming back positive. Case rates are down across the entire state and hospitals again saw the number of COVID-19 patients fall.

There are now 2,236 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down 207 from Friday and just 370 in intensive-care units. That number was 435 on Friday and during the height of the omicron surge it was above 800 in early January.

Overall, 11.5 percent of coronavirus tests in the past week came back positive, down from 14.6 percent on Friday and 18.5 percent a week ago. That’s coupled with a plummet in testing demand: Over the past week, 204,000 tests were reported, down from 500,000 per week four weeks ago.

The state also reported an additional 60 COVID-19 deaths on Monday. There have been 360 so far in February, or 26 a day. In January, the fourth deadliest month of the pandemic, there were 2,578 deaths, or 83 per day. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Feb. 11

COVID-19 cases continue sharp drop

Michigan’s rate of new COVID-19 infections continues to plummet, falling to levels not seen since October.

The state reported 5,716 new infections Friday, or 2,858 for the past two days. That puts the seven-day daily average at 3,306, the lowest since it was 3,264 on Oct. 26.

All but one county, Benzie, is experiencing falling rates, and Detroit is now averaging 125 new cases a day, less than one-tenth the 1,348 it was averaging on Jan. 5, just over a month ago.

The drop coincides with a similar decline in the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive. Over the most recent two days of reports, 10.6 percent of just over 74,200 tests came back positive. The last time it was lower was in mid-October.

Public health officials in a number of counties this week cited the falling case counts and test positivity levels as they began rescinding school mask mandates in the coming weeks.

Deaths, which lag actual infections by weeks, continue to mount, however, and the state reported 152 additional COVID-19 deaths. Of those 40 were in January and 102 in February.

The state’s hospitals are now treating 2,443 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, fully half what was being treated on Jan. 10 — when the state hit its peak of 5,009.

The COVID-19 patient census has fallen steadily since then and Friday’s county was 152 fewer than Wednesday and 509 less than a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Feb. 11

Vaccine for youngest Michiganders on pause

In a major reversal, federal consideration of the first COVID vaccine for children as young as six months old has stalled, at least until April.

Drugmaker Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this month to authorize the first two doses of what the companies said likely would be a three-dose vaccine for children 6 months through 4 years old. The FDA’s advisory committee was scheduled to meet Tuesday to weigh the request for the first two doses.

But on Friday, the drug companies announced they will pause pushing forward on approval until they collect more data to support a three-dose regimen. A three-dose series — rather than two — is likely to “provide a higher level of protection in this age group,” they said in a joint statement.

Each dose of the vaccine for children under 5 is one-tenth of a single dose for adults. Three-dose data should be available in early April, the companies said. - Robin Erb

Wednesday, Feb. 9

Omicron wave continues drop with report of 7,500 cases

Michigan reported 7,527 new COVID-19 infections Wednesday, or 3,764 for each of the past two days, dramatically lowering the seven-day average.

Just 22 days after hitting a peak of an average of nearly 17,600 cases a day, the state is now averaging 3,890 daily cases as rates decline in all counties except Iosco.

In Detroit, the city hardest hit by omicron in the state, the rate of new cases is now 21 cases per 100,000, down from 81 a week ago and a high of 232 daily cases on Jan. 5.

But the death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise: The state reported 330 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 194 in January and 125 in February.

Hospitalizations continued to fall, with the state reporting 2,595 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down from 2,708 on Monday.

The drop comes as the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive over the past week fell below 19 percent — now 17.2 percent — for the first time since it was 18.4 percent on Dec. 23. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Feb. 7

Hospitalizations falling fast

Michigan hospitals continue to see a marked decline in the number of COVID-19 patients they are treating, with metro Detroit hospitals reporting the biggest drop.

The state reported Monday that hospitals statewide are treating 2,708 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down from 2,952 on Friday and from 5,009 on Jan. 10.

In the six counties of metro Detroit, hospitals are treating 1,255 COVID-19 patients, a fall of nearly 1,000 patients in just two weeks. They were treating 2,224 such patients on Jan. 24.

The state also reported 9,898 new infections on Monday, or 3,300 a day. The state’s positive testing rate is now below 20 percent, still very high, but a huge step forward in the rate of community spread.

Overall, the number of cases has fallen steadily since Jan. 19, when the state was averaging just over 17,500 cases a day. The current average is 5,501, though it’s likely higher because of the apparent unreported tests.

The state reported an additional 38 COVID-19 deaths on Monday. So far in 2022, 2,425 COVID-19 deaths have been recorded among the 30,417 total since the pandemic began. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Feb. 4

Michigan surpasses 2 million COVID cases

COVID-19 hospitalizations fell below 3,000 for the first time since mid-November on Friday, the same day Michigan surpassed 2 million infections from the virus since the pandemic started.

Hospitalizations dropped to 2,952, the least since Nov. 12, while 9,805 new cases over the past two days pushed the state’s case tally to 2,009,221 since March 2020.

The 4,903 new case average over the past two days is the lowest since Dec. 20.

The drop follows a steady decline in omicron cases since a mid-January eaj, where the state was averaging 17,500 daily infections. The seven-day average is now 7,122.

The steep decrease Friday, however, may be more pronounced because fewer people were tested this week, perhaps because of recent snowstorms. There were 26,230 tests Thursday, far below the 40,000 daily average last week. Overall, 18.4 percent of the last two days tests were positive.

The state also reported 209 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 155 that came after a review of medical and health records. That included 177 in January, which is now the fourth deadliest month for COVID-19, with 2,322 confirmed deaths.

Only April 2020 (3,738), December 2020 (3,333) and December 2021 (3,306) had more deaths. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Feb. 2

Death toll passes 30,000

Michigan officials reported 327 new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, pushing the total to 30,170 since the pandemic began in March 2020.

It took 278 days to reach 10,000 deaths, another 251 days to reach 20,000 but just 175 days to reach 30,000 deaths as the delta and omicron variants swept the state.

The toll comes as the current surge fueled by omicron appears to be falling fast. For the first time since Dec. 23, fewer than 20 percent of coronavirus tests came back positive on Monday (17.5 percent) and the overall rate continues to fall.

The state reported an additional 18,803 infections on Wednesday, or 9,402 for the past two days. That lowered the seven-day daily average of new infections to 9,479 cases, the first time under 10,000 since it was 9,210 on Dec. 30.

Prior to the omicron surge, the daily average had never been above 7,654, which it hit on Nov. 19, 2022, during the worst of the delta surge.

All but five of the state’s 83 counties are reporting a drop in average daily infections as the surge continues to wane across most of the state.

The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 fell to 3,202 from 3,423 on Monday, continuing a steady decline since a peak of 5,009 on the Jan. 10. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Jan. 31

New infections drop dramatically

New COVID-19 infections in Michigan fell dramatically over the weekend, with the state reporting 21,242 new cases, or 7,081 for each of the three days.

Although the state has typically reported fewer infections on Mondays, the drop is still substantial. It pushes the seven-day average to 10,711, down from 13,301 on Friday.

The state also reported 65 additional COVID-19 deaths. Last week, the state reported just 36 deaths on Monday but then 379 on Wednesday as additional deaths, coming after a review of medical and health records, were included in the total.

The state is now nearing 2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 30,000 deaths. As of Monday there have been 1.98 million cases and 29,843 confirmed deaths.

Case counts are declining rapidly in Michigan and nationwide, with COVID hospitalizations falling to 262 from Friday to 3,423 patients statewide. On Jan. 10, the state had a peak of 5,009 patients.

Omicron has now been detected in 68 of the state’s 83 counties and has been blamed on the biggest spikes in cases recorded since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Detailed data on testing, cases and deaths was delayed Monday. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Jan. 28

Hospitalizations falling fast

Michigan’s hospitals continue to discharge far more COVID-19 patients than admit them, with 3,685 now being treated as of Friday, down 342 since Wednesday and nearly 800 in the past week.

It’s one of the continued signs that the surge in cases spurred by the more transmissible omicron variant is subsiding.

The state also reported 26,309 new infections on Friday, or 13,155 for Thursday and Friday. That pushed the seven-day average down over 1,000 daily cases, to 13,301 from 14,335 on Wednesday.

That’s still nearly twice as high as the peak of previous surges but it’s well below the recent high of 17,589 on Jan. 19.

In the past 45 days, during which omicron has emerged and surged, the state has reported over 557,000 confirmed infections — nearly 30 percent of the 1.9 million confirmed cases since March 2020.

Case counts are falling in 64 of the state’s 83 counties, a steep reversal from just two weeks ago, when case counts were rising in 69 counties.

The state also reported 173 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 121 determined after a review of medical and health records.

Testing data shows that 24 percent of the nearly 100,000 most recent tests came back positive, a decline from 28 percent on Wednesday. The positive rate over the past week is 27.1 percent, down from 32.4 percent a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Jan. 27

10 million free KN95 masks available

Ten million KN95 masks are being offered for free to Michigan residents to help ward off the omicron variant, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday.

As Bridge Michigan has reported, properly certified KN95 and N95 masks are of higher quality than the cloth and procedure masks that the general public has relied on through nearly two years of the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently urged the public to upgrade to the highest-quality mask they are willing to wear to combat the more transmissible omicron variant.

The masks will be distributed by MDHHS offices, local health departments, Area Agency on Aging offices, Community Action Agencies, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (also known as PACE) sites.

Some agencies will further distribute masks to homeless shelters and other community sites.

Related:

COVID may be here to stay. So much of Michigan is weighing risks, moving on

A list of sites can be found at Michigan.gov/MaskUpMichigan. Michiganders are asked to use websites or social media to find out more rather than calling the sites directly.

In its recent guidance, the CDC acknowledged that N95s generally provide the best protection — but they can also be tricky to fit snugly and protectively over the face, and some complain they are uncomfortable to wear for long periods. So the CDC also recommended well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s.

Additionally, the Biden administration is distributing 400 million N95 masks for free across the nation through CVS, Costco, Meijer, Walgreens, Kroger, Rite Aid, Walmart and Sam's Club sites and others through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. - Robin Erb

Wednesday, Jan. 26

Omicron cases down in metro Detroit, up in much of Michigan

The omicron variant of COVID-19 is shifting its grip on Michigan, as cases fall in metro Detroit and rise in the southwest, central and northern portions of the state.

Michigan reported 27,423 new infections Wednesday, or 13,712 for each of the last two days. That lowered the average daily count to 14,335 over the past week. Monday’s average was 15,332 daily cases, while it was 17,589 a week ago.

Detroit’s rate is now 99 cases per 100,000 residents over the past week, a drop from 149 per 100,000 a week ago. Counts also are falling in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

But they are rising in 36 other counties, including Ingham and Saginaw counties and much of the northern Lower Peninsula.

The state also reported 379 additional COVID-19 deaths, 268 of which were determined after a review of medical and health records. Of the total, 327 were in January.

There have now been 1,627 COVID-19 deaths this year, or an average of 62 per day. In December, the state averaged nearly 106 COVID-19 deaths a day.

Hospitals in the state are treating 4,027 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, down 225 from Monday and down nearly 1,000 from the Jan. 10 peak of 5,009.

Over the most recent two days of testing data, 28 percent of coronavirus tests came back positive. That’s extremely high, but below Monday’s rate of 29 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Jan. 24

Seven-day average at 15,332 cases

Michigan reported 39,372 new COVID-19 infections Monday, or 13,124 for each of the past three days, pushing the seven-day average to 15,332.

That’s more than 1,800 cases fewer than it was last Friday, while COVID-19 hospitalizations fell as well to 4,252 patients down 225 from Friday and 757 fewer than the Jan. 10 peak of 5,009. The biggest drop was in the six counties of metro Detroit.

Likewise, the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive fell to 29 percent over the past three days, the first time below 30 percent since it was also 29 percent on Dec. 30.

Metro Detroit continues to see a drop in the infection rate, with Detroit, Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties all experiencing high numbers of cases but far fewer than a week ago. Detroit is now at 105 cases per day per 100,000, down from 149 a week ago and from 223 on Jan. 5.

Cases are still surging, however, in northern Michigan, particularly in Marquette County, which is experiencing 215 cases per day per 100,000, up from 205 last week.

The state reported 36 additional deaths on Monday, 30 of which occurred in January and the rest in December. It’s the fewest reported since 36 were reported Oct. 11.

So far in January, there have been 1,300 COVID-19 deaths; there were 3,245 in December, the third-deadliest month of the pandemic. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Jan. 21

Omicron rising Up North, declining in metro Detroit

COVID-19 cases spurred by the now widespread omicron variant are subsiding in metro Detroit, the state’s most populous region, but they have begun soaring in northern Michigan, particularly in the Upper Peninsula.

Overall the state reported Friday 33,551 new COVID-19 cases over a two-day period, or an average of 16,776 per day. The state also reported 210 new COVID-19 deaths.

For the first time in weeks, average daily cases fell in Detroit as well as in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, leading to a drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations in those counties that lowered the COVID-19 patient totals statewide.

Detroit is now reporting an average of 122 cases per day per 100,000 people, down from a rate of 159 per 100,000 a week ago and 223 on Jan. 5. The city was one of the first Michigan places to detect omicron.

But now many northern counties are seeing rates rise quickly. In Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula, 358 new cases were reported on Friday, pushing the daily average to 259 cases per 100,000, up from 155 a week ago. Eleven counties are now reporting over 200 cases per day per 100,000, four of them in the Upper Peninsula.

Omicron has been detected in 60 counties across Michigan, though it’s been most common in metro Detroit. It is considered far more transmissible and better able to evade the protection of vaccines and boosters. New studies, though, are showing that people who were vaccinated before contracting omicron are far less likely to require hospitalization.

However, of the 5.5 million people who have been fully vaccinated in Michigan, less than half (2.6 million) have received a booster. Some are still not eligible — including children aged 5 to 11.

The latest testing data released Friday produced some encouraging news: 30.7 percent of Michiganders recently tested for COVID-19 saw their tests come back positive — which is incredibly high, but a drop from 34 percent reported on Wednesday.

There are now 4,477 patients being treated in Michigan hospitals with confirmed or suspected of COVID, also high, but down nearly 300 patients from the 4,774 patients recorded Wednesday.

Almost all of that drop occurred in the hospitals in the six counties of metro Detroit. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Jan. 19

86,009 cases over the past five days, but hospitalizations decline

Michigan public health officials reported 86,009 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, an average of 17,202 for each of the past five days.

The state also reported 501 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 346 which were determined after a review of health and medical records.

The case totals pushed the seven-day daily average to its highest ever, 17,589 per day, up from 15,728 last Friday when numbers were last reported.

The 86,009 infections over five days is more than all cases reported in May, June, July and the first two weeks of August last year. That’s more evidence that the highly transmissible omicron variant — now detected in Detroit and 59 counties, up from 49 counties last Friday — has changed the trajectory of the pandemic.

Case counts are rising in much of the state, with case rates increasing in 73 of the 83 counties, including suburban Wayne County, rates rose to 237,000 cases per 100,000 residents from 185,000 per 100,000 a week earlier.

Detroit, which had the highest rate just over a week ago, is seeing cases rates fall to 149 cases per day per 100,000 residents, down from 169 daily cases per 100,000 residents a week ago.

But as cases mount, there is evidence the omicron variant is triggering less severe health outcomes.

The number of COVID-19-positive patients in Michigan’s hospitals fell to 4,764 on Wednesday from 4,918 on Friday, after hitting a record peak of 5,009 on Jan. 10.

The hospitals in metro Detroit, the region first hit by omicron, reported a drop in COVID-19 patients, as did those in those in Lansing and central Michigan.

Hospital data compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also show that roughly 15 percent of COVID-19 patients are being treated in intensive care units, well below the 30 percent who were being treated in October when the delta variant was predominant.

So far in January, there have been 951 COVID-19 deaths, compared to 3,009 in December, by far the virus' deadliest month in 2021.

The latest testing data was not available on Wednesday. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Jan. 17

Michigan House cancels votes

The Michigan House will not vote this week because of widespread COVID-19 cases and exposure to the virus among staffers and lawmakers, House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Farwell, announced Monday.

In a statement, Wentworth said House committees will still meet at the discretion of the chair. The Legislature is due back this week from holiday break.

“Nobody wants to see COVID get in the way of normal business and delay work on issues that are important to Michigan families,” Wentworth said in a statement. “However, we have nothing on the agenda this week that must be done immediately, and the votes can be rescheduled for next week.”

Last week, Michigan saw the highest daily count of COVID-19 cases in a week, with 18, 557 new cases a day. Since the omicron variant was detected in the state, the daily count has more than doubled.

Wentworth said the House will follow the “most updated recommendations” moving forward.

A spokesperson for the Senate majority leader told Bridge Michigan the Senate plans to be in session to vote as scheduled.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, meanwhile, did not release its regular COVID case counts and hospitalization updates due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Friday, Jan. 14

37,114 cases, 251 deaths

Michigan officials on Friday reported 37,114 cases over the past two days, or 18,557 a day, as well as 251 deaths, including 140 that followed a review of medical and health records.

Since the omicron variant swept into Michigan, the daily case count has more than doubled. Since Jan. 1, there have been 214,875 confirmed cases, nearly equal to the 222,000 in all of December when the delta variant was predominant.

The omicron variant has been detected in Detroit and 49 counties, as of Friday. That’s 17 more counties than were detected a week ago.

Case rates — though still high — appear to be falling in Detroit, which was the first part of the state hit by omicron. For the third consecutive reporting day, case rates there fell, to 159 cases per day per 100,000 residents, down from 223 per 100,000 a week ago.

The statewide rate is now 157 cases per day per 100,000 residents, up from 150 cases per day a week ago.

Case rates are rising in 70 counties, including suburban Wayne County, where the rate is 210 cases per day per 100,000 residents up from 187, Washtenaw County (201 per 100,000 up from 151) and Kalamazoo County (192 per 100,000 up from 176.)

Macomb County’s rate fell to 178 cases per day per 100,000, down from 195 a week ago. Oakland County, the state’s second most populous, fell from 183 a week ago to 180 cases per day per 100,000.

The crush of cases, though, has not spurred a spike in deaths.

In December, over 2,900 died of COVID-19, an average of 94 a day.

Because it can take weeks to determine if a death was related to COVID-19, January’s numbers will rise but so far there’s been an average of 42 COVID-19 deaths a day, or a total of 585.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 rose slightly on Friday, with 4,918 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 4,871 on Wednesday.

For the eighth straight day, the weekly average of positive tests was 33 percent, including 58,600 positive tests in the most recent two days of data. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Jan. 14

28,458 cases, 350 deaths

Michigan reported 28,458 new COVID-19 infections Wednesday or 14,229 for each of the past two days.

That was just below Monday’s average of 14,842 per day, but the tally pushed the seven-day average up to 16,239 from 16,080 on Monday.

The state also reported 350 deaths, including 282 that came following a review of medical and health records.

Testing data showed that 32.8 percent of tests over the most recent two days were positive, and 33.4 percent over the past week, signs that the virus continues to spread widely in the state.

Case rates continue to rise in 79 of the state’s 83 counties, but they fell in Detroit — from 211 cases per day per 100,000 a week ago to 169 per day as of Wednesday.

Detroit was one of the first places the more transmissible omicron variant was detected in the state. It has now been detected in 48 counties in the state, up from 41 on Monday.

The state also reported that 4,871 patients were in Michigan hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That’s down from the 5,009 reported on Monday, then the highest ever reported during the pandemic. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Jan. 10

Hospitalizations top 5,000

Michigan’s hospitals are treating a record 5,009 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, as omicron continues to rip through the state.

Michigan reported another 44,524 cases, or 14,241 for each of the last three days, raising the seven-day average to 16,080 daily cases, the highest ever.

But the state also reported 56 COVID-19 deaths, one of the fewest reported in months and a possible sign that deaths may be slightly declining.

Case counts from the previous surge of the delta variant — considered more lethal than omicron — had been falling in early December before omicron emerged and ignited a new surge that has been the worst yet of the pandemic..

For hospitals, the latest surge has put pressure in two directions: increasing the number of COVID-19 patients — now at a record high 27 percent of all occupied beds — and slamming the staff who are contracting the virus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday that 46 of the state’s 164 hospitals are experiencing critical staffing shortages, up from 44 last week. Both were the highest ever.

Emerging studies show that omicron, though far more transmissible than delta, is causing less severe illnesses. People are getting admitted to the hospital, officials say, but they have fewer severe lung ailments.

It could take a few weeks to determine how many COVID-19 deaths will result from the omicron surge that is now detected in 41 counties, up from 33 on Friday.

The rate of new infections, rising across much of Michigan, fell in Detroit, which was one of the first places hit by the variant. The state’s largest city reported an average of 197 cases per day per 100,000 over the past week. That’s high but lower than the 229 average daily cases per 100,000 of a week ago.

Washtenaw County now has the highest rate of new cases, averaging 215 cases per day per 100,000, up from 143 a week ago. Kalamazoo (206 daily cases per 100,000, up from 115), Macomb (204, up from 178) and Monroe (200, up from 107) are all above 200.

Statewide, the rate is 161 confirmed daily cases per 100,000.

Testing data continues to show among the highest percent positive since the earliest days of the pandemic, with a third of nearly 177,000 tests over the previous three days coming back positive. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Jan. 10

Gilchrist tests positive for COVID

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist announced Sunday night he tested positive for COVID-19 after his 2-year-old daughter experienced symptoms.

Gilchrist said he will be isolated and maintain “a virtual work schedule.”

“The Omicron variant of COVID is very, very contagious,” Gilchrist said in a video posted on Twitter. “At this point, I am not showing symptoms and our daughter's symptoms are improving. We are praying for this to continue to be the case.”

Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced she was going into isolation after her husband tested positive for COVID-19. As of Wednesday, Whitmer had tested negative for the virus in a rapid test and a PCR test. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Friday, Jan. 7

Fifth federal medical team coming

The Biden administration announced Friday it is sending a fifth medical team to Michigan, the same day statewide hospitalizations of COVID patients reached an all-time high of 4,797.

Deployed to Henry Ford Hospital in Wyandotte starting Monday, the 30-person Disaster Medical Assistance Team will include advanced practice physicians, emergency and intensive care nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and logistics and supply chain personnel.

The federal team will be on site for 14 days, adding to teams sent to Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn, Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw and Mercy Health in Muskegon.

Omicron is a less virulent strain of COVID, but it is still packing hospitals. While some patients with the virus are hospitalized for different reasons, they still require additional staff, equipment and space to keep infection from spreading, hospital leaders have said.

“We may not be treating them for COVID, but we have to treat them as if they have COVID,” Dr. Jeffrey Fischgrund, the chief of clinical services for Beaumont Health told Bridge Michigan on Thursday.

That day, Beaumont — the state’s largest health system — announced it is "at a breaking point" because 430 employees were off work with COVID symptoms amid the surge of patients.

Hospitals have asked Michiganders to reconsider using emergency rooms for conditions that are not life threatening. — Robin Erb

Cases reach new high

Michigan reported 40,692 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, or 20,346 cases a day, far surpassing Wednesday’s previous high.

The onslaught of new cases pushed the seven-day average to nearly 15,000 as the state on Friday reported the highly transmissible omicron variant has now been detected in 32 counties and Detroit, up from 23 counties and the city on Wednesday.

Hospitalizations also hit a high Friday, rising to 4,797, just above the previous high of 4,782, reported on Dec. 13. Officials, though, said some of those cases are likely people who came into hospitals for other conditions and were unaware they had COVID-19 until they were tested.

Widespread infections have hit many hospital staff members, forcing many to stay home. More than a quarter of the state’s hospitals, 44 o 164, are reporting critical staffing shortages, the most since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began collecting them.

Case counts continued to soar in metro Detroit, with Detroit (223 cases per 100,000), Macomb (195), Washtenaw (191), suburban Wayne (187) and Oakland (183) all reporting the highest rates yet of the pandemic.

The statewide rate is 150 cases per 100,000 per day. A week ago, it was 108 cases per day per 100,000.

The state reported another 259 COVID-19 deaths, including 138 that occurred late last year; 100 of the new deaths have occurred in January.

The state’s positive test rate continued to rise as well, with 34.7 percent of the past two days’ tests coming back positive. More than 425,000 tests have been taken in the last week, a huge surge. It’s the most tests since more than 446,400 tests were reported in the week ending Nov. 26, 2020. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Jan. 5

13,673 cases per day on average

Michigan public health officials reported a record 27,346 new COVID-19 cases over a two-day period ending Wednesday, an average of 13,673 a day.

The omicron variant has now been detected in 23 Michigan counties, up from 18 on Monday. Though most omicron cases, nearly 70 percent, have been reported in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, it’s been detected in numerous west and southwest counties too and in Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula.

The state sends only a very small fraction of all cases, about 400 a week, for genetic sequencing to determine which variants are prevalent. As of Wednesday, omicron has now been detected in Kent (23 cases), Washtenaw (14), Genesee (11), Kalamazoo (7), St. Clair (7), Ottawa (6), Livingston (4), Monroe (4), Calhoun (3), Ingham (3), Lapeer (2), Lenawee (2), Saginaw (2), Allegan (1), Clinton (1), Marquette (1), Muskegon (1), Newaygo (1), Shiawassee (1), and Van Buren (1) counties.

The Michigan prison system has detected 11 cases as well.

Omicron is far more transmissible than earlier variants and has pushed infection rates to the highest levels of the nearly two-year pandemic in Michigan, the nation and much of the globe.

But there is growing evidence that it is causing less severe illness. Still, the number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 continues to rise: The state reported 4,557 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in Michigan’s hospitals. Michigan hit its peak less than a month ago when 4,782 COVID-19 patients were in the state’s hospitals on Dec. 13.

The number of young people hospitalized has reached a record, with 123 patients under 18 years old who have confirmed or suspected COVID-19, with most of those — 91 of the 123 — in hospitals in the six counties of metro Detroit.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House chief medical advisor, said recently that many of the new pediatric COVID-19 patients could have been sent to the hospital for other reasons and happened to test positive for the coronavirus.

Overall infection rates are now rising in Detroit and 79 of the state’s 83 counties, with Detroit having the highest rate, 211 new daily cases per 100,000 people over the past week. Suburban Wayne County and Macomb County are second at 167 cases per day per 100,000. Oakland County is at 153.

Some other states are seeing rates that are far higher. According to the Washington Post, Rhode Island, New Jersey and New York are reporting about 350 cases per day for every 100,000 and a total of 26 states currently have higher infection rates than Michigan.

Nearly a third (31.3 percent) of more than 377,000 coronavirus tests given in Michigan over the past week have come back positive, indicative of wide community spread of the virus. The positive rate was 21.4 percent a week ago.

The state on Wednesday also reported an additional 277 COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total death count tied to COVID since the pandemic began to 27,563. Of those, 74 have occurred in the new year.

There have now been 1,595,919 confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 in Michigan. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Jan. 3

Gov. Whitmer self-isolating after husband tests positive for COVID

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is in isolation after her husband, Marc Mallory, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, her staff announced.

Whitmer took a rapid test that came back negative. Her spokesperson, Bobby Leddy, said the governor is working in isolation in a separate area of their Lansing residence until the results of a PCR test come back.

Whitmer and her family celebrated the holidays with their immediate family in Michigan, according to the statement. The family is vaccinated. — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Monday, Jan. 3

Cases averaging 12,400 per day

Michigan is now reporting a daily average of more than 12,400 new COVID-19 cases, as the omicron variant spreads rapidly through metro Detroit.

The state reported 61,235 new confirmed infections on Monday for the past five days, pushing the seven-day average to 12,442 per day. That’s a 65 percent increase from the 7,533 cases per day a week ago.

Metro Detroit remains the epicenter of infections involving the omicron variant, with 201 of the 289 confirmed cases in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, including 52 in Detroit.

That is a vast undercount, since the state samples only about 400 cases a week for genetic sequencing to identify variants. Until December the state had been dealing almost solely with the delta variant, considered less transmissible than omicron but more likely to result in severe illness.

The new variant, which has spurred huge surges across the nation and the world, has sent daily case counts in Michigan to their highest levels and has pushed up hospitalizations. Admissions statewide increased 10 percent since last week, as the number of patients rose 399 to 4,339.

Most of that increase occurred in metro Detroit’s six counties which are experiencing the highest rates of new infections.

In Detroit, the city is averaging 229 cases per day per 100,000, far more than the statewide rate of 125 cases per day per 100,000, which is the highest ever.

Suburban Wayne County is at 179 cases per day per 100,000 and Macomb County is at 178. Oakland County is recording an average of 155 cases per day per 100,000.

In northern Michigan, where omicron has largely been undetected, case counts are typically below 50 and even 30 cases per day per 100,000.

The state on Monday also reported an additional 298 deaths. Of those, 24 have occurred this year.

Testing data shows skyrocketing positive rates, with 30 percent of all tests in the past week coming back positive; it was 21 percent a week ago. Community spread is 3 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Dec. 29

Hospitalizations tack up

COVID-19 hospitalizations rose statewide for the first time since Dec. 13 on Wednesday, as omicron is fueling a record-setting wave of infections.

Michigan on Wednesday reported the most new daily cases ever, 25,858 or 12,929 a day — shattering the previous single-day high of 9,779 on Nov. 20, 2020. With Wednesday’s cases, the state has now reported 1,507,338 confirmed coronavirus infections since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The new cases pushed the seven-day average to 8,402 per day, also the highest rate ever. The state also reported 338 additional COVID-19 deaths.

Statewide, hospitals reported 3,940 COVID-19 patients on Wednesday, up 78 from Monday. That was fueled by a rise of 132 patients in the six counties of metro Detroit, erasing declines in six of the state’s eight regions.

Pediatric hospitalizations rose to 78 from 65 on Monday, mirroring a national rise.

In Detroit, case counts have risen for more than a week and now are at record levels, while cases also are rising fast in nearby suburban Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties.

Detroit is now averaging 183 cases per day per 100,000 people, its highest rate and one of the highest recorded anywhere in the state. The city was reporting 101 cases per day per 100,000 a week ago.

Macomb is at 125 cases per day per 100,000, suburban Wayne at 120 and Oakland County at 120 cases per day per 100,000, all up substantially over the prior week. The state is averaging 84 cases per day per 100,000.

Omicron was first detected over a month ago and it has now been found in Detroit and ten counties, including Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

Nearly 30 percent of the state’s 75 confirmed omicron cases are in Detroit, which has 22 cases. That’s a vast undercount, as the state only samples about 400 COVID-19 cases a week to determine which variant is involved.

The increase in Michigan mirrors the rise in cases nationally and globally: The United States is now reporting the most daily cases ever, as are many European countries.

Perhaps fortunately, those with the highest current infection rates are those 20 to 39 years old. Although among the least vaccinated age groups of those eligible — they are also more resilient to the disease. Their current infection rates of over 600 cases per 100,000 people per day are double and nearly triple those of older residents who are more vulnerable to severe illness and death.

Before Monday, those 20 to 39 years-old comprised 34 percent of all confirmed cases. In the past two days, they made up 43 percent of all cases, a Bridge Michigan analysis of state demographic data shows. They make up 26 percent of the total population of the state.

New testing data also shows a steep increase in the percent of those tests coming back positive, a sign of widespread community spread.

On Tuesday it was 28.4 percent, when nearly 17,900 positive tests came back, the most ever and the highest positive percentage since the very earliest days when tests were hard to find and 25 percent on Monday.

The weekly positive rate rose to 23.2 percent, up from 17.1 percent a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Dec. 27

Michigan averaging 6,591 daily cases

The number of confirmed Michigan COVID cases during the pandemic may top 1.5 million by the time the calendar page flips this Friday night.

It would be a milestone marking the final days of a year that many hoped would see an end to the deadly virus. Meanwhile, Detroit and its neighboring counties that first bore the brunt of coronavirus in the spring of 2020 are getting ravaged again by new infections as 2021 closes.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services logged another COVID 32,597 cases as of Monday, or an average of 6,591 cases a day over the holiday weekend, bumping the state’s total to 1,481,480 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic first struck Michigan nearly 22 months ago. The additional cases pushed the seven-day rolling average Monday to 6,663 cases a day.

That appears to confirm experts’ earlier warnings that the holiday season would fuel the spread of the pandemic now re-ignited around the country and in Michigan by the omicron variant. Even so, some positive news: The number of patients in Michigan hospitals with COVID is going down.

As of Monday, 54 cases of the omicron variant had been detected in Michigan through genetic sequencing — led by detections in Detroit with 12 cases, and surrounding Macomb (11 cases), Oakland (8), and Wayne (7) counties. Experts have said variant cases are likely much higher, since only a small percentage of test samples are sequenced.

So perhaps not surprisingly, Detroit and surrounding counties also were reporting extremely high levels in case rates. Detroit, which reported 85 cases per 100,000 residents a week ago, now reports 139 cases per 100,000 residents. Rates shot up in surrounding counties as well — Macomb reported 98 cases per 100,000 residents Monday; Oakland — 85, and Wayne — 84. Case rates remained 50 per 100,000 or far below in nearly all other Michigan counties.

Omicron also has been detected in Calhoun (1), Genesee (3), Kent (6), Livingston (2), St. Clair (3) and Washtenaw (1) counties.

The state health department also linked 274 deaths to COVID over the past five days, including 158 from a review of prior records.

Hospitalizations dropped again, however. The state’s hospitals were caring for 3,862 patients with suspected or confirmed COVID Monday, down from a high of 4,782 patients on Dec. 13.

— Robin Erb

Wednesday, Dec. 22

With 392 COVID deaths reported, 2021 now tops totals from 2020

COVID now has been linked to more deaths in Michigan in 2021 than last year, with more than a week left of the year that began with the promise of life-saving vaccines.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday added another 392 deaths to the year’s totals, including 250 cases that were confirmed through a review of records.

To date, 13,334 deaths have been linked to COVID in 2021, compared to 13,034 last year.

There was a mix of good and bad news in the other data released Wednesday.

The state-wide positivity rate — the indicator of community spread — appears to be on the climb again. On Wednesday, 18.5 percent of tests were returned positive, compared to a week earlier, when the positivity rate had slipped to 15.5 percent.

The state also added another 13,686 cases, or about 6,843 cases for each of two days, pushing up the seven-day rolling-average to 5,762 cases, up from 5,660 a week ago.

But hospitalizations continued to fall, although they remain relatively high. Michigan’s hospitals were caring for 3,917 patients with suspected or confirmed COVID as of Wednesday, the lowest number since Nov. 19 when there were 3,661 patients being treated.

In contrast, hospitals were treating fewer than 400 patients throughout most of July, before the delta variant began fueling cases and when COVID was receding. — Robin Erb

Monday, Dec. 20

Hospitalizations drop to 4,105; 13,999 new cases over three days

Michigan’s hospitals continue to discharge more COVID-19 patients than they are admitting.

The state reported on Monday that 4,105 patients are currently being treated, down 283 from Friday and nearly 700 below the peak hit a week ago of 4,782.

Hospitals in every region of the state are experiencing declines, with the hospitals in metro Detroit’s six counties treating 311 fewer patients than a week ago.

Infections also are down to 13,999 cases on Monday, or 4,666 a day for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

It’s the first time the daily average has been below 5,000 since it was 3,142 on Nov. 11.

But there were worrisome data points as well: Cases are rising markedly in Detroit.

The city has averaged 85 cases per 100,000 for the past week, up from 69 a week ago. Only two other counties — Gratiot and Ontonagon — also are experiencing increases. The statewide rate is 55 cases per 100,000 per day, down from 62 cases per day per 100,000 a week ago.

Detroit and Gratiot County also have some of the biggest jumps in the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive. Detroit, which has had one of the lowest rates in the state for months, has seen the rate rise from 8.5 percent to 11.5 percent. In Gratiot County in central Michigan it’s risen from 13.6 percent a week ago to 22.9 percent this past week.

The statewide rate of 16.2 percent over the past week, down from 17 percent a week ago.

The state reported an additional 160 COVID-19 deaths on Monday, and many occurred in November, which now stands as the third worst month from COVID-19 deaths, with 2,375. It is surpassed only by April 2020 (3,945) and December 2020 (3,640). — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Dec. 17

Hospitalizations decreasing

The number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 continued to decline Friday, dropping to 231 patients to 4,388 since Wednesday.

Hospital officials had cautiously noted a plateau of cases in recent weeks and the decline of overall COVID-19 patients is proof more are being discharged than admitted.

Over the past week, the patient census has fallen by 373, with all eight regions of the state showing declines.

Those positive trends come as the omicron variant, considered far more transmissible than the now-dominant delta variant, was detected in Oakland County, the second most-populous in the state.

Oakland County health officials said the person had a confirmed coronavirus case on Dec. 5 and a lab identified it as the omicron variant on Dec. 16. The person, who had been fully vaccinated but had not gotten a booster, had traveled internationally, the county reported.

Overall, the state reported 12,649 new COVID-19 infections, or 6,325 for Thursday and Friday. That raised the seven-day daily average to 5,783, up from 5,660 on Wednesday.

The state also reported another 254 COVID-19 deaths.

Other data points typically reported by the state, including coronavirus testing results, were not available Friday because of technical problems. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Dec. 15

Hospitalizations declining

All regions of Michigan on Wednesday reported a drop in the number of COVID-19 hospital patients, another positive sign in the state’s fourth coronavirus surge.

Overall, the state has 4,619 COVID patients, down 163 from Monday. It’s the first drop since Oct. 27.

Since then, the number of COVID-19 patients has more than doubled, leading to overcrowded hospitals.

For the past week, the rate of new infections has fallen and fewer people are testing positive for COVID-19, though two more cases of the omicron variant were detected in Genesee County, raising to three the number found in Michigan.

The state reported 11,722 new confirmed coronavirus cases, or an average of 5,861 a day. That continued to lower the seven-day average, now at 5,660 daily cases. It was at 6,187 on Monday and at 6,727 a week ago.

Infection rates in Detroit and all but six of Michigan’s 83 counties are falling or remaining flat, while the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive fell to 16.5 percent over the past week. The weekly rate has now fallen for 12 straight days since hitting 20 percent on Dec. 2.

Still, many earlier cases have led to severe illness, hospitalization and death, with the state reporting another 330 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, including 230 that came following a review of vital records.

Of those, 318 occurred in December, which has now had 1,141 deaths in the first half of the month, on pace for being the third worst of the pandemic.

There have now been 12,529 COVID-19 deaths in 2021 compared to 13,034 in 2020. At the current rate of daily deaths, it is likely that more people will die from COVID-19 in 2021 than in 2020. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Dec. 13

16,143 cases over past 3 days

Michigan reported 16,143 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, or 5,381 over each of the past three days.

That lowered the daily average over the past seven days to 6,187 cases from 6,251 on Friday and 7,284 a week ago.

Statewide, case rates are declining in all but six of Michigan’s 83 counties.

Even so, case rates have ebbed and flowed a few times in the past month amid Michigan’s fall surge. On Nov. 24, the daily average rose to 7,427 on Nov. 24 before falling to 5,980 on Dec. 1, then spiking to 7,366 on Dec. 6.

The rate of hospitalizations also appears to be slowing, as Michigan added 21 COVID-19 patients since Friday to 4,782. For much of the past month, the state was adding more than 300 patients a week.

The percent of positive tests, meanwhile, fell to 16.7 percent over the past week from 19.5 percent a week ago. Michigan also reported 160 deaths from the virus on Monday. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Dec. 10

COVID-19 deaths surpass 25,000

More than 25,000 people have now died of COVID-19 in Michigan since the pandemic began. With 235 deaths reported Friday, the state’s confirmed COVID death toll stands at 25,080.

As the year closes, the death count for 2021 is approaching the first year of the pandemic. There are now 12,039 COVID-19 deaths in 2021, compared to 13,033 in 2020 (though the virus didn’t hit Michigan until March, 2020).

The latest surge of cases has proven to be the most deadly this year, with over 4,700 people dying since Sept. 1. Just over 4,000 died during the late winter-spring surge.

Nationally, Michigan ranks No. 10 in total COVID-19 deaths, both confirmed and suspected, with 26,914. It ranks 16th in the number of deaths per 100,000 people. The state has the 10th most people among states.

The death toll is likely to rise, with the state reporting Friday that 4,761 patients are being treated in Michigan hospitals for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, extending the peak COVID-19 hospital census that has the state asking the federal government for 200 more ventilators to treat patients.

There was some hopeful news Friday. COVID case counts were down again, with the state reporting 11,783 new cases, or 5,892 a day. That puts the seven-day rate at 6,251 daily cases, a significant drop from the 7,167 case average a week ago.

And the state reported that 15.6 percent of new coronavirus tests came back positive, the lowest since it was 14.7 percent on Nov. 5. The weekly rate fell to 17.7 percent, down from 19.6 percent a week ago. A lower test positivity rate indicates less community spread of the virus.

Daily case rates are falling in Detroit and all but 10 of the state’s 83 counties, another encouraging sign as Michigan continues to have one of the highest overall rates of new cases in the country. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Dec. 8

Hospitals are so full patients are dying at home; 15,385 new cases

Michigan’s hospitals are so overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients now that others who are sick are now dying at home rather than seeking care in packed emergency rooms, University of Michigan doctors said Wednesday.

They added their voices to warnings from Michigan’s healthcare systems that are experiencing the highest number of patients of the pandemic. The state reported 4,689 COVID-19 patients statewide, extending the peak first hit early last week.

“People have died and will die of non-COVID-19 disease in our area, across the state and across the nation because COVID-19 is overrunning our hospitals,” said Dr. Marschall Runge, CEO of Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor and dean of the University of Michigan medical school.

He spoke at a media event Wednesday. Later that day, Michigan officials reported another 15,385 COVID-19 cases over the past two days and another 351 deaths from the virus. The state is now averaging 7,203 new cases a day, with metro Detroit experiencing some of the biggest increases.

Michigan now has the second-highest rate of new infections, behind only New Hampshire.

The deaths reported Wednesday included 105 from November which, at 2,238 deaths, is the most deadly month of the year. There have now been 418 deaths in December, including 244 reported Wednesday.

Testing data showed more than 347,000 tests over the past week, the highest amount since April 18, when more than 361,300 were completed. Over the last week, 19.1 percent were positive, down slightly from the 19.5 percent which were positive over the week that ended Monday. — Robin Erb and Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Dec. 6

Hospitals treating 4,636 COVID patients

Michigan hospitals are treating a record 4,636 patients with COVID-19, but the pace of growth of admissions has slowed in recent days.

Hospitals added 84 patients with the virus since Friday and 193 in the past week — well below recent jumps of more than 700 patients each week.

Typical hospital stays for COVID-19 patients last four or five days, so it would take several consecutive days of decreased admissions to reduce the strain. Overall, 32 of the state’s 164 hospitals are reporting critical staff shortages, the most yet recorded.

The previous peak was in December 2020, when 31 hospitals experienced critical staff shortages amid the second deadliest month of the pandemic.

The state reported 16,590 new confirmed cases over the weekend, or 5,530 for each of the three days. That’s nearly 500 more cases a day than the previous week and pushed the seven-day rate to 7,366 daily cases. That's the highest since 7,427 on Nov. 24.

Michigan also reported 147 deaths from the virus, bringing the total to 11,454 in 2021. There were 13,032 in 2020.

Testing data showed a slight improvement, with 18.6 percent of more than 121,000 tests coming back positive over the past three days. That lowered the weekly rate to 19.5 percent, the first decline since Nov. 17. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Dec. 3

9,222 cases per day average

Michigan’s fourth wave of COVID-19 cases continued Friday, as the cases jumped to 18,443 over the past two days, or 9,222 a day.

That caseload is exceeded only by the 9,779 reported just over a year ago, on Nov. 20, 2020, during the state’s second surge.

The most recent wave has led to the highest levels of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and new waves of fatalities. There were 277 additional COVID-19 deaths on Friday, of which 211 were in November.

With 2,053 deaths, November is now the fourth-deadliest of the pandemic and the deadliest month of 2021.

For the year, there have been 11,330 COVID-19 deaths, compared to 13,030 in 2020.

There are now 4,552 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, the highest since the state began regularly tracking patient data in late April, 2020.

The state also reported that 20.2 percent of all coronavirus tests in the past week came back positive, extending the highest percentage reported since tests became widely available. The positive test rate is an indication of community spread of the virus; the state has sought to keep that at 3 percent or lower. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Dec. 1

358 more COVID-19 deaths

Michigan reported 358 new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, all but one of which occurred in November.

With 1,806 deaths, November is now the sixth-most deadly since the pandemic began and the third most in 2021. Because it can take weeks to account for all deaths, November could ultimately surpass April (1,858) and even possibly January (2,003).

April 2020, at the very beginning of the pandemic before vaccines and COVID-19-specific treatment protocols, remains the most deadly with 3,945 deaths.

After lower case numbers were reported Monday at the end of the holiday weekend (an average of 5,066 cases a day), the state reported 16,530 new confirmed coronavirus infections on Wednesday, an average of 8,265 for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The percent of positive coronavirus tests rose again, with 19.5 percent of all tests in the past week coming back positive, the second-highest rate in the nation, surpassed only by New Mexico’s 20.3 percent.

The rise in cases has led to more hospitalizations as the state continues to see its highest COVID-19 patient census since the earliest days of the pandemic.

There are now 4,516 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 across the state, up from 4,443 on Monday, which had been the previous high.

Four of the state’s eight emergency preparedness regions have their highest numbers of COVID-19 patients, including the northern Lower Peninsula, west Michigan, southwest Michigan and southern-central Michigan.

Although the hospitals in the two regions of metro Detroit are experiencing an increase in patients, they are still well below their highest counts, when they combined for over 2,600 patients; they currently have just over 2,200 COVID-19 patients. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Nov. 29

More than 4,400 hospitalized with COVID

Michigan’s hospitals are now treating more COVID-19 patients than they have at any point in the pandemic, with more than 4,400 under care.

Driven in part by a surge of hospitalizations in metro Detroit, the number of new patients rose nearly 400 since last Wednesday, including 295 more in the six counties of southeast Michigan.

The new COVID-19 patient census of 4,443 on Monday exceeds the 4,422 reported on April 19. Bridge has tracked hospitalizations since April 23, 2020, when the state started regularly releasing hospital data.

In all, 22 of the state’s 164 hospitals report critical staff shortages — up from fewer than 10 just a few weeks ago, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An estimated 25 percent of inpatients in Michigan hospitals have COVID, equal to the highest rate throughout the pandemic.

The increase corresponds to a jump in the rate of positive coronavirus tests, as over 19 percent of all tests in the past week were positive. The state’s goal had been 3 percent.

It is the highest rate ever reported since after the first wave of cases, when there were fewer tests.

Overall testing was lower, however, likely as a result of the holidays: there were 257,000 in the past seven days, down from 342,500 the preceding week. A similar drop occurred around Thanksgiving in 2020.

Even so, total cases fell, with the state averaging 5,066 over each of the past five days. That pushed the seven-day average of new infections to 6,047, down from 7,467 daily cases last Wednesday.

The state reported another 137 COVID-19 deaths on Monday, bringing November’s tally to 1,409. There were 1,431 in October.

Only January (2,004), April (1,856) and May (1,433) had more deaths this year. But reporting lags, and November’s death toll likely will increase. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Nov. 24

Michigan leads nation in hospitalization, case rates

Michigan reported 17,003 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, an average of 8,502 for Tuesday and Wednesday. That is the 10th most reported in Michigan on a single day since the pandemic began

The cases pushed the seven-day average to 7,427, up from 7,078 on Monday.

The state also reported that 18 percent of all coronavirus tests in the past week came back positive, the highest rate since after the initial wave in spring 2020 when fewer tests were available.

The state also reported 280 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 137 which were determined after a review of medical and health records. All but six of those deaths were this month.

There have now been 1,118 COVID-19 deaths in November.

Michigan now leads the nation in the rate of new infections, the rate of hospitalizations and the rate of positive coronavirus tests. Statewide, Michigan has 4,138 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, up 175 from 3,963 on Monday. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Nov. 22

Positive test rate 18.4 percent

Michigan recorded the highest rate of positive coronavirus tests in more than a year on Monday, with 18.4 percent of nearly 123,000 tests in the past three days confirmed as COVID-19 cases.

That puts the weekly rate at 17.4 percent — the highest since the earliest days of the pandemic when there was limited testing. The previous high was 16.9 percent in mid-April.

The state reported 17,008 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, or an average of 5,670 cases for each of the last three days. Cases often decline on Mondays, though, as testing drops on weekends.

The rate of community spread remains exceedingly high: Test result sin four counties (Luce, Keweenaw, Hillsdale and St. Joseph) were over 30 percent positive and 46 other counties were over 20 percent positive.

Michigan has the highest rate of new infections in the country, and 3,963 are hospitalized with the virus. That’s 20 percent of all hospital beds statewide, and up 302 patients from Friday and 716 from last Monday.

At the worst of the spring surge, COVID-19 patients occupied a quarter of all hospital beds.

The state also reported 83 COVID-19 deaths, of which 73 have occurred in November and 10 in October. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Nov. 19

17,890 cases in two days

The fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic is accelerating in Michigan, with the state on Friday reporting 17,890 new infections over the past two days.

The seven-day daily average is now 7,654 cases, the second record this week. In just a week the daily average has risen more than 70 percent from just over 4,400 cases.

The state is now averaging 77 new cases for every 100,000 people every day, up from 44 a week ago. That is the highest rate in the nation, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Eleven counties now are averaging over 100 new cases per 100,000 residents, including Ottawa (110) and Muskegon (109). Another nine counties are averaging over 90 cases a day per 100,000.

The fourth wave started in Michigan in August, and it grew slowly as the virus pummeled other states.

The state’s hospitals are treating 3,661 patients for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up 239 from Wednesday and 746 from last Friday, a 26 percent increase.

Hospitals across the state have reported crowded conditions because of COVID-19 patients that are affecting the delivery of care for all patients.

The state also reported 128 new COVID-19 deaths, including 124 this month. There have now been 771 deaths in November.

More people are seeking coronavirus tests, and 16.4 percent of the 115,500 tests came back positive in the past two days. The rate for the past week is 16.9 percent, tied for the highest level since just after the first wave, when tests were harder to find. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Nov. 17

14,561 cases in past two days

Michigan on Wednesday reported an additional 14,561 COVID-19 cases over the past two days, raising the daily average to 7,353, the highest-ever recorded in the state.

Though some of that is the result of a dump of late-arriving lab results last Friday, the state has been on an upward trend and now leads the nation in the rate of COVID-19 infections.

The previous high was 7,270 daily cases on Nov. 21, 2020, amid the fall surge that triggered wide-ranging restrictions on bars, restaurants and schools by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Case counts are rising in Detroit, and 77 of the state’s 83 counties and deaths are climbing too: The state reported 242 additional COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, including 177 that came after a review of medical and health records. Of the 242,233 occurred this month and nine occurred in October.

Testing for the past two days showed that 17.1 percent of more than 87,600 tests came back positive and the seven-day rate is 16.8 percent, a rate exceeded just once in April (excluding the earliest days of the pandemic when few tests were available). — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Nov. 15

Michigan leads nation in COVID-19 cases

Michigan now has the highest COVID-19 rate in the nation, as the state reported 21,034 new cases on Monday, or an average of 7,011 for each of the past three days.

Case counts are surging in Detroit and 72 of the state’s 83 counties. The seven-day average has increased nearly 50 percent in one week to 6,171 from 4,110 last Monday.

In the past week, 16.7 percent of all coronavirus tests came back positive — nearly equal a peak of 16.9 percent on April 7 at the height of the spring surge.

Driving much of the surge are big increases in case counts in heavily populated metro Detroit and west Michigan. Ottawa County is averaging 89 new cases for every 100,000 people, up from 57 per 100,000 the week before. Eighteen counties average more than 80 cases per 100,000 people.

According to the Washington Post’s analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, Michigan has the highest rate of confirmed and suspected cases in the country, at 72 cases per 100,000. In the spring, Michigan had the highest rate for weeks as it endured its deadliest surge.

Michigan also reported 95 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 76 in November and 18 in October. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Nov. 12

COVID-19 cases surge to 4,400

Two days after a glitch caused an undercount in new COVID-19 cases, Michigan reported 15,878 new infections on Friday, pushing the daily average for the past week up to 4,439, the highest level since May 5.

On Wednesday the state reported an average of 3,142 cases for Tuesday and Wednesday and blamed the lower numbers on a problem getting lab results.

Those issues were resolved Friday and for the four days affected the state averaged 5,541 cases, a substantial increase and continuing an upward trend as the weather has cooled. Many northern states are experiencing sharp increases in cases.

The state also reported 83 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 43 that were determined after a review of health and medical records.

The increase in cases has led to yet more hospitalizations with hospitals now treating 2,920 patients for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 2,787 on Wednesday.

Metro Detroit hospitals continue to have big increases but the 1,336 patients now being treated in the six counties is just over half of the highest amount, 2,649, on April 19.

In the northern Lower Peninsula and in southwest Michigan, hospitalizations again are approaching peak numbers seen this spring. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Nov. 10

163 new deaths

Michigan reported the highest number of additional COVID-19 deaths in months Wednesday, with 163 new deaths added to the state’s tally.

Also, the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive hit 16.5 percent for the past two days, the highest since early April and approaching the highest level since the earliest days of the pandemic.

Of the deaths, 88 were determined after a review of health and medical records. All told, 140 of the 163 reported deaths occurred in November, bringing the total through 10 days to 260.

State records now show a total of 1,252 COVID-19 deaths in October, including 23 included in Wednesday’s report.

The 163 deaths linked to COVID-19 were the most since 221 were reported on Jan. 23 as the death toll from the fall-winter surge was still being recorded and vaccines were not widely available to the public.

The latest testing data shows that the rate of spread is rising; the positive test rate of 16.5 percent is eclipsed only by five days in early April, when the peak hit 17.9 percent.

Over the past week, the rate has been 14.9 percent, up from 12.7 percent a week ago.

Higher positive percentages were recorded in the earliest days of the pandemic when few tests were available and many people with COVID-19 could not even get a test. It wasn’t until May of 2020 that testing became widely available.

The positive test rate is rising in Detroit and 69 of the state’s 83 counties, including most of the heavily populated counties including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent and Genesee counties.

But because of a problem getting results from laboratories, the total new cases of COVID-19 reported Wednesday — 6,283 — was an undercount, state officials said. It put the two-day average at 3,142 for Tuesday and Wednesday, which pushed the seven-day daily average down nearly 500 cases to 3,613 from 4,110 on Wednesday.

Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said the cases not included on Wednesday would be added in future reports. The state reports COVID-19 data on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.— Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Nov. 8

Michigan's new top doctor raises concern as hospitalizations spike

Michigan public health officials on Monday reported the largest increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations since mid-April, as patients treated for the virus increased 327 from Friday to 2,757.

The recent uptick in cases have the state's new chief medical executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, urging vigilance, especially as temperatures fall and people head inside.

“It was tempting to think we had peaked and (case counts) were going down,” said Bagdasarian, who took over for Dr. Joneigh Khaldun after she stepped down in September.

Bagdasarian said the recent increases “paint a not too rose picture of the winter.”

“I truly believe people are tired of COVID,” she added in an interview Monday with Bridge Michigan. “This is not the time of year where we can let our guard down.”

Although case counts have started to fall in some rural parts of Michigan, they are rising in 58 of the state’s 83 counties and Detroit. Last week, they topped 5,000 cases a day.

That was after a brief decline that coincided with a national drop in cases following a widespread surge caused by the more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

But since Oct. 26, the daily average of cases has shot up from 3,264 to 4,110 on Monday, a 26 percent increase in just over two weeks.

On Monday, cases actually fell, as the state reported 8,911 cases on Saturday, Sunday and Monday or an average of 2,970 per day. That’s down from an average of 4,167 reported Friday and lower than the previous Monday’s totals.

Reported case counts are typically lower on Mondays, the state has said.

Over the past four weeks case counts have fluctuated repeatedly, but

But hospitalizations have continued to rise, and nearly half the increases over the weekend were in the six counties of metro Detroit: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Monroe.

The state also reported another 47 COVID-19 deaths.

The percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive over the past three days was 14.5 percent. The weekly rate was 14 percent, up from 12.1 percent a week ago.

Bagdasarian said health officials knew cases would likely rise in the fall when students returned to school. But the jump in cases arrived earlier this year than it had in 2020 and school outbreaks were a driver.

The number of new outbreaks continues to rise, according to data released by the state Monday.

In the week ending Nov. 4, there were 104 new COVID outbreaks in preschool and K-12 schools, compared to 99 the previous week and 74 a week earlier.

There were 666 cases connected to new outbreaks in the most recent data, a 15 percent increase from the previous week and 61 percent from two weeks ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Nov. 5

Case counts top 5,000

Case counts, positive test rates and hospitalizations are rising amid a new surge of COVID-19 cases, as Michigan reported 10,094 cases on Friday, or an average of 5,047 per day for Thursday and Friday.

The state also reported 90 COVID-19 deaths, including 49 in November. So far, 83 have died of COVID-19 this month; 1,219 died from the virus in October.

The weekly positivity rate for coronavirus tests is now 13.1 percent, up from 11.4 percent a week ago, while hospitalizations have reached 2,430, up 117 from Wednesday.

More than 40 percent of those are in metro Detroit hospitals, which have 1,061 patients, up from 998 on Wednesday. Hospitalizations in the nine counties of southwest Michigan jumped 30 to 181 on Friday.

Case counts rose highest in metro Detroit as well, with Oakland County reporting more than 1,000 cases (1,110 for the past two days) for the first time since April 16.

The latest surge comes after a 10-day period from Oct. 15 to 25 in which the average daily case counts were falling. Nationally, after a sustained drop in cases fell from mid-September through mid-October, overall cases are rising.

Great Lakes states Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio are reporting increases as well; Indiana is reporting a decline. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Nov. 3

Cases jump to 4,882 per day

New COVID-19 cases are rising in the 29 most populous counties, including most of metro Detroit, pushing the daily case count to 9,764, or an average of 4,882 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

After Michigan reported a decline in cases in late mid-to-late October, they are now rising again, with the seven-day average of 3,879 the highest it has been since it was at 3,989 on April 23.

The rise comes as some of the worst-hit counties in northern Michigan reported falling case counts. Still, 56 of the state’s 83 counties and Detroit are seeing rising case counts, according to Wednesday’s report.

For instance, Macomb County is averaging 40 cases per day per 100,000, up from 29 a week ago; Oakland County has 30 cases per 100,000, up from 23, and suburban Wayne County, excluding Detroit, is at 31 cases per 100,000, up from 25.

Detroit is now at 28 cases per day per 100,000, up from 20 a week earlier.

Statewide, the average is 39 cases per day per 100,000.

The increase is reflected in a rising percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive: the rate over the past two days was 14.1 percent, well above the 11.6 percent for the previous three days and pushing the seven-day rate to 12.7 percent, the highest it has been during the current wave.

The increase in cases has led to more deaths, with the state reporting a net of 137 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, including 75 that came after a review of medical and health records.

State and local health officials routinely review deaths and Wednesday’s report included 117 deaths from October and 32 in November. Twelve deaths previously believed caused by COVID-19 are no longer considered COVID-19 related.

The number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 rose slightly to 2,313, up from 2,305 on Monday. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Nov. 1

Average cases rise to 3,100 per day

Michigan reported 9,313 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, or an average of 3,104 for each of the last three days, pushing the seven-day average to 3,600 cases a day, up from 3,400 on Friday.

The state also reported 65 additional COVID-19 deaths.

Cases have increased on Monday and Friday, despite two weeks of decreases statewide and declining case numbers nationwide.

Metro Detroit saw some of the biggest increases, as cases climbed in Detroit, suburban Wayne County and Oakland and Macomb counties.

Macomb reported 1,061 cases over the three days and is averaging 38 cases per 100,000 people per day, up from 31 cases per day per 100,000 a week ago.

The percentage of cases that were positive was 11.6 percent over the most recent three days, putting the weekly rate also at 11.6 percent. The last time the weekly rate was higher was April 27 when it was 11.7 percent.

Hospitalizations also rose over the weekend, with 2,305 patients treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 2,247 on Friday. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Oct. 29

Cases rise to 4,039 per day

Michigan reported 8,078 new cases, or 4,039 per day, on Friday, the second increase this week after over a week of declining case counts.

The new cases pushed the seven-day average up to 3,400 a day, an increase from 3,318 on Wednesday. The average case count had fallen from Oct. 15 through Tuesday before rising again.

The state also reported 122 additional COVID-19 deaths, pushing the October total to 996. That is the eighth-highest monthly total during the 20-month pandemic.

In 2021, only January (1,836), April (1,740) and May (1,370) had more COVID-19 deaths.

The rise in cases came as the percentage of positive coronavirus tests rose to 11.8 percent out of more than 87,400 tests, from 11.3 percent on Wednesday. The seven-day rate remained 11.4 percent, the same as it was a week ago.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 rose to 2,247 patients from 2,225 on Wednesday. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Oct. 27

CDC: Immunocompromised can get 4th vaccine

Michigan adults with weakened immune systems who received three Pfizer or Moderna shots now may consider yet another dose, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended this week.

The updated guidance is the latest in a flurry of changes that recommend additional doses for immunocompromised people as a way to build up their immunity to typical levels, and boosters for the general public as a way to boost immunity that wanes over time. Those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised “may” consider a fourth dose six months after the third dose, according to the new CDC guidance.

Immunocompromised people who received a one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine “should” receive a single vaccine from any of the three manufacturers at least two months after the initial dose — and no more than two doses total, a recommendation that remains unchanged.

Decisions about timing for additional doses are best made with a medical provider, the CDC said.

Additionally, the CDC next week is expected to consider first doses for children 5 to 11 years old, a decision that could clear the way for shots for 825,000 Michigan children.

-- Robin Erb

Monday, Oct. 25

Cases declining but hospitalizations remain high

Michigan’s weekly average of COVID cases continues its recent decline, according to the latest state data.

The state added 7,856 cases over three days, or about 2,619 each for those three days.That dropped the seven-day rolling daily average to 3,210 cases, the lowest average daily case count in October.

Still, average new daily cases remain far higher than in June and July, when daily cases — measured over a seven-day average — dipped below 200 a day.

The state’s COVID test positivity rate remained high Monday at 10.7 percent — well above the state’s goal of keeping the rate of positive test results to 3 percent or lower. Higher rates indicate broader community spread of the virus.

Michigan also added another 56 new deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-related state deaths to 21,918. Of the deaths reported Monday, 29 were earlier deaths that were linked to COVID after a review of records.

Hospitalizations also remained high overall. As of Monday, Michigan’s hospitals were caring for 2,256 adults and children with suspected or confirmed COVID. That’s far below the pandemic high of 4,422 COVID patients, but compares to about 300 COVID patients a day for nearly all of July.

Demand for initial doses of vaccines remains stagnant with just over 60 percent of Michiganders 16 and older being fully vaccinated. But nearly 430,000 previously vaccinated Michigan residents received additional or booster doses as of Monday, driven in part by last week’s federal approval of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster shots, following earlier approval of the Pfizer booster. — Robin Erb

Friday, Oct. 22

Positive tests show COVID’s continued spread

The state’s COVID test positivity rate moved back into the double digits on Friday, when 11.6 percent of more than 51,000 COVID tests taken came back positive.

The high rate underscores the continued spread of the coronavirus across Michigan, as federal health authorities moved this week to approve the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters. The state’s goal has been to keep positive test rates at 3 percent or lower, but positivity has now remained at 10 percent or above every day in October except for one day this week, when it dipped to 9.9 percent. Higher rates indicate less control of community spread of the virus.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services added another 118 deaths and 7,505 newly confirmed cases to COVID’s toll in the state. Of the deaths reported Friday, 69 were earlier deaths that were confirmed linked to COVID after a review of records.

As of Friday, the state had confirmed 1,104,634 COVID cases and linked COVID to 21,862 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

Hospitalizations across the state fell — from 2,247 on Wednesday to 2,232 Friday. At least 1,700 adults and children were hospitalized with suspected or confirmed COVID every day this month that hospital tallies were reported. -- Robin Erb

Wednesday, Oct. 20

135 more deaths, but cases declining again in Michigan

Michigan officials reported 135 COVID-19 more deaths on Wednesday, but case counts are falling in most of the state.

The deaths included 78 determined after a review of medical and health records. All of the fatalities were in October, which now has 553 deaths. If that rate continues, October’s death total will likely exceed September’s 823 COVID-19 deaths.

The state reported 7,108 new infections over Tuesday and Wednesday, or an average of 3,554. That’s down from last Wednesday’s report, lowering the seven-day average to 3,414 from 3,638 on Monday.

New case rates rose in 13 counties, compared to 34 counties recording rising rates on Monday — and more than 40 last week.

Those trends are countered by a rising rate of positive coronavirus tests, which was 12.9 percent on Wednesday. Public health officials, however, have said there have been lengthy lags in reporting, making it difficult to pinpoint trends.

The number of people hospitalized for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 rose to 2,247 from 2,230 on Monday. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Oct. 18

Daily average is 2,832 for past three days

The average number of COVID-19 cases fell slightly on Monday, with Michigan reporting 8,496 new confirmed cases, or 2,832 for each of the past three days.

Although reported case counts are typically lower on Mondays, the three-day total is below last week’s 9,137 and lowers the seven-day average to 3,638 daily cases.

The daily average has risen on all but three days since Labor Day and hit its recent peak of 3,745 on Wednesday. The seven-day average on Labor Day was 1,954 cases.

Though case counts have fluctuated in recent weeks, the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive remained above 11 percent (11.1 percent) on Monday. The weekly average is 11.3 percent, largely unchanged from a week ago’s rate of 11.2 percent.

Case rates are rising in 34 counties, down from the 49 reporting rising case rates last Wednesday.

Statewide there are now 36 confirmed cases per 100,000 people per day. Two counties — Arenac, at 107, and Osceola at 100 — have rates exceeding 100 cases per day per 100,000 and rates remain elevated in much of northern Michigan.

Hospitalizations rose slightly over the weekend, with the state reporting 2,230 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 2,149 on Friday.

The state also reported 46 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, including 15 which were determined after a review of medical and death records.

There have been 421 COVID-19 deaths through the first 18 days of October, or an average of 23 a day. That’s lower than the average of more than 27 deaths a day in September.

School outbreaks, meanwhile, are increasing, rising to 101 this week from 83 a week ago.

There were 31 new high school outbreaks affecting 427 students and staff, up from 27 outbreaks and 187 infections a week ago in high schools.

There were no new outbreaks on college campuses. But there were 51 in elementary schools, up from 37 a week before.

New infections among those under 20 years old have driven the surge in cases that started in August, with that age group accounting for over 25 percent of new infections, far above the 16 percent of all infections prior to September. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Oct. 15

Michigan reports 8,297 cases, 104 deaths

Michigan reported 8,297 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, along with 104 deaths.

The case count averaged 4,148 for Thursday and Friday, leaving the seven-day average almost unchanged at 3,781.

The statewide rate is now 38 confirmed cases per 100,000 people per day. Although seven counties now exceed 70 cases per day per 100,000, that’s down from 11 counties with rates above 70 on Monday.

All of the counties over 70 are in the northern Lower Peninsula.

The deaths included 58 that were determined after a review of medical and death records. Of the 104, five occurred in September and 96 in October. There have now been 385 reported COVID-19 deaths in October, almost on pace to match September’s 809 deaths.

Out of more than 92,000 tests, 10.7 came back positive and the seven-day rate remained unchanged at 11.3 percent. Higher positive test rates indicate more community spread of the deadly virus. The state’s goal has been to keep positive test rates at 3 percent or lower.

The state reported that 2,149 hospital patients were being treated with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down 46 from Wednesday. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Oct. 13

110 deaths, 4,335 cases per day on average

Michigan health officials reported 110 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, and more than 12 percent of 71,000 recent coronavirus tests came back positive, the highest rate since May.

Over the past two days, the state has averaged 4,335 new cases per day, pushing the seven-day average to 3,797, the highest since it was 3,989 on April 29.

Michigan is averaging 38 new cases per day per 100,000 residents, the 12th highest rate in the country.

Related:

Northern Michigan, which has lower vaccination rates, is experiencing a surge: Osceola and Arenac counties are at 100 cases per 100,000 a day, Clare is at 91, Ogemaw and Montcalm are at 87 and 80 respectively and Antrim and Mecosta are at 73 and 71 cases per day per 100,000.

Case rates are rising in 49 of the state’s 83 counties, though metro Detroit and most of west Michigan are below 40 cases per day per 100,000. Kent County is at 44 cases per day per 100,000.

COVID-19 hospitalizations also are increasing, up 50 from Monday to 2,195 patients. Statewide, 12 percent of hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients, up from 9.2 percent on Oct. 1 and 2.6 percent on Sept. 1.

Of the most recent deaths, 58 came after a review of medical and death records: 109 were in October, four were in September, and five deaths previously attributed to COVID-19 have been reclassified. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Oct. 11

Michigan reports 9,137 new cases

Michigan reported 9,137 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend, or 3,046 per day, and 36 new COVID-19 deaths.

The cases bring the seven-day average up to 3,654 per day, up from 3,541 on Friday.

In much of northern Michigan, case rates remain well above the statewide rate of 37 cases per day per 100,000. Four counties are now over 80 cases per day per 100,000: Ogemaw (101), Osceola (96), Schoolcraft (87) and Clare (81). Seven counties are between 70 and 79.

Nationally, case rates are falling and Michigan is 17th in rates of confirmed COVID-19, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of data compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hospitalizations have increased to 2,145 COVID-19 patients on Monday, up 174 from Friday. That is the biggest increase since April 19, when the patient census rose by 178.

Positive tests for coronavirus rose slightly to 11.1 percent of tests over the past three days. The weekly rate is now 11.2 percent, up from 11.1 percent on Friday.

Higher positive test rates indicate more community spread of the deadly virus. The state’s goal has been to keep positive test rates at 3 percent or lower.

The state also reported 83 new school outbreaks on Monday, affecting 477 students and staff. Last week, the state reported 95 outbreaks affected 455 students and staff.

There were 37 new outbreaks in elementary schools affecting 160 students and staff, 17 outbreaks affecting 92 junior high and middle schools and 27 outbreaks affecting 187 students and staff in high schools. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Oct. 8

Child cases fuel rise of COVID-19

COVID-19 cases in Michigan have now risen to levels last seen in early May, with the state reporting 8,409 newly confirmed cases Friday, an average of 4,204 for Thursday and Friday.

That puts the seven-day daily rate at 3,541 cases — up from 3,223 a week ago and a rate last exceeded on May 1 (3,581).

The increase coincides with another increase in the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive across the state. It was at 10.9 percent the last two days and the seven-day rate is 11.1 percent; marking the first time it’s exceeded 11 percent since April 30, near the end of the spring surge.

Statewide there has been an average of 35 cases per 100,000 people per day. But 12 counties have rates above 70 cases and Ogemaw County in north-central Michigan remains above 100 at 108 cases per day per 100,000. A third of coronavirus tests in Ogemaw County have been coming back positive in the past week as well. Higher test positivity rates indicate more uncontrolled community spread of the virus.

Most counties with elevated rates are in north-central Michigan or the Upper Peninsula.

The rise in cases in Michigan has been slower than when cases were surging through the state last spring and fall. But the current increase is running counter to a steep decline in cases across the nation.

Michigan now ranks 14th in cases per day per 100,000, according to the Washington Post, with neighboring states Ohio and Wisconsin having higher rates but Indiana having a lower rate.

Driving the Michigan numbers are continued infections among those under 20 years old, who are less likely to be hospitalized or endure serious illness. In the past week there have been 7,907 infections among this age group, or 27 percent of all infections, far above the 16 percent of all infections since the pandemic began.

Statewide hospitalizations rose again on Friday, with the state reporting 1,971 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 1,901 on Wednesday and 1,708 a week ago.

The state reported 82 additional COVID-19 deaths, including 40 that came after a review of medical and death records. Of those, 10 occurred in September and 69 in October.

So far, 161 new deaths have been recorded through the first eight days of October. In all of September, the state reported 761 deaths. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Oct. 6

Seven-day average jumps to 3,491, hospitalizations increase again

Hospitalizations for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases jumped to 1,903 on Wednesday from 1,825 on Monday, while cases increased to 7,674, or 3,837 a per.

That pushed the seven-day average to 3,491 from 3,362 on Monday.

Statewide, 13 counties in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula reported rates that exceed 60 cases per day per 100,000. The state rate is 35 cases per day per 100,000.

Cases are increasing among young people, with those 20 and younger accounting for 27 percent of total cases or 2,646 cases. That’s far more than the 17 percent of all cases they represent since the pandemic began.

The state also reported 92 additional COVID-19 deaths, of which 43 occurred in September and 53 in October. Following a post-mortem review of health and death records, the state reported 47 deaths not previously reported.

Those reviews also led to the removal of six deaths previously considered COVID-19 deaths.

Testing data showed the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive is rising after having stayed steady for over a month. Of nearly 65,600 tests reported, 11.8 percent were positive.

For the past week, the rate has been 10.6 percent, up from 9.3 percent the previous week.

Fourteen counties now have a weekly positive rate above 20 percent, up from seven counties a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Oct. 4

Cases surging in northern Michigan

New COVID-19 infections are surging in northern Michigan as hospitalizations and positive testing rates also increase, according to the latest statewide coronavirus data.

The state reported 8,704 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases on Monday, or an average of 2,901 for each of the last three days.

But the disparity in cases in different regions of the state grew larger, with seven counties now having rates in excess of 70 cases per day per 100,000 population. The statewide rate is half that, at 34 cases per 100,000.

Leading the state is Ogemaw County, north of Midland, with 101 cases per day per 100,000. It reported 63 cases over the past three days, a high number for a county with just over 20,000 people.

Ogemaw is part of a band of counties from Saginaw Bay west to Lake Michigan with elevated cases, along with the central counties of the Upper Peninsula.

Ogemaw also has the highest positive test rate in the state, at 32 percent. That’s triple the statewide rate of 10.3 percent over the past week. The statewide positive testing rate is up from 9.4 percent on Friday and represents one of the bigger increases in over a month. Higher positive test rates indicate more community spread of the deadly virus. The state’s goal has been to keep positive test rates at 3 percent or lower.

The increase in cases is accompanied by more COVID hospitalizations, with the state now reporting that hospitals are treating 1,825 patients for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 1,708 on Friday.

That includes 61 patients in Upper Peninsula hospitals, triple the number reported Sept. 1. Statewide hospitalizations are up by nearly 600 people, or 47 percent, since Sept. 1.

Of those, 43 are currently pediatric cases, also more than double the 20 pediatric cases on Sept. 1. Since the school year has begun, infections among those under 20 have seen the biggest increase; children under 12 are not eligible. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Oct. 1

Cases top 4,000 per day for first time since April

Michigan reported 8,058 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, or an average of 4,029 for Thursday and Friday.

It’s the highest number of daily cases since 4,371 cases were reported on April 28.

The surge in cases, well above the 3,387 reported Wednesday, puts the seven-day daily average at 3,223, the first time over 3,000 since May 4 (3,204).

Those under 20 accounted for 27 percent of the cases in the past week, 7,300 or nearly 26,800 cases. For the entire pandemic, that age group has accounted for less than 18 percent of cases.

Case rates are rising in 59 of the state’s 83 counties, with the statewide rate at 32 cases per day per 100,000. But six counties are over 70 cases per day per 100,000, including Mackinac (83) and Ogemaw (82). All are in northern or west Michigan.

The state reported an additional 79 COVID-19 deaths, including 42 that came following a review of medical records.

Hospitalizations only rose slightly, with 1,708 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 statewide. That’s only five more than were reported Wednesday.

Testing data showed about 9 percent of tests were coming back positive. The weekly rate has risen to 9.4 percent from about 8.8 percent a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Sept. 29

September COVID deaths top 600

Coronavirus caseloads and deaths are increasing throughout Michigan as the delta variant spreads throughout the state.

Michigan reported 100 deaths on Wednesday, the highest single-day tally in four months, while new cases rose to 6,733 on Tuesday and Wednesday, increasing the seven-day average to 2,941 from 2,842 on Monday.

So far, September has had 635 deaths, up from 428 in August, bringing the total to 20,998 confirmed COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began.

Suburban Wayne County has had 71 deaths this month. That’s 2.6 percent of all 2,704 deaths in the county since March 2020. The wave of deaths has been more pronounced in other counties: Midland County had 12 deaths in September, nearly 11 percent of its pandemic total, while Hillsdale County reported 10 deaths, about 9 percent of its tally.

The state’s least-populated county, Keewenaw in the Upper Peninsula, had two COVID-19 deaths in September, up from one in all previous months.

The increase comes as cases are rising rapidly in many areas of the state.

Counties across northern and west Michigan are recording the biggest increases in cases and six counties are now reporting on average over 70 new cases per day per 100,000 people: Oceana, Schoolcraft, Mackinac, Newaygo, Ogemaw and Osceola counties.

The statewide rate, however, is far lower — 29 cases per day per 100,000 — in part because the most populous areas of metro Detroit are not reporting high numbers of new infections.

Hospitalizations for coronavirus treatment rose as well, with 1,703 patients now being treated with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 1,637.

For the first time in a couple of weeks, the percent of positive coronavirus tests rose, to 11 percent for the most recent two days, up from 9 percent. The weekly rate, however, inched up to 9.1 percent from 8.9 percent — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Sept. 27

7,733 more cases, 35 deaths

Michigan reported 7,733 new confirmed COVID-19 cases for the three-day period ending Monday, or nearly 2,600 a day.

With an additional 35 COVID-19 reported deaths, there now have been 531 so far in September, the most since 1,375 deaths were recorded in May. In August, there were 439 recorded deaths.

For most of the state, case rates remain stable, though well above what was seen in the summer. Statewide there has been an average of 28 new daily cases for every 100,000 people over the past week; only 16 states have a lower rate.

But there is a wide range within the state, with four mid-Michigan counties above 65 daily cases per 100,000: Newaygo (70), Oceana (68), Gladwin (67) and Osceola (66).

West Michigan and the southern counties of the Upper Peninsula currently have the highest rates in the state while 10 counties are averaging fewer than 20 cases per 100,000.

The elevated level of cases has led to a slight rise in hospitalizations with 1,637 patients currently being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 1,592 on Friday.

Testing results have remained flat, with 9 percent of tests over the past three days coming back positive. The rate has remained relatively stable at around 9 percent for over a month.

The state on Monday also reported 106 new school outbreaks affecting 614 students and staff, up from 98 new outbreaks a week earlier. In addition to the new outbreaks, there are 191 ongoing ones that have infected 1,824.

Infections among those under 20 years old have risen sharply in the past month as classes for K-12 and college resume. However, the young have been less likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19. But infections do keep students and staff out of school for illness and quarantine, disrupting education efforts a year after many students were forced to learn remotely as the pandemic raged. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Sept. 24

6,080 new cases, deaths spike in September

Michigan reported an additional 6,080 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, or an average of 3,040 a day for Thursday and Friday, the same as was reported for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The state also reported 82 additional COVID-19 deaths, of which 80 have occurred in September.

There have now been 499 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in September, exceeding the 436 in August. Cases have increased as the delta variant — now confirmed in all but three of the state’s 83 counties — has become the dominant strain in Michigan.

Cases are rising in parts of west and northern Michigan, in many places more than double the state’s current rate of 28 cases per day per 100,000. Fifteen counties now have rates above 50 daily cases per 100,000: Keweenaw, Oceana, Newaygo, Schoolcraft, Osceola, Iosco, Dickinson, Alger, Isabella, Kalkaska, Hillsdale, Mecosta, Menominee, St Joseph and Gladwin.

But rates in metro Detroit, where over 40 percent of the state’s population resides, remain below the state average.

With schools opening in August and September, the percentage of cases among those under 20 has risen rapidly. Since Labor Day, the traditional beginning of K-12 school, those 0-19 make up nearly 30 percent of all new cases, far more than the 17.4 percent of all cases since March, 2020.

However, the young have proven far more resilient to the disease, accounting for a fraction hospitalizations and fewer than 20 of the 20,866 COVID-19 deaths in Michigan.

Hospitalizations inched up on Friday, with the state reporting 1,592 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 1,575 on Wednesday.

According to hospital data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 patients comprise roughly 9 percent of all Michgian hospital patients. In the spring, when more than 4,400 COVID-19 patients were being treated, they comprised nearly a quarter of all patients.

Testing data reported Friday showed that 8.4 percent of more than 86,000 tests were positive. The weekly rate is 8.8 percent, a number that has stayed relatively flat for over a month. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Sept. 23

CDC panel recommends booster

Update: Pfizer COVID vaccine booster approved for Michiganders. Now what?

A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel on Thursday recommended booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine to people aged 65 and older and those whose immune systems may be compromised.

The committee’s unanimous approval recommendation expands on a similar U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommendation on Wednesday.

News reports indicated the CDC panel also endorsed a third shot for those 18 to 64 with an underlying medical condition. The committee, though, was divided and did not recommend that health workers receive a booster.

Those who are 65 and older are considered more vulnerable to the most severe symptoms of the disease and least able to mount a full vaccine-triggered immunity.

Well over 70 percent of all COVID-19 deaths have been among those 65 and older.

In August, the Biden administration had announced it would make Pfizer and Moderna boosters available for anyone 16 and older beginning Sept. 20. Those who were immunocompromised were immediately eligible for a booster.

In Michigan, 62,487 people have already received booster shots following the CDC’s Aug. 13 recommendation to get shots. Of those, 37,400 are 65 or older.

Overall, nearly 1.4 million Michigan residents 65 and older are fully vaccinated.

The Biden administration had been criticized for making the booster announcement ahead of approval and its push for boosters has met resistance among government scientists and some health experts.

Already, some have questioned the push for boosters when COVID vaccines are broadly available in the U.S. while so much of the globe’s population still awaits initial doses. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Sept. 22

COVID tally surpasses 1 million

Michigan reported 6,079 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, pushing the state’s total to over 1 million, or roughly 10 percent of the state population.

Since the pandemic began here in March 2020, there have been 1,001,989 confirmed cases, though experts estimate there are hundreds of thousands more unconfirmed cases.

The new cases, averaging 3,040 for Tuesday and Wednesday, lowered the seven-day average to 2,697 from 2,772. The state also reported 81 COVID-19 deaths, bringing September's toll to 419.

That puts the month on pace to exceed August’s 426 deaths. In July, Michigan had 159 cases, the fewest month of the pandemic.

In a separate report released on Wednesday, the state’s top epidemiologist reported 28,974 total breakthrough cases — infections in fully vaccinated residents — since Jan. 1.

That includes 4,371 cases from the time covered in the report, Sept. 7 to Sept. 14. That’s 24.5 percent of all cases in that time, down from 28 percent in the previous two weeks.

The infection rate for the vaccinated was nearly 13 cases for every 100,000 people, or nearly a third of the rate for the unvaccinated: 37 cases per 100,000.

The vaccinated are also far less likely to be hospitalized (8 percent of all hospitalizations since Jan. 1) or die (nearly 7 percent).

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 rose to 1,578 patients statewide on Wednesday. Though rising, the increase has been far slower than other surges. In the spring, there were over 4,400 patients statewide.

Over the past two days, 9.1 percent of coronavirus tests came back positive, and the weekly rate is 8.8 percent. Though some county rates are far higher, the statewide rate has hovered between 8.5 percent and 9.7 percent for just over a month. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Sept. 21

Johnson & Johnson makes case for second dose

Johnson & Johnson announced Tuesday that a second dose of its vaccine produced robust protection against COVID. The results, if they hold up to government scrutiny, could mean a possible booster for the nearly 350,000 Michigan residents who received the single-dose vaccine.

The company has not yet formally sought authorization for a booster, but said it submitted its data on a second shot to the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies around the world “to inform decision-making on local vaccine administration strategies, as needed.” Last week, the FDA approved boosters of the Pfizer vaccine for immunocompromised people and those 65 and older.

The J & J vaccine has been the least popular of three, U.S.-approved vaccines against COVID-19 and has experienced some hiccups since its approval, including having its use suspended temporarily in April over concerns about reports of blood clots in some women.

In clinical trials, the company said, a second dose of the vaccine delivered two months after the first dose produced up to 94 percent efficacy against moderate to severe COVID-19 in the U.S. and 100 percent against “severe/critical COVID-19,” Pfizer said in announcing results of a global clinical trial.

When a booster was given two months after the first shot, antibody levels rose to four to six times higher than observed after the single shot; a six-month booster triggered a 12-fold increase in antibodies, according to the drugmaker.

Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna two-dose vaccines, the J & J required just one shot. The overall effectiveness of its single-dose vaccine was less than the mRNA vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna.

In Michigan, 348,216 people have received the J & J vaccine, which uses a common, harmless adenovirus to deliver the spike protein DNA needed to mount an immune response. - Robin Erb

Monday, Sept. 20

Cases up to nearly 2,400 per day, rates increasing after roller coaster

Michigan reported 7,185 new COVID-19 infections on Monday over the past three days, for an average of 2,395 per day.

That pushed the seven-day rate to 2,772, up from 2,616 on Friday.

The state also reported 35 additional COVID-19 deaths.

Statewide, Michigan has a rate of 28 new cases per day per 100,000 residents, but in 12 counties, the rate exceeds 50 cases per 100,000: Dickinson, Isabella, Delta, Oceana, Berrien, Mecosta, Cass, Iosco, Osceola, Menominee, Hillsdale and Kalkaska. Rates in eight other counties are between 45 and 50 cases per 100,000 residents.

Of the 10 most populous counties, only Kent and neighboring Ottawa have rates above 30 cases per day per 100,000 residents. Kent is at 36 cases and Ottawa is at 33.

Hospitalizations for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 climbed 1,525 on Monday from 1,472 on Friday.

The increase comes as the percentage of positive coronavirus tests falls. Over the past three days, 9 percent of nearly 101,000 tests were positive, and the seven-day rate fell to 8.7 percent, down from 9.6 percent a week ago.

School outbreak data released Monday also shows 98 new outbreaks statewide affecting 412 students or staff, up from 71 new outbreaks a week ago affecting 344 people in K-12 schools and colleges.

All told, the state is monitoring 128 new and ongoing school outbreaks affecting 1,730 people, up from 113 total outbreaks a week ago affecting 892 people. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Sept. 17

Cases continue to seesaw

Michigan reported an average of 2,808 COVID-19 cases per day on Thursday and Friday, down from 3,300 per day on Tuesday and Wednesday.

That lowered the seven-day average to 2,616 from 2,685 on Wednesday.

Cases have slowly increased in the past two weeks, but not on a consistent basis. A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services told Bridge Michigan that because of an increase in home tests, the time between the onset of symptoms and the reporting date of new infections has grown.

That’s made case counts more volatile, rising and falling frequently.

But case counts are rising in 65 of 83 counties, including much of west Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Berrien County in southwest Michigan and Delta County in the Upper Peninsula are now reporting over 60 cases per 100,000 per day over the past week.

For Berrien County, that’s triple the rate of 20 cases per 100,000 a week ago; Delta was reporting 35 cases per day per 100,000 a week ago.

The state also reported 68 additional COVID-19 deaths, all but one of which was in September.

Barely halfway through the month, there are now 301 COVID-19 deaths in September, or nearly 18 a day. In August, there were 428 deaths, or 14 a day.

COVID-19 hospitalizations declined to 1,472 from 1,535, the first substantial drop since late July.

Over the most recent two days of testing, 8.4 percent of coronavirus tests came back positive, also a recent low. It put the rate over the past week at 9 percent, the lowest since it was 8.9 percent on Aug. 28.

Testing has increased 44 percent since Aug. 28, however, with nearly 223,000 people seeking a test in the past seven days, up nearly 69,000 tests.

The latest vaccination data shows that 57.2 percent of Michigan residents 18 and older have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations. That ranks Michigan 28th in the nation, and less than Wisconsin (62 percent) but more than Ohio (54.2 percent) and Indiana (53.7 percent.) — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Sept. 15

Cases jump to 3,302 per day

Michigan reported 6,604 new infections, or an average of 3,302 for the past two days on Wednesday, up from 2,000 per day on Monday.

The increase comes after case averages fell to 1,500 for the four days over Labor Day weekend. The new cases push the seven-day average to 2,685 a day, the highest since 2,836 on May 7.

There are conflicting opinions about whether case trends will increase or decrease in coming weeks.

In her latest report released Wednesday, state epidemiologist Sarah Lyon-Callo indicated “case trends may be slowing.”

A national forecasting model by researchers at Yale, Harvard and Stanford, meanwhile, has predicted Michigan’s infection rate in a steady downturn, like most states in the country. On Wednesday, though, that model has turned pessimistic, showing cases increasing.

Earlier in the pandemic, the percentage of positive coronavirus tests was a good barometer of whether cases were rising or falling. But with so many tests now taken at home, that has proven less reliable.

On Wednesday, the state reported that 9.3 percent of the past two days’ tests were positive, down from 9.7 percent reported Monday.

The state also reported an additional 62 COVID-19 deaths, including 41 determined after a review of health and medical records. All but five of the deaths occurred in September; the other five were in August.

After hitting a pandemic low of 158 deaths in July, there were 427 in August and, so far, 234 in September. Since the pandemic began in March 2020, there have been 20,597 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Michigan.

The state also reported there were 1,535 patients being treated in Michigan hospitals for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 1,516 on Monday. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, June 13

Cases average 2,031 per day

Michigan on Monday reported 6,093 new COVID-19 cases for the past three days, or an average of 2,031 per day, as well as 29 more deaths from the virus.

That’s down from the 3,000 cases per day reported Friday but it raised the weekly average to 2,304 daily cases, up from 2,110 on Friday.

Hospitalizations rose over the weekend, albeit slightly. There are now 1,516 patients treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 1,479 on Friday.

The rate of increases, in both cases and hospitalizations, has been slower during the current rise than during the spring and fall surges.

Of more than 88,500 tests reported Monday, 9.7 percent were positive, which is also the percentage of all tests in the past week that were positive. A week ago, the seven-day rate was 9.4 percent.

Michigan also reported that new COVID-19 outbreaks are affecting students and staff at 71 schools, including elementary, middle and high schools and four colleges or universities.

There are another 42 ongoing outbreaks and all told the state reported that 892 people — mostly students but also staff — have tested positive for COVID-19.

A week earlier there were 44 total outbreaks affecting 407 people. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Sept. 10

Michigan averages 3,000 cases per day

Michigan reported 6,095 cases of COVID-19 for Thursday and Friday, the first time since May 6 the state averaged more than 3,000 new cases per day.

That pushed the seven-day average to 2,110, up from 1,875 on Wednesday. Cases have steadily increased since mid-July when the state was averaging fewer than 200 daily cases.

Rising case counts are now being reported in central and west Michigan and parts of the Upper Peninsula.

Kent County, the most populous county outside of metro Detroit, reported 30 daily cases per 100,000, up from 27 a week earlier.

Detroit is at 11 cases per day per 100,000; Oakland, Macomb and suburban Wayne are all around 20 cases per day per 100,000; statewide it is 21 cases per day, which is still one of the lowest rates in the country.

Hospitalizations are also increasing, with 1,479 COVID-19 patients, up from 1,414 on Wednesday and 225 more than a week ago.

At the worst of the spring surge, just over 4,400 patients were being treated.

Hospitals in Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties reported a 40 percent jump in hospitalizations in the past week, from 276 to 387 on Friday, while Upper Peninsula hospitalizations increased 45 percent over the week.

An additional 59 COVID-19 deaths were reported Friday, including 44 that were determined following a review of vital records.

Testing data, which has become less of a reliable barometer of trends because many home tests are not reported, showed that 9.5 percent of the last week’s tests have come back positive, up from 9.1 percent a week earlier. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Sept. 8

Michigan reports most cases since May

Michigan reported 2,364 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest one-day total since 2,758 on May 7.

Reporting over the holiday weekend, which had the lowest daily counts since Aug. 23, may have contributed to the volatility in case counts.

Even so, the seven-day average rose to 1,875, up from 1,858 on Tuesday.

Officials also reported 51 deaths, the most on a single day since June 12.

The deaths included 12 in August and 39 in September. There are now 407 deaths from August, up from 165 in July; there had been 406 in June as the spring surge was waning.

Hospitalizations to 1,415 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 1,397 on Tuesday.

In the latest report from the state’s top epidemiologist, the number of infections among the vaccinated rose to 3,806 over the week that ended Aug. 31. That accounted for 28 percent of all cases over that week.

The rate of infections among the vaccinated was 11.6 per 100,000 people, well under half the unvaccinated rate of 25.4 cases per 100,000.

As of Wednesday, 4.8 million people had been fully vaccinated, or 56.2 percent of the eligible population, those 12 and older. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Sept. 7

Average cases fall to 1,578 per day

Michigan reported 6,313 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, or an average of 1,578 for each of the past four days, the lowest rate since 1,273 were reported Aug. 23.

That lowered the seven-day daily average to 1,858, down from 1,995 on Friday.

The state also reported 29 additional COVID-19 deaths.

Because of technical problems, the state said it could not release the latest testing data. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Sept. 3

Cases remain stable as neighboring states surge

COVID-19 cases in Michigan remain relatively stable, with the state reporting 4,448 cases on Thursday and Friday for an average of 2,224 per day.

That leaves the daily rate relatively unchanged, as it was 2,247 a day on Tuesday and Wednesday. Over the past seven days, the rate is 1,995, up from the weekly rate of 1,925 on Wednesday.

Case counts are increasing far slower than either in the fall or spring, easing pressure on hospitals, where the number of COVID-19 patients fell on Friday to 1,254 from 1,258 on Wednesday.

However, neighboring states have substantial surges in cases. Michigan currently is tied with the fourth-lowest case rate in the country, at 22 cases per day per 100,000 residents. Indiana is at 62 cases per 100,000, while Ohio is at 45 cases per 100,000 and Wisconsin is at 34 cases per 100,000.

Michigan also reported 51 COVID-19 deaths, of which 50 were in the past three weeks. The additional deaths push the toll in August to 389 COVID-19 deaths, more than double the 165 in July.

Roughly 8.7 percent of coronavirus tests came back positive in the last two days in Michigan, down slightly from Wednesday. The seven-day positivity rate remains unchanged at 9.1 percent.

The positive rate has stayed between 8 and 9.1 percent for 17 days. In the spring, the rate was 16.6 percent 17 days after surpassing 8 percent; it was 13.4 percent in the fall 17 days after exceeding 8 percent.— Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Sept. 1

59 deaths, 2,247 cases per day on average

Michigan reported 59 new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, and 4,494 new coronavirus infections, or 2,247 a day.

The deaths included 53 in August, pushing that month’s total to 349, more than double July’s toll of 165.

The new infections pushed the seven-day average to 1,925 daily cases, up slightly from the 1,901 daily cases registered on Monday.

Statewide, case counts are rising in 43 of the state’s 83 counties, with west Michigan counties of Kent and Ottawa seeing similar increases. Kent is recording 26 cases a day per 100,000 on average, up from 19 the week earlier. Ottawa has 27 cases a day per 100,000, up from 23.

But in Branch County, the hardest-hit county recently, average daily cases fell to 25 per 100,000 people, down from a state-leading 39 per 100,000 a week earlier. It is in southwest Michigan, along the Indiana border.

In its latest weekly report on case trends, the state reported nearly 2,600 breakthrough cases — coronavirus infections among those who are fully vaccinated. Covering the week of Aug. 18 through Aug. 25, the cases represent 22.5 percent of all cases over that time.

The rate of infections for the vaccinated, however, is less than half of that for those who have not been vaccinated: 8.6 cases per 100,000 compared to 22.2 cases for every 100,000 unvaccinated people.

Hospitalizations among the fully vaccinated remain rare — 836 in 2021 of 59,000 admissions for COVID-19.

Of the nearly 7,300 COVID-19 deaths since Jan. 1, 279 had been people who were fully vaccinated. Of those, 247 were 65 or older.

Testing results over the past two days registered 9.5 percent positive but the seven-day rate remained flat, at 9.1 percent positive.

The state’s hospitals reported an additional 10 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, with 1,258 hospitalized statewide, compared to 1,248 on Monday.

Although cases, percent positive and hospitalizations are all rising, they are doing so far more slowly than they did last fall or this spring. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Aug. 30

Cases holding steady

Michigan reported over 5,000 new coronavirus infections over the weekend, or 1,674 for each of the three days, a decrease in cases reported over the previous five days.

Overall, the 5,020 new infections bring the seven-day rate to 1,901 new daily infections, up from 1,729. However, the increases in the last two weeks are far more muted than what was recorded during the winter and spring surges.

The positive test rate rose to 9.2 percent over the weekend, up from 8.7 percent on Friday, and the seven-day rate rose above 9 percent (to 9.2 percent) for the first time since May 7.

In the spring, when Michigan was hammered with the worst surge in the country, the weekly positive rate went from 7 percent to 9 percent in six days. In the winter, it took seven days.

This time it’s taken 22 days since the state reported a weekly rate of 7 percent on Aug. 8, an indication of how much more slowly cases are rising and the potential effectiveness of the vaccines that have been administered to nearly 5.3 million state residents.

In other positive news, the number hospitalized for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 was 1,248, up just four from Friday’s reported 1,244. That’s the smallest increase since hospitalizations began rising in mid-July.

The state reported an additional 26 COVID-19 deaths, 25 of which occurred in August. For the month there have been 296 deaths, up substantially from the 164 recorded in July. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Aug. 27

COVID rates stabilize

Despite recording the most weekly COVID-19 cases since mid-May, the overall counts in Michigan have stabilized as the state reported Friday there were 3,958 new cases over the past two days.

That’s an average of 1,979 a day, a drop from the daily average of more than 2,100 daily cases reported on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The seven-day daily average is now 1,729.

Another potentially encouraging sign: The state reported Friday that 8.5 percent of people tested for COVID produced positive results, a rate that has remained virtually unchanged over the past 10 days. During earlier surges of the virus (before millions of state residents were vaccinated), once the state’s positive test rate hit 8 percent it moved quickly to 10 percent or higher as cases and deaths shot up.

In the fall, the weekly positive rate hit 12 percent just 10 days after crossing the 8 percent threshold and it hit 13 percent in the spring after first crossing 8 percent.

The number of new COVID cases are rising in many parts of Michigan, but far more slowly than in earlier surges, aided perhaps by the fact over 55.6 percent of eligible state residents — ages 12 and older — are fully vaccinated.

But people are still getting seriously ill and dying: The state reported 69 additional COVID-19 deaths Friday. For August there have been 271 COVID-19 deaths, up from 163 in all of July.

Hospitalizations rose slightly on Friday, to 1,244 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That is up 9 patients from Wednesday and 233 from a week ago.— Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Aug. 25

COVID deaths climb in August as hospitalizations increase

Michigan has reported 207 COVID-19 deaths so far in August, up from 162 for the month of July, according to the latest data released by the state.

That total includes 37 August deaths reported on Wednesday (a 38th death reported Wednesday was from July.)

While COVID-related deaths are rising in Michigan, they remain far below earlier surges of the virus. In the month of April, for instance, 1,743 deaths were recorded in Michigan. Deaths declined the following months, but are again picking up as the delta variant surges.

The state reported an average of 2,163 new COVID-19 cases for Tuesday and Wednesday, pushing the seven-day daily average to 1,763, up from 1,415 a week ago. On Aug. 1 the state averaged 633 daily cases.

Hospitalizations rose again Wednesday, up 76 to 1,235 COVID-19 patients being treated statewide. That, too, is still well below April, when hospitalizations peaked at just over 4,400.

The latest testing data showed 9.3 percent of just over 47,200 COVID tests given in the state came back positive. The weekly rate is 8.7 percent, up from 8.4 percent a week ago.

Statewide, 44 counties have a rate above 10 percent; a week ago, 28 counties had rates above 10 percent. Higher rates of positive tests indicate greater community spread of the virus.

However, the rate of increase is far slower than in the spring. On March 16, the statewide seven-day rate was 6 percent and rose to 8.9 percent in a week. It’s been three weeks since the state rate rose above 6 percent on Aug. 3, before hitting 8.7 percent on Wednesday. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Aug. 23

Michigan COVID cases fall, hospitalizations up

Michigan public health officials reported 3,920 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, or roughly 1,273 a day over the past three days, a rate far lower than Friday’s average of nearly 2,100 daily cases. (Reported case counts have tended to be lower over the weekend in Michigan.)

The case count somewhat stabilizes the overall trend in cases, with an average of 1,530 cases a day over the past week.

Though that’s a jump from the 1,352 average a week ago, it’s a small overall increase.

During the fall and spring surges, case counts rose more rapidly after hitting 1,300 daily cases. For instance in the spring it went from 1,362 on March 10 to 1,951 a week later. And seven days later it was just under 3,000 before peaking at just over 7,000 in mid-April.

But no one had been vaccinated prior to the fall surge and a relatively small fraction of state residents had been vaccinated prior to the spring surge. By comparison, today more than 4.7 million state residents are fully vaccinated.

Testing data showed that 8.5 percent of COVID tests given over the past three days came back positive, up slightly from a week ago. Higher rates of positive tests indicate greater community spread of the virus.

The state also reported 10 additional COVID-19 deaths covering Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 933,394 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 20,123 confirmed deaths in Michigan.

As of Monday, there are 1,159 patients being treated in Michigan hospitals for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 1,011 on Friday. Hospitalizations have risen steadily since hitting a low of 279 on July 12 and are rising in every region of the state except the Upper Peninsula.— Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Aug. 20

Cases spike by more than 700 after remaining stable for weeks

COVID-19 cases spiked to 4,197 cases on Thursday and Friday — or nearly 2,100 per day — from the daily average of 1,345 on Wednesday and 1,184 on Monday.

The increase follows rising positive test rates, with 33 counties now averaging 10 percent or more positive tests over the past week, up from 28 counties on Wednesday and 22 counties last Friday.

Most of the counties are rural, but others, urban areas also are experiencing similar increases including Kalamazoo County (12.2 percent) and Kent County (10.2 percent.) The statewide positive test rate remains 8.4 percent over the past week.

Case counts in both Kalamazoo (22 daily cases per 100,000, up from 15) and Kent (17 cases per 100,000, up from 13) are rising as they are in 68 of the state’s 83 counties and Detroit.

However, Michigan still has one of the lowest overall rates in the country.

The increase in cases has put more people in the hospital, with the state reporting more than 1,000 COVID-19 patients (1,011 total) for the first time since 1,007 were reported on June 1.

The number of hospitalized fell to a low of 279 on July 12 but has risen since.

The state also reported 37 additional COVID-19 deaths on Friday and over the past week it was reported 102, double the 61 reported in the previous week.

State officials have warned that the state could face a fourth surge unless more people get vaccinated and people take precautions like wearing masks and remaining vigilant. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Aug. 18

46 new deaths, but cases stable

Michigan reported 46 new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, as fatalities have risen sharply in recent weeks.

Over the past week ending Tuesday, there were 56 COVID-19 deaths, up from 37 weekly deaths a month ago. However, during the peak of the spring surge, the state was reporting close to 500 deaths in a week.

New COVID-19 cases have risen sharply in the past month as the more contagious Delta variant has become the predominant strain of the coronavirus, with the state reporting 2,690 cases over Tuesday and Wednesday, or an average of 1,339 a day for the past week.

A month ago, the state was averaging 246 cases a day.

There are worrisome and hopeful signs.

The percent of positive tests rose to just over 9 percent for the past two days, pushing the weekly rate to 8.3 percent, up from 5.4 percent on Aug. 1. Twenty-eight counties now have a positive rate of 10 percent or higher, up from 22 counties a week ago.

But cases have not jumped substantially in the past two weeks and hospitalizations are not climbing as fast as they did during previous surges. There are now 944 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 925 on Monday.

In the spring, hospitalization rates rose far more rapidly, peaking at over 4,400. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Aug. 18

Cases holding steady at 1,200

Michigan averaged nearly 1,200 daily COVID-19 cases over the weekend, staying relatively stable even as the percent of positive coronavirus tests has risen.

The state reported 3,554 new COVID-19 cases and 19 COVID-19 deaths on Monday, covering Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Although that pushed the seven-day daily average up to 1,352, the increase hasn’t risen steeply as it has in Sunbelt states reeling from the more-contagious Delta variant.

Case rates in Michigan are climbing, now averaging about 14 cases per 100,000 per day.

But that’s a fraction of the more than 70 cases per 100,000 per day seen at the height of the spring surge when some counties’ rates exceeded 120 cases a day per 100,000.

The latest testing data shows that over the past week nearly 7.7 percent of tests have been positive, up from 7.1 percent a week ago. It was 6 percent on Aug. 1 and below 2 percent from mid-June through mid-July.

Hospitalizations rose slightly over the weekend, with 925 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID, up from 908 on Friday. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Aug. 13

Positive test rate up to 7.9 percent

Michigan COVID-19 cases continue to rise, as state officials on Friday reported 3,127 cases over the past two days — for an average of 1,564 — and a positive test rate of 7.9 percent.

That’s the highest positive rate since it was 8 percent on May 11.

Of Michigan’s 83 counties, 22 have 10 percent or more tests coming back positive. In Iosco County 21 percent of tests in the past week have been positive.

Even as cases are rising, several states — particularly those in the South — have far higher rates of infection, largely because of the Delta variant, which is considered far more contagious, continues to spread rapidly.

Michigan hospitalizations are surging as well, with the state reporting Friday that 908 people are being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19.

The state also reported 29 additional COVID-19 deaths over the past two days, bringing the total since the pandemic started to 20,011.

In all, 59.3 percent of Michigan residents over 12 have been vaccinated. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Aug. 12

Doctor groups urge masks in schools

Two major medical groups — Michigan Association of Family Physicians and the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics – Thursday urged universal masking in schools.

The statements stopped short of using the words “require” or “mandate” and instead noted that state guidance and that from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics urge universal masking.

Many schools in Michigan have made masks optional as school is set to resume, but some experts say a mandate is necessary.

They include Dr. Matthew Sims, an infectious disease expert who studied the effect of mask-wearing during COVID. An infectious disease expert at Beaumont Health, Sims found masks among health care workers early in the pandemic — and before masks were universally required — significantly reduced the transmission of COVID.

Asked during a news conference earlier this week about whether schools should require masks or make them optional, Sims said there is “no reason to take the risk of making this optional.”

“How many 8-year-olds, 10-year-olds, or 13-year-olds or whatever ….are going to really have the understanding to say ‘You know, this is important. I’m going to wear it?’” he said.

Around the nation, parents have packed school board meetings and fired off messages to school boards demanding or protesting against, mask mandates. — Robin Erb

Wednesday, Aug. 11

Cases rise to nearly 1,400 per day

Michigan reported nearly 3,000 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, or an average of 1,393 a day, along with 24 new deaths.

The case count is rising in many parts of the state as the seven-day daily average inched up to 1,164 up from 1,048 on Monday.

Even so, the rise is not as steep as the increases seen in Florida, Texas and other southern states that are experiencing the highest case counts ever recorded in those states.

In Michigan, the spring surge and winter surges were far worse. The state averaged 7,000 daily cases.

Still, hospitalizations have jumped considerably with more than 100 new COVID-19 patients reported in hospitals across the state on Wednesday. There are now 859 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 752 on Monday and 300 a month ago. In April, 4,400 patients were hospitalized.

Testing data released Wednesday showed that about 7 percent of tests are coming back positive, nearly identical to Monday’s rate. It’s far higher than the sub-2 percent low hit in June but well below the highs in the mid-teens in April. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Aug. 9

Seven-day average peaks over 1,000

Michigan’s seven-day average of new COVID cases is now more than 1,000 per day, jumping up from just over 500 cases in less than two weeks.

That’s far faster than last year, when it took two months to go from 500 daily cases in July to over 1,000 daily cases in October — and before over 4.6 million people in Michigan had been fully vaccinated.

The numbers rose as Michigan on Monday reported 2,720 new cases over the past three days for a daily average of 907. After a month of reporting new coronavirus data on Tuesdays and Fridays, the state is going to release COVID information on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The trend shows the potency of the Delta variant, which public health officials say is nearly twice as contagious as the original virus and which is predominantly infecting those who have not been vaccinated.

The virus is far more common in some areas than others, with Branch County in southern Michigan at 32 cases per 100,000, up from 21 the week before. Metro Detroit is now at about 12 cases per 100,000, up from seven the week before.

The increase has triggered a surge in hospitalizations, with the state reporting 752 confirmed or suspected coronavirus patients in hospitals statewide, up 42 percent from 531 on Friday.

For the past week, 7 percent of coronavirus tests have come back positive, up from 6 percent a week ago and 4.25 percent two weeks ago.

Deaths attributed to the virus have not risen in Michigan, but they can typically lag weeks after surges.

Since Friday there have been eight additional COVID-19 deaths. Since the pandemic began, there have been 19,958 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and another 1,270 probable ones. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Aug. 7

Michigan records 3,962 cases over three days

Daily average COVID cases jumped to the highest level in months Friday, when the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services added another 3,962 COVID cases for the second half of the week, or about 1,321 cases a day over a three-day period.

The new cases bumped the rolling, seven-day average of new infections to 938 a day, a case average not seen since May 25, when Michigan slid off its spring COVID surge, hitting a rolling average of 938 cases a day.

To date, the state has confirmed 910,500 COVID cases.

It is increasingly clear that the Delta variant, which is much more transmissible than earlier versions of the coronavirus, is fueling the surge, said Kayleigh Blaney, deputy health officer for Genesee County Health Department.

“We’re really dealing with a different virus here,” she said.

People infected with the virus carry more of it than those infected with other variants of the virus. Additionally, it appears to be being spread even by people who are vaccinated against the virus. The Delta variant is fueling a rise in infections cross the globe. Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deemed Michigan a state with “substantial transmission,” moving it up from a lower risk level of “moderate” transmission.

The state reported no new COVID-linked deaths over the latest three-day period, though it confirmed COVID links in three earlier deaths based on a review of medical records. The total number of deaths linked to COVID-19 now stands at 19,950.

As another sign of increased viral spread, 6.5 percent of people tested for COVID Thursday came back with positive results. Higher positivity rates are associated with broader community spread of the virus. The state’s goal is to keep the positivity rate below 3 percent. It had dropped to 1 percent on June 20.

— Robin Erb

Tuesday, Aug. 3

2,605 cases over four days

Michigan added 2,605 COVID-19 cases and 26 deaths over the past four days on Tuesday, as the number of cases linked to the Delta variant continues to rise.

The Delta variant, considered more transmissible than other COVID variants, has now been confirmed in 233 cases in at least 40 counties throughout Michigan.

The new cases push the seven-day average to 693 — well above the 100 cases the state averaged on July 6 but far below the spring peak of more than 7,000 daily cases.

Ten of the 26 new deaths linked to COVID were from reviews of prior death records, boosting the total deaths to 19,947 since March 2020.

Meanwhile, 6.6 percent of tests were returned as positive, a rate not seen since mid-May as Michigan came off its third COVID wave.

And while hospitalizations remained low compared to earlier waves, they climbed to 513 from 407 on Friday.

The increases have prompted some employers to reinstate mask mandates, while Michigan State University, University of Michigan and Wayne State University have announced they will require vaccines for on-campus students and staff — Robin Erb

Tuesday, Aug. 3

Big Three auto makers reinstate mask mandate

The Detroit Three auto manufacturers will require workers to wear masks beginning Wednesday.

The new order includes workers in all plants, offices and warehouses, regardless of vaccination status, according to a statement by the COVID-19 Joint Task Force, which is consists of the United Auto Workers union, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis.

The Tuesday order follows new guidance from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention that recommends the use of masks indoors in areas of “high” or “significant” transmission, even by vaccinated people.

The highly transmissible Delta variant has fueled surges nationwide and is taking hold in Michigan, perhaps helping fuel the state’s climbing case rate and positive test results.

Thirty-three of Michigan’s 83 counties now are deemed to have high or significant transmission. They do not include the four counties in metro Detroit, but the numbers have increased quickly.

“While we know that masks can be uncomfortable, the spread of the Delta variant and recent data outlining the alarmingly high rate of transmission among those unvaccinated is a serious health threat,” read a statement released by the automaker task force. It also “strongly” encouraged members, coworkers and their families to be vaccinated. — Robin Erb

Friday, July 30

Cases average 573 per day

COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations continue to rise in Michigan, though still nowhere at the peak levels that overwhelmed the state this spring and last fall.

On Friday, the seven-day rolling average of confirmed COVID cases reached 573 a day, as the state added 2,250 confirmed cases over the past three days, or about 750 per day. Those cases brought the total of confirmed infections to 903,933 since the beginning of the pandemic.

The state added another 19 deaths, including 10 from a review of previous death records, pushing the total to 19,921.

The percent of COVID tests returned with positive results inched up to 5.5 percent. Positivity is an indicator of community spread of the virus, and the state’s goal is to keep it below 3 percent. It had dropped to 1 percent on June 20.

As of Friday, 407 patients were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID, up from 293 on July 9 but well shy of the peak of 4,422 patients on April 19.

The uptick may be driven in part by the more transmissible Delta variant. As of Friday, 182 cases — more than double the 81 cases a week ago — had been confirmed through genetic sequencing among a sampling of COVID tests. Still, the numbers might be increasing, too, because more samples are being submitted for testing, according to state health spokesperson Chelsea Wuth.

Detroit and its three surrounding counties accounted for 55 of the Delta cases, and Branch County — which has the highest case count overall in the state now — accounted for 12 Delta cases. All told, the variant has been confirmed in three dozens of counties scattered throughout Michigan, including its Upper Peninsula.

Driven by the trends, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University announced Friday they will require the COVID vaccine of its employees.

“The data associated with the vaccine has strongly clarified its impact in terms of reducing severe infections, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19,” Dr. David Miller, president of the University of Michigan Health System, said to Bridge Michigan.

At least seven large hospital systems have such requirements now. — Robin Erb

Thursday, July 29

Spectrum, Beaumont require employee vaccines

Pushed in part by the highly transmissible Delta variant, two more Michigan health systems will require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Southfield-based Beaumont Health will require “all employees and providers who practice medicine or work at Beaumont facilities” to be vaccinated once the U.S. Food & Drug Administration fully approves a vaccine — a decision expected later this year.

Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health also announced its requirement Wednesday, mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for “team members, medical staff, students, volunteers and contractors.”

Both systems will require the vaccine within weeks of FDA approval. The three vaccines now available have been passed only “emergency use authorization” through an expedited federal vetting process.

Leaders of the 14-hospital system Spectrum made the decision after “robust conversations,” according to President and CEO Tina Freese Decker. But, she added, Spectrum is a health organization whose workers “support the science.”

Beaumont CEO John Fox called the requirement “essential and continues our commitment to protecting and serving all Michiganders.”

“Those who choose not to be vaccinated will no longer be allowed to work at Beaumont,” according to the Beaumont statement which quoted Fox.

Between them, the two hospitals employ more than 64,000 people.

The decision follows the recommendation by the American Hospital Association as well as the American Medical Association and dozens of other medical associations.

Earlier this month, Trinity Health, a Livonia-based, national health care system, announced it would require vaccines of all its “colleagues, clinical staff, contractors, and those conducting business in its health care facilities.” The Trinity decision affected more than 117,000 employees in 22 states, including about 24,000 working in Michigan. And in June, Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System became the first health system in Michigan to require staff-wide vaccinations against COVID-19. — Robin Erb

Tuesday, July 27

Positivity rate hits 5 percent

One in 20 COVID tests for COVID were positive in the past four days in Michigan — the highest in more than two months, fueling fears the virus may once again be tightening its grip.

Positive tests hit 5.1 percent as of Monday, according to the most recent data by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The rate has had an incrementally small, but undeniable, increase, since late June, when positivity rates dipped as low as 1 percent from a high of 17.9 percent during the April surge.

The last time positivity rates were that high was May 21, when 5.3 percent of cases were being returned positive. At the time, Michigan was exiting its third wave of cases.

On Tuesday, Michigan also added 1,762 cases over the last four days, or an average of 441 cases a day, pushing the total since the start of the pandemic to 901,683. Officials also added 19 deaths, including 15 from a review of past death records, bringing the total to 19,902 linked to COVID in Michigan.

The tallies came the same day the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course and recommended that Americans — even those who are fully vaccinated — wear masks indoors in areas with high transmission rates.

Michigan’s hospitals were caring for 385 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID, the highest number since June 23, as those patient numbers continued to fall following the third COVID wave in Michigan. Three weeks later, the state’s hospitals were caring for just 211 patients, but those numbers have generally climbed with each new data report since then.

The vaccination rate in Michigan has slowed significantly, as just under 60 percent among those 16 and older have received an initial dose. — Robin Erb

Friday, July 23

1,295 cases over three days

Coronavirus cases have reached their highest point in six weeks, with the state on Friday reporting 1,295 new cases over the past three days.

The totals mean the state is averaging 432 cases per day, just one week after it was averaging 294 per day. The new cases bring the seven-day average of cases to 332, up from 273 on Tuesday.

It’s the highest seven-day average since June 8, when it was 354 per day. Since then, cases have dropped nearly every day, falling to 110 cases per day on June 28.

The increase comes as cases are rising nationwide, but remain low compared to earlier in the pandemic. On April 13, Michigan had a high of 7,014 cases.

The increase blamed largely on those who have not been vaccinated: 59.4 percent of Michiganders 16 and older had a first dose of a vaccine as of Friday, while 3 in 10 of those 12 to 15 years-old have done so, according to state records.

Perhaps most worrisome, the percent of tests with positive results reached 4.7 percent Thursday. COVID test results are an indicator of community spread, and Michigan has set a goal of keeping positive results to 3 percent or below.

Positive test results had remained low — at 2 percent or below — throughout the last three weeks of June and the first week of July. But on July 12, they hit 2.4 percent and have remained at that percent or higher for all but one day since then.

Michigan also reported 21 days over the past three days on Friday, including a seven from a review of death records, while 317 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 were in state hospitals. — Robin Erb

Tuesday, July 20

Michigan adds 1,028 cases over four days

Michigan added 1,028 COVID-19 cases Tuesday over the past four days, pushing the seven-day daily average to 273 and bringing the statewide total to 898,626 since the pandemic began.

The case average has dropped a hair from Friday and remains far below the 7,014 daily peak on April 13. But cases have crept up since hitting a low of 110 on June 28.

Michigan, which is reporting data twice a week, also added another 14 deaths for the last four-day period, but all came from a review of death records. That brought the total number of deaths linked to COVID to 19,862.

Statewide, 352 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, 48 more than Friday. In all, though, fewer than 400 people have been hospitalized with suspected or confirmed COVID since June 22.

While cases remain low, experts continue to monitor the Delta coronavirus variant, which is surging cases elsewhere and which a World Health Organization official this week said is the most transmissible.

In Michigan, as of Tuesday, 71 cases had been identified in sequencing samples from tests that were positive. Those cases are among the 13,772 cases in Michigan confirmed as one of a handful of four “variants of concern” the state now tracks.

Variants of concern are those that are believed more transmissible than the original coronavirus that tore through Michigan last spring.

As of Tuesday, about 4.6 million Michiganders of the 8.6 million Michiganders 12 and older, or about 53 percent, were fully vaccinated. Just more than 57 percent were fully vaccinated, according to state data. — Robin Erb

Friday, July 16

COVID cases inch up, still low

Amid mostly good news, COVID-19 cases are tracking upward again in Michigan after steady declines.

On Friday, the state reported 881 cases for the previous three days, an average of 294 per day. The state also reported 16 deaths over the past three days, including seven after a review of previous death records.

Case numbers overall remain low, as do the positivity rate of COVID tests and number of hospitalizations. As of Thursday, 2.4 percent of tests were positive, within the state’s goal of remaining at 3 percent or below.

Meanwhile, 304 people were in Michigan hospitals for suspected or confirmed COVID. That’s 25 more than on Tuesday, the last day the state released data, but still well below the peak of 4,422 people in April.

The Delta variant, the cause of surges elsewhere, remains low in Michigan. In genetic sequencing of COVID samples, at least 13,464 variants of concern — those believed to be most transmissible — have been identified in Michigan. The Delta variant accounted for 1.7 percent of those cases, according to a weekly state report. — Robin Erb

Tuesday, July 13

Hospitalization at lowest level of pandemic

A week after a long Independence Day weekend, the number of patients hospitalized with COVID -19 has dropped to the lowest level of the pandemic, while daily cases fell to an average of 163 since Thursday.

Michigan on Tuesday reported 650 total cases over the previous four days, down from an average of 224 per day last week. That pushed the state total to 896,717 cases since the pandemic began. In all, 279 people remained hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID, down from a high of 4,422 April 19.

Michigan also reported 31 deaths; all but four of which followed a review of previous death records. The state’s vaccination rate has inched up slightly to 62 percent.

Meanwhile, the number of tests that were returned with positive results — an indicator of community spread — climbed slightly. But at 2.4 percent, the positive rate remains below the 3 percent threshold the state has set as a goal to be at or below. — Robin Erb

Friday, July 9

Cases inch up to 224 per day

Coronavirus cases jumped slightly over the past three days, a worrisome trend but still far below the peaks of the pandemic, according to new data released Friday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The state reported 672 cases Friday covering three days, or about 224 cases a day for that period. That increase has brought the daily, rolling average of cases from a low of 110 on June 28 to 159 as of Friday. In contrast, the rolling average of cases peaked April 13, when the state was averaging 7,014 cases a day.

The state also recorded 26 more deaths Friday, including 18 from a review of vital records on past deaths that were later linked to COVID. Michigan now has a total of 19,801 deaths linked to COVID-19 throughout the pandemic.

Though the daily cases reveal a worrisome climb, 1.7 percent of COVID tests returned with positive results, according to Friday’s data. That indicates low community spread of the virus and is well below the 3 percent threshold the state has set as a goal to be at or below. — Robin Erb

Thursday, July 8

Vaccinate or find another job, Trinity Health tells staff

Trinity Health, a Michigan-based, national health care system, Thursday announced it will require COVID vaccines of all its “colleagues, clinical staff, contractors, and those conducting business in its health care facilities.”

The decision by Livonia-based Trinity affects more than 117,000 employees in 22 states, including about 24,000 working in Michigan. Those who don’t comply will lose their jobs, according to a statement released Thursday by the system.

It’s announcement follows a similar one in late June by Henry Ford Health System, the first health system in Michigan to require staff-wide vaccinations against COVID-19.

Trinity in Michigan operates five Saint Joseph Mercy Health System hospitals, three Mercy Health hospitals, and two employed medical groups, IHA and Mercy Health Physician Partners.

The faith-based health system has “pledged to protect the most vulnerable, those that have a high risk of developing severe health complications if they were to contract this deadly virus,” Rob Casalou, president and CEO of Trinity Health Michigan and Southeast Regions, said in the statement.

Though there will undoubtedly be pushback, he said, “we know this to be the right decision.”

Bobby Maldonado, a Trinity spokesperson, told Bridge that exemptions “will be made for those who have medical conditions that prohibit vaccination and those with strongly held religious beliefs. These exemptions must be formally requested, documented and approved prior to set deadlines.”

Nearly 3-in-4 Trinity Health employees already are vaccinated, according to Trinity’s estimates.

Most employees will be required to submit proof of vaccination by Sept. 21 with the possibility of submitting proof in the future if a vaccine booster is required. - Robin Erb

Tuesday, July 6

Michigan averaging just over 100 cases a day

Michigan reported Tuesday an average of 109 COVID-19 cases over the past four days, or 438 total. The state also reported 21 additional COVID-19 deaths.

Beginning Tuesday, the state is only going to update coronavirus statistics on cases, deaths, hospitalizations and vaccinations on Tuesdays and Fridays. The decision came after recent weeks in which daily cases and deaths fell to the lowest levels since the pandemic began.

Of the 21 deaths, 16 were earlier deaths that were determined to be linked to COVID after a review of medical and health records.

The state also reported that 1.7 percent of 32,500 tests came back positive over the past four days. For the past week, 1.7 percent of all tests have been positive, up from 1.2 percent for the previous week but still well below the state’s goal of keeping the rate at or below 3 percent.

Just over 300 patients — 309 — are currently being treated in Michigan hospitals for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That’s up slightly from 299 on July 2 though still among the lowest patient census since the state began reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, July 2

101 cases, no deaths; declines prompt state to curtail reporting

Beginning Tuesday, Michigan public officials will only report coronavirus data twice a week, citing continual declines in cases.

For most of the pandemic, the state has reported data six days a week, but recently stopped Saturday reporting. Beginning next week, the state will update its cases, deaths and vaccination data on Tuesdays and Fridays.

“As case and vaccination rates have slowed across the state, we have made the decision to reflect this change in the pandemic by reducing the number of days data is posted,” said Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

“We will not lose any of this information as data by day will still be available, however, it will now be posted online twice a week.”

The state reported 101 new infections on Friday, bringing the seven-day average to 144 cases. That is among the lowest levels since the first weeks after the pandemic began in March 2020.

There were no new COVID-19 deaths reported Friday and the overall number of deaths fell by four because of changes made by local health departments, Sutfin said.

In the worst weeks in November and April, the state reported an average of 7,000 cases a day and nearly 150 deaths a day.

As vaccinations ramped up — over 62 percent of residents 16 and older have had at least one dose of the vaccines — the state averaged 11 COVID-19 deaths a day in the past month and the average number of cases has fallen from 466 on June 1 to 144 on Friday. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, July 1

Cases inch up to 228

New confirmed coronavirus infections rose for the third straight day in Michigan on Thursday, with the state reporting 228 cases.

That has pushed the seven-day average up to 135; it had hit a low of 110 on Monday.

Nearly half of the cases — 106 — occurred in suburban Wayne County, excluding Detroit. The next highest number was 18 in Detroit and then 11 cases in Oakland County.

A spokesperson for Wayne County said the increase in the county was driven by a laboratory which reported a batch of results that were three months old. Prior to Thursday, Wayne County had averaged 29 cases a day over the previous two weeks.

There have now been 894,856 confirmed cases. Combined with 105,385 probable cases, there are now more than 1 million confirmed or suspected cases. Health experts, however, believe even that number is a vast undercount because many people — especially early in the pandemic — were unable to get tested.

Related:

Overall, rates remain incredibly low across Michigan with 78 of the 83 counties reporting five or fewer cases (and 46 had none).

The state reported a net of 10 new deaths, including 14 that came after a review of medical records. At least four deaths were removed from consideration as COVID-19 deaths, which happens when local health departments review cases, according to a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

There was an abrupt uptick in the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive, with 2.6 percent of nearly 14,200 cases reported Thursday coming back positive. The rate was 1.1 percent on Wednesday and has not been above 2 percent since June 11.

That bump in positive tests was largely driven by Wayne County as well, where the weekly positive rate jumped to 3.2 percent, up from 1.1 percent the previous week.

The statewide weekly rate rose to 1.4 percent — up from 1.2 percent — but still well below the 3 percent threshold the state has set as a goal to be at or below. A low positivity rate indicates little community spread of the virus. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, June 30

195 new cases and four deaths

Michigan public health officials reported 195 new cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, along with four additional COVID-19 deaths. It marks the second straight day in which there was a small increase in cases following weeks of dramatic reductions.

The new case count raised the daily average to 125 over the past week, up from 122 on Tuesday but still among the lowest levels reported since the first few weeks of the pandemic.

Of more than 15,800 COVID tests reported Wednesday, 1.1 percent came back positive and the weekly rate of 1.2 percent has remained unchanged for 10 days.

There are now 326 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in Michigan hospitals, the lowest level since the state began reporting hospital data last year .— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, June 29

174 new cases Tuesday, a slight increase

Michigan reported 174 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the first increase in five days

That pushed the seven-day average up to 120 daily cases from 110, the first daily rise of more than one case in 74 days. The daily average, however, remains among the lowest recorded since after the first few weeks of the pandemic in March 2020.

Of 9,500 tests reported Tuesday, 1.6 percent were positive, the highest percentage since it was 1.8 percent on June 14. The weekly rate remains at 1.2 percent — still well below the state’s goal of 3 percent. No county’s rate is above 5.5 percent (Huron).

Hospitalizations ticked up slightly, from 327 to 352 statewide, with small increases in six of eight regions across the state. Monday’s total had been the fewest the state had reported since it began reporting hospitalizations.

When cases have been low, there have been fluctuations based on which hospitals report daily. On Tuesday, the state reported a 90 percent response rate from hospitals. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, June 28

State averages 104 cases per day

Michigan reported 311 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend, or 104 cases per day., and a total of five deaths.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 894,260 confirmed cases and 19,712 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

Cases have fallen precipitously in the past two months: Over the past week, the average rate of daily new cases was 1 or 2 per 100,000 residents in metro Detroit’s three most populous counties, Wayne, Oakland and Macomb. The rate ranged from 6 to 10 per 100,000 last month, and 40 to 49 per 100,000 in April.

The drop in hospitalizations continued as well, with 327 COVID-19 patients statewide as of Monday. A month ago, there were nearly 1,200 COVID-19 patients, while two months ago, there were nearly 3,500.

Of 35,000 tests reported Monday, just 1.2 percent came back positive, mirroring the average of the past week. That's well below the state’s goal of 3 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, June 25

40 cases reported in Michigan

For the first time after the first two weeks of the pandemic, Michigan reported fewer than 50 new COVID-19 cases on Friday.

Officials recorded 40 cases, with Oakland County leading the state with 17. Just two weeks ago, three counties (Oakland, Kent and Wayne) all had more than 40 cases.

Detroit, which has had over 53,700 cases in total, reported just six on Friday; 41 counties reported no new cases.

The statewide count is a steep drop from 739 cases a month ago and 3,262 daily cases two months ago.

The numbers reflect the consistent drop in new cases as just over 1 percent of all daily coronavirus tests are coming back positive.

The state report 15 additional COVID-19 deaths on Friday. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, June 24

153 new cases

Michigan reported 153 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday and 28 deaths, including 24 that came after a review of medical and death records.

That brings the total to 999,052 total cases (893,909 confirmed cases and 105,143 probable ones) and 20,945 deaths (19,692 confirmed and 1,253 probable) since the pandemic began.

Of just over 16,800 new coronavirus tests reported Thursday, 1.1 percent came back positive. Over the past week, 1.2 percent have been positive, well below the state’s target of 3 percent.

As of Wednesday, 61.3 percent of adults 16 and older have had at least one dose of the vaccine, nearly 5 million residents.

While some states have offered million-dollar lotteries to encourage vaccination, Michigan has had lower-stakes incentives.

On Wednesday, the Oakland County Health Division said it will give $50 gift cards to any county resident who gets their first COVID-19 vaccine from June 24 until July 4. More than 68 percent of county residents 16 and over have so far gotten at least one dose.

The county, the second most-populous in the state with over 1.25 million people, wants to encourage younger residents to get vaccinated. Seventy-two percent of Oakland County residents 30 and older have received at least their first dose, while 54 percent of those 16-29 years old have done so, according to the county. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, June 23

Michigan reports 174 cases, two deaths

Michigan reported 174 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday and two deaths.

There have now been 893,756 confirmed cases of the virus and 105,121 probable cases, and 19,664 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and another 1,250 probable deaths.

But new infections have waned, with an average of just 132 cases a day for the past week and 41 counties averaging zero cases per 100,000 people over the past week.

Of just over 16,900 new coronavirus tests, 1.1 percent came back positive.

There are now 362 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in Michigan hospitals. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, June 22

Just 91 new cases in Michigan

Michigan public health officials reported just 91 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, the lowest single-day report since the first few weeks of the pandemic.

And for the past week, there have been 931 infections — the first weekly total below 1,000 since those early days.

Those are both encouraging signs that point to the continued fading of the coronavirus. A year ago cases fell precipitously with the warmer weather but most people were still wearing masks and there were capacity restrictions on businesses that limited direct contact.

Now, with over 5 million Michigan adults receiving at least one dose of a vaccine, rates have fallen even further as the state ends mask mandates and all restrictions on indoor capacities for businesses.

Michigan also reported 15 additional COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, an indication that though fewer are getting the disease, it does remain dangerous for those who do.

There were 393 people treated in Michigan hospitals Tuesday for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, the fewest number ever reported by the state. Testing data showed that 1.3 percent of 11,000 tests came back positive. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, June 21

Michigan records fewest cases over any three days of pandemic

Michigan has recorded 327 new coronavirus cases since Friday, or 109 a day, the fewest ever reported over three days since the first two weeks of the pandemic in 2020.

The state reported cases on Monday covering three days — Saturday, Sunday and Monday — after discontinuing Saturday reporting. That decision comes as cases have become far fewer across the state, with positive coronavirus tests becoming rare as well.

Over the past three days, 41,154 coronavirus tests were reported and 485 were positive or 1.2 percent.

There were 35 new COVID-19 deaths reported as well, or about 12 for each of the three days. Also, there are now fewer people in Michigan hospitals being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 than at any point since hospital data was reported, with 421 patients statewide. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, June 19

State stops reporting weekend data

With COVID-19 cases falling to lows not reported in a year, the state has discontinued weekend updates on new cases, deaths and testing, officials announced Saturday.

On Friday, the state reported 162 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the seven-day average to 176 per day, mirroring lows seen last June.

The state reported 14 additional COVID-19 deaths on Friday. There have now been 19,612 confirmed COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The state reported 1.2 percent of nearly 19,400 tests came back positive. The weekly rate was 1.4 percent, the lowest ever recorded.

There are now 436 people being treated in Michigan hospitals for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. On June 1 there were 1,007. A month ago, there were 1,807 COVID-19 patients in Michigan. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, June 17

COVID-19 cases fall again with 172 reported

Michigan reported 172 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday and has now averaged 198 a day for the past week.

Of nearly 21,300 COVID tests reported Thursday, just 1.1 percent came back positive. That’s the same rate as Wednesday and both are the lowest the state has reported since the pandemic began last year.

The state also reported 20 new COVID-19 deaths, 18 of which followed a review of medical and death records.

Over the past week, the state has reported 111 COVID-19 deaths, the lowest weekly number since mid-October. At the height of the winter-spring surge, the state was reporting more than 400 a week in May. The weekly toll was over 800 in December and exceeded 900 in some weeks in April 2020. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, June 16

Michigan records lowest positivity rate

Michigan reported that just 1.1 percent of nearly 17,000 coronavirus tests came back positive Wednesday, the lowest daily positive rate the state has reported since the pandemic began. The weekly rate is now 1.6 percent, also the lowest ever as the rates continue to fall.

A low positive rate indicates less community spread of COVID-19.

Other pandemic metrics continue to trend in a hopeful away across the state.

For the first time since mid-June 2020, Michigan has reported fewer than 200 new COVID-19 infections for five consecutive days.

The state reported 179 cases Wednesday, and has not reported more than 200 since 318 cases were reported last Friday. That last happened June 12-16, 2020.

The state also reported four new COVID-19 deaths Wednesday.

There are now 494 patients being treated at hospitals across Michigan for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, the lowest level in nearly a year. There were 471 COVID-19 patients in Michigan hospitals on June 29, 2020.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, June 15

182 new cases, 26 deaths as cases continue to plummet

Health departments across Michigan reported a total of 182 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, along with 26 COVID-19 deaths.

The state is now averaging 228 cases per day over the past week. A month ago the daily average was 1,713.

Of the 26 deaths, 19 came after a review of death and medical records. Two of the deaths were from May but the rest have occurred in June.

The state also reported that 1.8 percent of nearly 13,700 coronavirus tests came back positive and over the past week, 1.7 percent have been positive, well below the state’s goal of keeping that rate at or below 3 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, June 14

Whitmer hints restrictions may end early

Michigan public health officials reported more encouraging news Monday regarding COVID-19, with cases and hospitalizations showing continued declines and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hinted Monday that she might lift remaining safety restrictions before July 1.

The state reported 338 new coronavirus infections, an average of just 169 on Sunday and Monday, pushing the seven-day daily average to 244.

The state also reported eight new COVID-19 deaths over the two-day period.

Whitmer had relaxed many state restrictions as of June 1 but a few, including some capacity restrictions on indoor venues, remain, along with an indoor mask mandate for the unvaccinated.

All are set to expire July 1.

When asked Monday if they could expire before then, Whitmer said: “It’s possible. Stay tuned.”

Whitmer had intended to tie the loosening of restrictions to increases in the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations across the state. But as those stalled — and cases and hospitalizations fell — she accelerated the schedule for easing restrictions.

Since then, the news has gotten even better on all fronts. Vaccinations have risen, albeit slowly, as cases, deaths, positivity rates and hospitalizations have gone down.

For instance, Whitmer has wanted to keep the positive coronavirus test rate at or below 3 percent and over the past two days and 32,000 tests, just 1.2 percent of COVID tests have come back positive. For the past week, 1.7 percent have been positive.

There are now 533 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in Michigan hospitals, down 122 from last Friday and 250 over the past week. The last time it was this low was when there were 506 COVID-19 patients on Sept. 25, just before the fall and winter surge. — Mike Wilkinson and Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Saturday, June 12

Michigan now 10 percent below 70 percent vaccine goal

Michigan reported 198 new COVID-19 cases Saturday, marking the ninth consecutive day that daily cases remained under 500.

The seven day average dropped to 255 — the lowest since June 29, 2020 when it was 236.

Also, 53 additional deaths were reported, with 50 of them being added after a review of medical records.

The state’s test positivity rate remained under 3 percent for the eleventh day in a row at 2 percent. A low positivity rate indicates little community spread of the virus.

As cases continue to decrease, Michigan remains roughly 10 percent short of its goal of 70 percent of residents age 16 or older getting at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by July 4. — Sophia Kalakailo

Friday, June 11

Weekly COVID cases lowest since June 2020

Michigan recorded fewer than 2,000 new COVID-19 infections in the week ending Friday, the fewest in any week since June of 2020 as the spread of the deadly disease continues to slow.

The state reported 318 new cases on Friday, pushing the seven-day total to 1,976.

Two weeks ago, the state reported more than 4,500 weekly cases and a month ago it was nearly 15,400. At the peak of the winter-spring surge, the state recorded 49,101 new infections the week ending April 13 — 25 times more than were reported this past week.

The state also reported eight newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths on Friday, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 19,487. There have been 891,933 confirmed cases of coronavirus during the pandemic.

The positive COVID test rate for 20,000 tests recorded Friday was just 1.6 percent, the lowest since the pandemic began. For the past week the rate is 1.9 percent, also the lowest ever. A lower positive test rate indicates less community spread of the virus.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 fell again as well, with 655 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Friday. That’s 221 fewer than a week ago and the lowest since Sept. 28, when 647 were hospitalized. A month ago, there were nearly 2,300 COVID-19 patients being treated in Michigan hospitals.

The promising news comes as the rate of new vaccinations continues to fall. As of Friday, nearly 5 million Michigan residents — 61.4 percent of everyone 16 and older — have had at least one dose of the vaccines. But over the past week, just 64,700 have gotten at least a first shot.

The week before, 75,400 did. And two weeks ago, nearly 173,000 people were given at least their first dose. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, June 10

Michigan has 301 new cases; positive rate falls to 1.7 percent

Michigan public health officials reported 301 new COVID-19 infections and 40 deaths Thursday, including 28 that were determined after a review of medical and death records. Two of those deaths occurred in April, eight in May and the rest in June.

Michigan’s seven-day average is now 301 daily cases, while the rate of positive coronavirus tests remains at historic lows, with 1.7 percent positive. The weekly rate is 2 percent, the lowest recorded since the pandemic began in 2020.

A month ago, Michigan had the nation’s highest rates of new cases and hospitalizations and the second-highest rate of positive tests, 8.1 percent.

On Thursday, the state ranked 35th in cases per 100,000, 30th in percent of positive coronavirus tests but still sixth in hospitalizations.

With 61.2 percent of everyone 16 and older having gotten at least 1 dose of the vaccines, Michigan ranks 28th in vaccination rate. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, June 9

Historic low in positive test rates

Over the past week, just 2.1 percent of all Michigan coronavirus tests have come back positive, the lowest weekly rate recorded in the state since the pandemic began in March 2020.

It closely mirrors a dip in positive test rates in mid-June of last year, when it stood at 2.2 percent, as summer temperatures allowed people to spend more time outside, where it’s more difficult for COVID-19 to spread. And of course this summer, there’s the critical added benefit of more than 60 percent of Michigan’s population 16 and over having received at least one dose of a vaccine.

This week’s rate was helped by just 1.8 percent of the daily tests Wednesday coming back positive.

The state reported 257 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, with a daily average over the past week of 330 cases. Seven new COVID-19 deaths were also reported. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, June 8

293 new cases; COVID decline mirrors similar drop in June 2020

The steep drop in new COVID-19 infections in Michigan is mirroring the drop from a year ago, as the state reported 293 new cases Tuesday.

That puts the seven-day average at 353 cases a day, a level last recorded in July 2020. Last year, long before the vaccines were even developed, case rates plummeted after the state was pounded in March, April and May.

Part of the decline then was attributed to restrictions put in place by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but also to warmer weather, with more people meeting outside — where the coronavirus is less likely to spread — than inside.

And after Michigan experienced the worst spike in cases in the winter and early spring, cases have similarly fallen. The state also has additional protection it did not have in 2020 — 61 percent of all residents 16 and older now have had at least one dose of the vaccines.

In recent weeks Whitmer has relaxed many of the remaining restrictions and all others are set to expire on July 1.

The virus, though, remains deadly: The state reported 56 additional COVID-19 deaths, 37 of which came after a review of medical and death records.

Fewer Michigan residents are seeking coronavirus tests — there were just 15,000 reported on Tuesday, down from a daily average of 34,700 a month ago — and just 2.2 percent of those were positive. The state has hoped to keep the percent positive at 3 percent or lower.

Many schools that were regularly testing athletes are no longer doing so, lowering the number of tests being administered.

Hospitalizations continue to fall as well, declining from 2,611 COVID-19 patients last month to 756 patients now. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, June 7

COVID positive rate stays below 3 percent

The percent of new coronavirus tests coming back positive in Michigan has remained below 3 percent for the past six days, levels not seen in nearly a year. Daily case counts of COVID-19 also continue to fall.

Of more than 19,100 COVID-19 tests reported Monday, just 2 percent came back positive, indicating a low level of community spread of the virus.

The state also reported just 419 new infections Sunday and Monday, or just 210 a day, a level not recorded since June 22-23 of last year.

For the past week, Michigan is averaging 353 new cases a day; a month ago it was averaging 2,836 cases a day. The rate of new cases per 100,000 is falling in 82 of the state’s 83 counties. Only in St. Joseph County did the rate rise, albeit slightly: from 8 cases per 100,000 per day to 10 per 100,000. Statewide, the rate is 4 new cases per 100,000 per day.

The number of patients being treated at hospitals across the state for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 fell by 93 since Friday to 783 statewide Monday. It’s the fewest COVID-19 patients since there were 707 on Oct. 2. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, June 5

388 new cases; Michigan's weekly average lowest in 11 months

Michigan’s COVID-19 positive test rate has stayed below 3 percent since Wednesday.

The state reported Friday the positive test rate was 2.2 percent. The state’s goal is to maintain a positivity rate of 3 percent or lower. A lower rate indicates it is less likely the virus will spread widely.

On Saturday, Michigan reported 388 COVID-19 cases, bringing the seven-day average to 375, the lowest since July 5.

Officials also reported 72 deaths Saturday, 66 of which were added after a review of medical records. That brings the state’s death total to 19,365 since the beginning of the pandemic. — Sophia Kalakailo

Friday, June 4

466 new cases

The coronavirus continues to lose its grip in Michigan, according to data released Friday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The 446 new cases reported Friday tamped down the daily average for the past seven days to 383 — the lowest since July 6. Daily average cases peaked April 13 at 7,014, but have decreased every day since then but one.

And for more than 30 days, the number of hospital patients with confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 also decreased. On Friday, the state’s hospitals recorded 876 such patients, compared with a high of 4,422 on April 19.

Another 27 deaths, however, were linked to COVID-19, according to the Friday data, bringing the total number of recorded Michigan deaths to 19,293. — Robin Erb

Thursday, June 3

COVID test positivity rate now below 3 percent

For the first time since last September, less than 3 percent of Michigan coronavirus tests came back positive Thursday, the state reported.

Of nearly 22,000 tests reported, just 2.4 percent were positive. A lower percent indicates less likelihood of community spread of the virus. The rate reported Thursday is below the state’s goal of keeping the positivity rate below 3 percent.

The last time it hit 2.4 percent was Sept. 25, just before the fall surge of COVID-19 swept the state.

Michigan also reported 510 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, with the seven-day daily average of new cases now standing at 407.

There were 57 COVID-19 deaths reported Thursday and the number of hospitalized patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 around the state fell to 917 from 965 on Wednesday. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, June 2

Hospitalizations fall below 1,000 in Michigan, down from 3,000 in May

The number of COVID-19 patients in Michigan hospitals fell to 965 on Wednesday, down from more than 3,000 in May and the first time since mid-March there are fewer than 1,000 hospitalizations from the virus.

The decline coincides with a steep drop in infections. The state reported 420 new cases Wednesday, pushing the seven-day average to 412. On May 2, the state averaged nearly 3,500 cases a day.

The last time the average daily cases were around 400 was in early July 2020.

The state’s vaccination rate is now 60.3 percent of those 16 and older.

For the seventh consecutive day, the percent of new coronavirus tests came back below 4 percent. It was 3.4 percent on Wednesday and 3.6 percent over the past week. The state’s goal is to keep the rate at 3 percent or lower, a level the state will soon reach.

But the state also reported 33 additional COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday.

Since the pandemic began, 19,209 people have died from COVID-19, including 3,841 since the third wave began in mid-February. Those third-wave deaths are nearly 1,000 more than died of diabetes, the seventh leading cause of death in Michigan, in all of 2019. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, June 1

287 cases per day over long weekend

Michigan continues to report steep declines in COVID-19 cases, with 862 new ones over the Memorial Day holiday, or 287 per day.

That's a level not recorded since last July, and the drop comes as testing is falling fast as well. Fewer than 10,000 new tests were reported in the past day, a level that hasn’t been lower since May 2020.

Over all three days, 3.2 percent tests came back positive, which is close to the state’s goal of 3 percent or less.

Michigan also reported just 13 COVID-19 deaths, for an average of less than five per day over the past three days.

Hospitalizations also are declining to 1,007 patients, 181 fewer than were reported Friday and 401 fewer than a week ago.

The drop in cases comes as just over 60 percent of all state residents 16 and older have now received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

The news coincides with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions that began Tuesday, with bars and restaurants now allowed to stay open beyond 11 p.m. and can seat up to 50 percent of their capacity as Michigan’s COVID-19 restrictions eased Tuesday.

The scheduled June 1 changes also remove capacity restrictions at outdoor events like concerts, sporting events and weddings.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has said all COVID-19 restrictions will cease on July 1, barring some unforeseen turn. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, May 29

Michigan has fewest infections in nearly nine months

Michigan reported 445 new COVID-19 infections Saturday— the lowest in nearly nine months.

This is also the seventh consecutive day cases have stayed below 1000, the longest streak since September.

The seven-day daily average dropped to 645 cases, the lowest since Sept. 19 when it was 621.

June 1 update: Michigan COVID restrictions ease as June 1 arrives

The state also reported 49 new COVID-19 deaths Saturday, with 48 of them being added after a review of medical records following earlier deaths. This brings the total deaths in Michigan tied to COVID-19 to 19,163 since the pandemic started.

Of 18,945 coronavirus tests reported Saturday, 3.5 percent were positive. The state’s goal is to maintain a positivity rate of 3 percent or lower. A lower rate indicates it is less likely the virus will spread widely. — Sophia Kalakailo

Friday, May 28

614 new COVID cases Friday, 24 deaths

Michigan reported 614 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, the sixth consecutive day below 1,000, a streak not seen since February, before the late winter-spring surge.

It also brought the seven-day daily average down to 726 cases, a rate not reported since September.

The state also reported 24 new COVID-19 deaths.

Michigan’s hospitals are now treating 1,188 patients for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, including 36 children. The number of patients has fallen almost every day since peaking at 4,422 on April 19. Friday’s total was 67 patients fewer than Thursday and 381 fewer than a week ago.

Of the nearly 24,100 coronavirus tests reported Friday, 3.5 percent were positive. The state’s goal is to keep the positive rate to 3 percent or lower. A lower rate indicates less likelihood the virus will spread widely. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, May 27

Jill Biden promotes vaccinations in Grand Rapids

First Lady Jill Biden visited a pop-up vaccine clinic at Grand Rapids Community College Thursday as part of a multi-city tour highlighting a new partnership between community colleges and vaccine providers in the federal retail pharmacy program.

Biden, a career community college educator who has continued to teach at Northern Virginia Community College even after her family’s January move to the White House, spoke with pharmacists from a local Rite Aid, which provided the doses for today’s clinic, one of the first in the partnership. Biden spoke to several GRCC students and community members who were sitting in a tented observation area after receiving their first shot of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

I’m in Grand Rapids today covering @FLOTUS’s visit to a pop-up vaccine site at Grand Rapids Community College for @BridgeMichigan. Her trip is intended to highlight a new partnership between community colleges and vaccine providers in the federal retail pharmacy program. More ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/4RIveYijKG
— olivia tucker (@oliviahtucker) May 27, 2021

The First Lady emphasized the role of community colleges in serving local communities and the urgency of getting vaccinated.

“This is all based on science,” Biden said, encouraging the vaccine-hesitant to speak with trusted people in their lives, like pediatricians. “The vaccine is safe and effective and it saves lives.”

According to Bridge Michigan’s vaccine tracker, 62.6 percent of Kent County residents over the age of 16 have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Asked about vaccine incentives such as Ohio’s Vax-a-Million lottery, which for five weeks in a row will give away $1 million to a vaccinated Buckeye, Biden said: “I think it’s great. Anything it takes.

“You know, it’s kind of like getting your kids to eat their vegetables, promising you can get a toy or whatever. Whatever it takes, I’m in favor of it. Because that’s the only way we’re going to get this country back to what we were before.” — Olivia Tucker

Thursday, May 27

Cases below 600, as vaccine levels near 60 percent

Michigan reported 542 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases Thursday, the lowest in more than eight months — before the winter and the spring surges.

The new cases brought the seven-day average to 800, the lowest since Sept. 22 when it was 761. The last time the single-day count was lower was Sept. 22 when it was 504.

The recent drop in cases has been swift, with the rise in vaccines and warmer weather likely combining to dramatically lower spread of the virus, which has been tied to the deaths of 19,090 people so far in Michigan, including 59 deaths reported Thursday.

The state also reported Thursday that just 3.5 percent of nearly 27,300 COVID-19 tests came back positive, also the lowest rate in two months; it hit 3.4 percent on Feb. 26. A lower rate of positive tests indicates less community spread of the virus.

Hospitalizations also fell, with the state reporting 1,255 patients being treated at hospitals across the state for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That’s 100 fewer than were reported Wednesday.

Also Thursday, 59.4 percent of Michigan residents aged 16 and older have received at least a first dose of a COVID vaccine, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That represents 4.8 million Michigan residents. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, May 26

799 new cases, as weekly average dips less than 1,000

Michigan’s average daily COVID-19 cases fell below 1,000 for the first time since Feb. 24 on Wednesday, as officials reported 799 new cases. The seven-day average fell to 919.

The last time the average was below 1,000 was Feb. 24 when it hit 966 at what was the beginning of the late winter-spring surge.

Cases have dropped steadily since an April 19 peak of just over 7,000 cases a day, when Michigan’s spring outbreak was the worst in the nation.

On Wednesday, the state reported that 4.7 percent of nearly 22,900 tests came back positive, pushing the past week’s rate to 4.96 percent — the first time below 5 percent since March 11.

The state also reported 12 additional COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total to 19,031 since the pandemic started.

The state also reported Wednesday that 1,355 hospital patients were being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That’s 53 fewer than Tuesday and 353 fewer than a week earlier.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, May 25

COVID-19 deaths pass 19,000

Michigan reported 66 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, pushing the state past 19,000 since the pandemic started here in March 2020.

There now have been 19,053 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 1,206 probable ones in Michigan. The state, which is ranked 10th in population, has the eighth most deaths in the country.

But in terms of the death rate per 100,000 people, Michigan ranks 14th.

Michigan also reported 739 confirmed coronavirus infections, continuing the state’s downward arc in cases. For the past week, the daily average has been 1,028, 33 percent lower than the average of 1,541 per day just one week ago.

Michigan, which has a population of 10 million, is nearing 1 million total cases of the coronavirus, as there have been 885,319 confirmed cases since the pandemic began and another 103,628 probable cases.

Statewide, 59 percent of residents 16 and over have now gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, just behind the national rate of 61.2 percent. Michigan currently ranks 27th in the nation in terms of vaccinations for those 16 and older.

The state reported just 15,849 coronavirus tests on Tuesday, the fewest since there were just 12,897 on Sept. 6 — over eight months ago. Of those, 5 percent were positive; 5.2 percent of tests in the past week have been positive. A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, however, told Bridge Michigan the state has not received all antigen test reports for Monday and Tuesday.

The state’s improvement from the worst spring outbreak in the nation has been remarkable. Beginning April 4 and for the next six weeks, Michigan had the most cases, hospitalizations and the highest positive test rate in the nation.

Now, it is eighth in positive tests, fifth in cases per 100,000 and second in hospitalizations per 100,000. Most states, like Michigan, are seeing all metrics fall; Michigan is just falling faster, a Bridge Michigan analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

The state also reported 1,408 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Tuesday. That's down 79 patients from Monday and nearly 400 from a week ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, May 24

Fewest cases in weeks

For the first time since the beginning of Michigan’s third wave of COVID-19 cases, in which the state had the worst outbreak in the nation, the state reported fewer than 700 average daily cases for Sunday and Monday.

Over the two days, the state reported 1,378 cases, an average of 689 each day. The state also reported 14 total deaths over the two days.

The last time cases were so low was on Feb. 14-15, when the state reported 632 cases each day. That’s just before the state began its steep rise in cases, by far the worst in the nation.

The lower case counts are one of several signs that mass vaccinations and warmer weather have blunted the surge that saw Michigan average over 7,000 cases a day in mid-April.

But case counts and COVID-related hospitalizations have plummeted since and a far lower percentage of people are seeing their COVID tests come back positive.

Hospitalizations across Michigan for confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 fell to 1,487 patients on Monday, 82 fewer than Friday and 336 fewer than last Monday.

Also on Monday, the state reported that 4.4 percent of nearly 41,300 COVID-19 tests came back positive, moving the state closer to its goal of keeping that rate at 3 percent or lower. Lower positive rates indicate that community spread of the deadly virus is far less likely.

— Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, May 22

1,013 new COVID cases, 86 additional deaths Saturday

Michigan reported 1,013 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 Saturday, lowering the seven-day daily average to 1,225, the lowest since March 6, when the average was 1,210.

The state also reported 99 deaths following a review of medical records. However, because of corrections made to earlier death determinations, the state said the net increase in deaths attributed to the coronavirus in the state was 86.

In some instances, the state said, it has rescinded previous determination that a death had been caused by COVID-19.

Of nearly 30,000 COVID tests reported Saturday, 5.2 percent were positive. For the past week, the rate of positive tests averaged 5.6 percent. The state’s goal is to keep its positive test rate at 3 percent or lower. Higher positive rates indicate more uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus.

— Mike Wilkinson

Friday, May 21

COVID positive test rate falls below 5 percent Friday

For the first time in more than two months, the state’s rate of positive COVID-19 test results has dipped below 5 percent — another important indicator that the virus is losing its grip on Michigan.

Just 4.8 percent of COVID-19 tests were returned positive in results recorded Friday, a new low since the spring surge. The positivity rate had shot up from a low of 4.5 percent on March 10 to a high of 17.9 percent on April 6.

The state’s goal is to keep its positive test rate at 3 percent or lower. High positive rates indicate uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus.

It’s the latest positive health news for a state that’s suffered mightily in recent months.

Health officials this week told Bridge Michigan that vaccines have driven down COVID cases and hospitalizations and that the latest numbers indicate the pandemic is “winding down.” Data released Friday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services seemed to offer more evidence of that.

Throughout the state, 1,569 people were hospitalized with suspected and confirmed COVID infections as of Friday, including 30 children, compared to a high of 4,422 COVID hospitalizations just more than a month ago, on April 19.

MDHHS also recorded another 1,132 confirmed cases Friday, bringing the total case count in more than 14 months to 882,189. But the daily volume of cases has dropped substantially since a peak on April 13, when the state was averaging 7,014 cases a day.

The last time Michigan recorded such a low number of average daily cases was March 9, when it dipped to 1,250 cases.

Still, the virus continues to bring pain to many Michiganders. On Friday, the state also recorded another 38 deaths linked to COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 18,853.

— Robin Erb

Thursday, May 20

74 more deaths Thursday as cases, hospitalizations continue to fall

Michigan reported 74 additional COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 18,815.

Of those, 61 were recorded after a review of medical records.

The state continues to experience a decline in new infections, reporting 1,372 new confirmed cases on Thursday. That puts the seven-day daily average at 1,355, half of what it was two weeks ago, when it was 2,836.

The decline in cases has led to far fewer hospitalizations, with 1,665 being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 as of Thursday. That’s 43 fewer than Wednesday, 536 fewer than a week ago and 946 fewer than two weeks ago.

Of nearly 37,200 tests reported Thursday, just 5.5 percent were positive, the lowest daily rate since 5.4 percent of tests reported March 11 were positive. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, May 19

1,560 new cases and 31 more deaths

Michigan reported 1,560 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, along with 31 additional COVID-19 deaths.

Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, the state has reported 879,685 confirmed cases and 18,741 deaths.

Of nearly 27,500 coronavirus tests reported Wednesday, 6.2 percent were positive. It was 10 percent on May 1 and the rate of positive tests has fallen for nearly six straight weeks.

New vaccine data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 57.2 percent of Michigan residents 16 and older have gotten at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccines.

COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to fall, with 1,708 patients being treated at Michigan hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 Wednesday. The last time it was lower was March 23 when there were 1,687 patients. It then rose to a peak of 4,422 on April 19.

— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, May 18

New cases fall to 1,271 Tuesday, 83 more deaths

Michigan reported 1,271 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, the fifth consecutive day below 2,000.

The state also reported 83 COVID-19 deaths, including 27 which were determined after a review of medical records. Three of the deaths were in April and all others in May.

Of the nearly 19,200 coronavirus tests reported Tuesday, 6.1 percent came back positive. Over the past week, 6.4 percent have been positive as the rate continues to fall.

The weekly rate has fallen 39 straight days since hitting a peak of 16.9 percent on April 8. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, May 17

Hospitalizations fall to 1,823

Michigan hospitals reported treating 1,823 patients for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Monday, the first time below 2,000 since March 26.

That’s 263 fewer patients than the state reported on Friday, the largest drop from one reporting day until the next since April 2020. Monday’s patient count is also 572 fewer than were being treated in hospitals a week ago.

The decline in hospitalizations matches a steep drop in cases, with the state reporting 2,230 for Sunday and Monday, an average of 1,115 a day.

Michigan, for the first time since early April, no longer has the highest case rate in the nation, with Colorado currently No. 1. But every state in the nation is seeing case counts fall or stay level.

The state also reported 20 additional COVID-19 deaths, or 10 each for Sunday and Monday.

The drop in cases has been remarkable and far steeper than the fall in December and January. For instance, Macomb and suburban Wayne counties were averaging 88 and 74 cases per day per 100,000 four weeks ago. As of Monday, Macomb was at 16 cases per day per 100,000 and Wayne at 14.

Testing data also showed continued improvement, with 6 percent of nearly 54,900 tests over the past two days coming back positive. A month ago the rate was 12.5 percent.

The state’s goal is to keep its positive test rate at 3 percent or lower. A high positive rate indicates more uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus.

— Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, May 15

1,289 cases Saturday; adult vaccination rate at 56.1 percent

Michigan reported 1,289 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, the lowest since 954 were reported on March 9.

The state also reported 107 COVID-19 deaths, including 91 which were determined after a review of medical records. Two of the deaths occurred in January, 31 in April and 74 were in May.

Of over 32,200 tests reported Saturday, 6 percent were positive; 7 percent of all tests in the past week were positive. On May 1, the weekly rate was 10.9 percent positive.

Vaccine data reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 56.1 percent of Michigan’s adults 16 and over have had at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccines.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has adopted a plan to relax restrictions when the state hits certain thresholds. The next threshold is 60 percent, at which the 11 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants will be lifted two weeks after hitting the threshold.

The state does not report hospitalizations on weekends. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, May 14

Michigan reports 1,776 cases

Michigan reported 1,766 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the lowest number since 1,572 were reported two months ago, on March 15. The state also reported 34 new COVID-19 deaths.

Since the pandemic began, Michigan has reported 18,500 COVID-19 deaths and 873,335 confirmed infections.

With case counts falling, Michigan is averaging 1,790 newly recorded cases a day in the past week, over 1,000 fewer than a week earlier and less than half of the 3,581 per day that were averaged on May 1.

Michigan still has the highest case rate in the country but it has been falling steadily for over a month.

As cases have fallen, hospitalizations across Michigan have as well, with 2,086 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 as of Friday. That’s 115 fewer than Thursday and 525 fewer than last Friday.

Of more than 36,200 COVID tests reported Friday, 6.3 percent came back as positive, the lowest since March 12, when 5.6 percent were positive. The state’s goal is to keep its positive test rate at 3 percent or lower. A high positive rate indicates more uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, May 13

2,057 cases, 112 deaths as pandemic wave continues to taper

Michigan reported 2,057 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 112 deaths on Thursday, continuing a steep decline in cases.

The latest cases lower Michigan’s average daily rate to 1,931, the first time it has been under 2,000 since March 15, when the average was 1,951 daily cases. Of the deaths, 73 that followed a review of medical records. One was in March, nine were in April and the rest were in May.

Of nearly 40,000 coronavirus tests reported Thursday, 6.4 percent were positive. Over the past week, 7.7 percent of tests were positive. Two weeks ago, the rate was just over 11 percent.

Hospitalizations declined for the 18th consecutive reporting day, with 2,201 patients being treated statewide for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The state does not release hospital data on weekends and patient counts have fallen ever since the state hit a peak of 4,422 on April 19 — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, May 12

Vaccination rate slowing

As Michigan health workers race to vaccinate as many people as possible against COVID-19, fewer residents are starting the vaccination process, new federal data showed.

According to data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just 14,182 more Michigan residents got their first dose in the past day. All told, 55.4 percent of those who are 16 and older in Michigan have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has tied the easing of state pandemic restrictions to increases in the percentage of people who have at least one dose of the vaccines. All restrictions will come off two weeks after the state hits 70 percent.

But with vaccination rates slowing, it could take nearly three more weeks to get to 60 percent, let alone 70 percent.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

Since the state began using the CDC data last Friday in a move to more fully capture vaccinations that Michigan, including shots Michigan residents received in other states, the state has averaged just under 19,000 “first dose” vaccinations per day.

With the state needing another 369,000 people to get the first dose to reach 60 percent, it could take nearly three weeks if there is no change in the current pace. Yet University of Michigan researchers working with the state have estimated it could take until Aug. 1 to hit 70 percent because of a continued drop in interest in the vaccines.

The state reported 2,172 new coronavirus confirmed cases Wednesday, and 17 additional COVID-19 deaths.

Hospitalizations also continued to fall, with 2,247 patients currently in hospitals across the state for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That’s down 36 patients from Tuesday and 673 from a week earlier.

Of nearly 29,000 coronavirus tests reported Wednesday, 8 percent were positive. The state’s goal is to keep its positive test rate at 3 percent or lower. A high positive rate indicates more uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus.

— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, May 11

Michigan reports 1,992 cases, 99 COVID-19 deaths Tuesday

Michigan reported 1,992 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, lowering the seven-day average to 2,199.

The state also reported 99 deaths, including 32 that followed a review of medical records. Six of the deaths occurred in April; the other 93 were this month.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

Though 2,666 COVID-19 deaths have been recorded since March 1, the spring surge has had far fewer deaths than in the fall-winter surge. Since March 1 there have been nearly 279,000 coronavirus cases, about 20 percent fewer compared to the same number of days of the fall-winter surge.

There were 5,521 deaths in the fall-winter surge, more than double what has occurred in the spring. A large factor has been vaccines, which were given first to seniors across the state, a group that has been far more vulnerable to the deadly virus.

The latest vaccine data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 55.3 percent of Michigan residents have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine. Once the state hits 60 percent, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has said the 11 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants will be lifted two weeks afterward and capacity limits will ease on gyms, and at sporting events, conference and banquet centers and funerals.

Out of nearly 20,000 COVID tests reported Tuesday, 8.4 percent came back positive and 8.2 percent of over 228,000 tests in the past week were positive, continuing a string of 32 consecutive days that the average daily positivity rate has fallen. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, May 11

590K Michigan youngsters may soon be eligible for vaccine; rate hits 55%

Some 590,00 young Michiganders may soon be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Monday expanded its authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to 12- to 15-year-olds.

The FDA in December authorized the vaccine for those 16 and older. Doses will be the same for adolescents.

Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said the action will bring the nation “closer to returning to a sense of normalcy and to ending the pandemic.”

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

But just how quickly that may happen is unclear.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has scheduled a meeting Wednesday to advise the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on whether to recommend the vaccine’s use in the new age group. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services may then distribute guidance to local health departments.

Michigan’s pace of vaccinations has slowed in recent weeks, and health departments have begun to move into high schools to reach teenagers. While the young tend to get milder forms of COVID-19, it still has infected about 1.5 million individuals 11 to 17 years old, according to CDC. — Robin Erb

Monday, May 10

55 percent vaccinated; back to work set for May 24

Michigan has now hit 55 percent of its population 16 and older with at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccines, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine data updated Monday afternoon.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in a video on Twitter, acknowledged the news Monday and said her administration will allow for in-person office work beginning on May 24.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

The administration has said it will remove additional restrictions as more people get vaccinated, with all restrictions being removed after 70 percent of the 8 million people who are 16 and over get at least the first dose.

Each restriction will be lifted two weeks after hitting the remaining benchmarks. The next benchmark is 60 percent, after which the 11 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants will lift and bigger crowds will be allowed in gyms, at sporting events and at conference and banquet centers and funerals.

The state also reported 2,716 new confirmed COVID-19 infections on Monday, or an average of 1,358 for both Sunday and Monday.

That pushed the seven-day average to 2,276, the lowest since 2,149 on March 18.

The state also reported 33 COVID-19 deaths.

The number of hospitalized fell by 216 from Friday, with 2,395 patients being treated statewide for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That’s also 668 fewer than a week ago and over 2,000 fewer than the April 19 peak of 4,422.

For the first time since April 4, Michigan is no longer leading the nation in the percent of positive coronavirus tests, slipping to No. 2 behind South Dakota. Michigan still has the highest case and hospitalization rates but had led the nation in all three categories since April 4.

Over the weekend, 7.4 percent of more than 54,400 tests came back positive. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, May 10

Michigan just shy of vaccination milestone

Just under 15,000 more Michigan residents need to get their first shot of the coronavirus vaccine to trigger Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s benchmark to loosen restrictions by allowing businesses to require in-person work in two weeks.

In Michigan, 54.8 percent of residents 16 and older have had their first shot, according to an analysis of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data the state now uses to measure vaccinations.

Another 14,991 are needed to push the state’s vaccination rate for people getting their first shot to 55 percent, the benchmark Whitmer set to allow office work in two weeks. The state may well exceed the amount needed when new numbers come out later Monday.

On Friday, the state switched from using its own data, based on its vaccine registry, to the CDC data because the latter picks up vaccinations administered to Michigan residents in other states. Thousands of Michigan residents have traveled to Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin to get the vaccine and many residents have done so while vacationing in other states like Florida and South Carolina.

Unless they told their Michigan doctor about getting a shot elsewhere, until now there has been no way for Michigan to record their vaccination, artificially lowering the state’s overall vaccination rate.

The switch to CDC data picked up over 200,000 previously unrecorded out-of-state vaccinations and moved the state from 51.5 percent to 54.5 percent of the more than 8 million people 16 and older.

Since Saturday morning, the CDC data recorded another 44,800 vaccines, pushing the overall percentage closer to the threshold.— Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, May 8

New cases below 2,000 for first time since March

Michigan public health officials reported 1,825 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday, the lowest single-day number since 1,572 on March 15.

The near-daily decline in cases has lowered the seven-day daily average to 2,607 cases, down from 3,400 one week ago and 4,714 two weeks ago.

The state also reported 122 new COVID-19 deaths, 83 of which followed a review of medical records. Six of those were in March, 44 in April and 71 in May. Two cases were removed and two others were added, one from February and another from September.

The 122 deaths were the third-most reported on any single day during the current wave. However, this wave of cases has been far less lethal than the one in the fall, when a similar number of infections occurred.

Since March 1, the worst day was April 23, when 78 deaths were reported (deaths are typically reported on a different day than when they occur). In the fall-winter surge, there 28 days with more than 100 deaths.

Since the state switched to using data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which includes vaccines given to Michigan residents in other states, Michigan's vaccination rate is now at 54.5 percent of all residents 16 and older with at least one dose.

Once 38,506 more people get their first shot, the state will hit 55 percent, the first threshold set by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration, lifting the restriction on office work two weeks later.

The Saturday data also showed that 7.5 percent of more than 32,200 tests came back positive, the lowest percentage since the same rate was reported on March 18. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, May 7

Michigan hits 54% vaccination rate

Michigan officials on Friday evening released new data pegging the state's vaccination rate at 54 percent, just one percentage point under the first milestone in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's plan to loosen COVID-19 restrictions.

The revised figures for the first time include tallies of those who received shots in different states, and they increase Michigan's rate from 51.5 percent of 8 million adults who have gotten at least one dose of the vaccines .

Whitmer’s plan calls for allowing employers to require in-person work two weeks after the state hits 55 percent.

Also Friday, the state reported 2,758 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, continuing a downward trend, with the seven-day average at 2,836 cases. The average has fallen 21 straight days since it was at 6,949 on April 16.

The state also reported 30 additional COVID-19 deaths and there have now been 18,084 confirmed COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

Test results Friday showed that 8.6 percent of just over 43,000 COVID tests came back positive, marking the fourth day in the past five it has been below 10 percent. For 38 days March 25 to May 1, it was over 10 percent every day, hitting a high of 17.9 on April 6.

Hospitalizations also continued to fall, with 2,611 patients being treated with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 Friday. That’s down 156 from Thursday and 452 from Monday.

Despite the improvements, Michigan still has the highest case, percent positive and hospitalization rates in the country, though the gap between the state and others has narrowed dramatically. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, May 6

115 COVID-19 deaths and 3,514 cases

Michigan reported 3,514 new coronavirus cases Thursday and 115 deaths, 92 of which came after a review of medical records.

The cases pushed Michigan’s seven-day daily average to 2,934 cases, continuing a stunning decline in cases.

St. Clair County, which had the highest rate in the nation in early April, averaged 43 new daily cases over the past week — less than a quarter of the 187 daily cases it averaged from April 8 through April 14.

The drop in cases has pushed the state’s overall rate down from over 70 cases per 100,000 in early April to about 30 cases per 100,000 now.

Results from more than 39,900 tests reported Thursday showed that 8.6 percent were positive, pushing the overall weekly rate to 9.7 percent, the first time under 10 percent since it was 9.6 percent on March 24.

Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continued to fall, with 2,767 patients statewide, down 153 patients from Wednesday’s report. The number of patients treated for COVID-19 has declined every day since it hit its peak on April 19, when 4,422 were being treated.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

Just over half of the state’s adults, 50.9 percent, have had at least one dose of the vaccine. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has issued a plan to begin relaxing restrictions when the state’s vaccination rate hits 55 percent and remove them entirely when it hits 70 percent.

To get to the first threshold, just over 331,000 more people need to get their first shot. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, May 5

Positive test results fall below 9 percent

For the first time since March 20, the percentage of Michigan coronavirus tests coming back positive fell below 9 percent Wednesday.

With 8.6 percent of nearly 35,000 tests coming back positive, the weekly positivity rate — now at 10.1 percent — has fallen for 26 straight days since it peaked at 16.9 percent on April 8. That’s encouraging because a lower rate indicates less uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus. State health authorities’ goal is to keep the positivity rate at 3 percent or less.

COVID19 case counts also are down across most of the state, with 2,589 confirmed cases reported Wednesday. That pushes the seven-day average to 2,949, the first time the average has been below 3,000 since March 23.

Another encouraging sign is a continued drop in hospitalizations. There are now 2,920 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in Michigan hospitals. That’s down 77 patients from Tuesday’s count, and by 1,502 patients since the peak of 4,422 COVID patients on April 19.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

Despite the improvements, Michigan still has the highest case rates, positive test and hospitalization rates in the country.

The state reported 42 additional COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, pushing the overall state total to 17,939 since the pandemic began.

— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, May 4

126 deaths Tuesday, but third wave far less lethal

Michigan reported 2,527 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 126 deaths on Tuesday.

The deaths are the second-most of the third wave, following the 131 reported Saturday: Of them, 51 were recorded after a review of medical records.

That said, the third wave has been far less lethal than others in Michigan, with 2,182 deaths over two months compared to 4,400 over two months in the fall even though both surges had similar numbers of cases: 239,000 in fall and 222,000 in spring.

The drop in deaths points to the effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccines, with state leaders first giving doses to health care professionals and to those 65 and up, who are most likely to have serious illness and die from COVID-19.

More than 65 percent of seniors have gotten the vaccine and they now comprise far fewer of all COVID-19 cases than they did before the vaccines were first introduced in December.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

Of nearly 28,900 tests reported Tuesday, 11.8 percent were positive, the highest percentage in a week. But the overall rate over that past week fell again to 10.5 percent.

Hospitalizations for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 continued to fall, with 2,997 patients reported statewide. That’s 66 fewer than Monday and the first time below 3,000 since it was at 2,801 on April 2. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, May 3

5,035 cases on Sunday and Monday

Michigan reported 5,035 confirmed COVID-19 cases covering Sunday and Monday, an average of 2,517 per day, as well as 29 deaths.

That’s the lowest daily case number since March 22, when 2,401 were reported. Michigan’s new daily average rate is 3,368.

Of more than 61,400 tests, 9.5 percent were positive, bringing the overall rate over that past week to 10.7 percent, the lowest since it was 10.3 percent for the week preceding March 25.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

Hospitalizations for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 continued to fall, with 3,063 patients reported statewide. That’s 126 fewer than Friday, the last reported day, and 802 fewer than last Monday. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, May 1

131 reported deaths on Saturday

Though coronavirus case rates continue to fall from an April 13 peak, Michigan reported 131 COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, the most reported on any day in the current spring surge.

Of those deaths, one occurred in January, another in March, but the remainder occurred in April, along with five reported Saturday.

The state also reported 3,431 new confirmed cases, putting the seven-day daily average at 3,581, almost half of the 7,014 peak on April 13, a huge drop in just 18 days.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

In comparison, during the fall surge, when no vaccines were yet available, average case counts were still at 6,000 a day 18 days after the Nov. 21 peak of 7,270 average daily cases.

For the second day in a row, the positive test rate across the state was below 10 percent, with 9.8 percent of the more than 44,400 tests reported Saturday coming back positive. The state’s goal is to keep its positive test rate at 3 percent or lower. A high positive rate indicates more uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus.

The state does not update data on hospitalizations and vaccines on weekends. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, April 30

Half of Michigan adults have now started on COVID vaccine

As Michigan sees COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths fall, state officials reported Friday that fully 50 percent of state residents 16 and older have gotten at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccines.

That puts the state 5 percentage points away from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new benchmarks for relaxing some of the state’s remaining COVID-19 restrictions. Once 55 percent of state residents have at least started the vaccine, Whitmer intends to allow more in-person work 14 days later, with more restrictions dropped as the percentage rises up to 70 percent of the more than 8 million people in Michigan who are 16 and older.

But getting to 55 percent could take some time: The state needs nearly 400,000 more people to get vaccinated to cross that threshold and the daily vaccination rate has fallen in recent weeks as the state bumps into that portion of the state population that is less motivated or outright hesitant to be vaccinated.

After averaging nearly 60,000 doses a day to those starting the vaccination process just two weeks ago, the recent average has fallen below 40,000 doses a day.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

The state also reported 3,440 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, lowering the seven-day average to 3,762, the lowest since it was 3,678 on March 26. There were another 36 COVID-19 deaths reported Friday as well.

For the first time since March 20, the percent of positive tests fell below 10 percent, with 9.7 percent of more than 43,800 tests reported Friday coming back positive. The lower the rate of people testing positive, the more that community spread of the virus is considered to be under control.

But the spring surge has been substantial: Since March 20, the state has reported just over 216,000 COVID-19 cases, a full 26 percent of the state’s total of 840,954 since the pandemic began. There have been 1,646 deaths reported since March 20, or 9 percent of the 17,611 deaths that have been recorded.

— Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, April 29

3,623 new cases, as third wave fades fast in Michigan

Michigan’s swift retreat from the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the nation continued Thursday, with hospitals reporting more than 1,000 fewer patients than they had a week ago.

Statewide, 3,284 patients are being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down 1,066 from last Thursday and 167 less than the day before.

Despite the sharp decline, Michigan still has the highest hospitalization rate in the country, at 356 hospitalizations per 1 million people, far higher than the District of Columbia, which at No. 2 has 234 hospitalizations per million.

Michigan also reported 3,623 new confirmed coronavirus cases Thursday and 108 COVID-19 deaths. All but one of the deaths occurred in the previous two weeks; the other occurred in March.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

Case counts are falling in all but five counties in the state. Of more than 49,700 tests reported Thursday, 10.4 percent came back positive, the lowest since 10.1 percent were positive on March 24.

The state’s goal is to keep its positive test rate at 3 percent or lower. A high positive rate indicates more uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus.— Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, April 28

4,371 cases, 38 deaths

Michigan reported 4,371 coronavirus cases on Wednesday and 38 deaths from the virus, reducing the seven-day cases average to 4,167, the lowest since March 27.

Since the pandemic began, 833,891 people statewide have had confirmed cases and there have been 17,467 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

Infections have dropped substantially since a peak on April 13, when the state was averaging 7,014 cases a day.

Even so, Michigan still has the nation’s highest infection rate, with 51 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases per 100,000, well above Colorado at No. 2, which has 30 cases per 100,000. But Michigan was at 74 cases per 100,000 a week ago.

Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data

Declining cases have led to fewer hospitalizations, as the state reported 3,446 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Wednesday. That’s down 137 patients from Tuesday and nearly 1,000 from April 19, when Michigan hit a single-day peak for hospitalizations.

Much of the decline in patients was reported in metro Detroit, where a census count across six counties declined to 1,952 from just over 2,600 eight days ago, easing pressure on hospitals that were at or near capacity.

Out of nearly 36,700 tests reported Wednesday, 11.7 percent were positive. Two weeks ago, 15.5 percent of the previous week’s tests were positive.

The state’s goal is to keep its positive test rate at 3 percent or lower. A high positive rate indicates more community spread of the deadly virus. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, April 27

Michigan reports 105 deaths

Coronavirus infection rates are falling across most of Michigan with just five of the state’s 83 counties seeing increases, according to the latest data released Tuesday.

Two weeks ago, 72 counties were seeing infection rates rise.

Muskegon County is one of the five still rising, and now leads the state with an average of 86 daily cases for every 100,000 people, up from 51 cases a day a week earlier. Meanwhile, counties hit hardest by the spring surge are seeing steep declines in new cases.

But the lagging fallout from the recent surge continues, with the state reporting 105 additional COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, all but three of which occurred in April.

Though the current wave is proving less deadly than earlier surges, largely because more than 65 percent of Michigan seniors — the most vulnerable to the virus — have been vaccinated, it still has caused over 1,750 deaths since the wave began in mid-February. That’s roughly 10 percent of the 17,429 COVID-19 deaths in Michigan reported since the pandemic began.

The state reported 3,676 new cases on Tuesday, pushing the seven-day average down again, to 4,340, the lowest in nearly a month. It was at 4,208 on March 28.

For the first time in a week, however, the rate of COVID tests that came back positive rose on Tuesday, 13.7 percent among 33,000 tests reported.

— Mike Wilkinson

Monday, April 26

Cases, hospitalizations plummeting in Michigan

Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and positive tests are declining rapidly in Michigan, but the state remains the national leader in all categories.

Michigan reported 6,524 new coronavirus cases on Monday, or an average of 3,262 for Sunday and Monday. The state has averaged 4,566 cases per day over the past week — more than 2,000 fewer than the 6,598 daily average just one week ago.

The drop in cases has led to a reduction in COVID-19 patients in Michigan hospitals, with the state reporting 3,688 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Monday, down 177 from last Friday and more than 700 from a week ago.

The state reported 35 deaths on Monday, an average of 18 for the two days covered by the report. Since the pandemic began, the state has said 17,324 have died from COVID-19.

Testing data also improved with 10.8 percent of more than 68,000 tests coming back positive. That sent the seven-day rate to 11.9 percent, a number that has fallen for 17 consecutive days from a high of 16.9 percent.

Despite the improvement, Michigan remains No. 1 in new cases, hospitalizations and positive tests nationally and most states, like Michigan, are seeing rates improve almost daily. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, April 24

4,698 cases reported Saturday

Michigan’s case counts and positive COVID test results continued to fall Saturday — more signs that the state may have blunted its third surge of COVID.

About 12.4 percent of tests over the past week were returned positive for COVID-19 as of Saturday, compared to a recent high on April 6 of 17.9 percent. There were wide variations in the state.

At least 1-in-5 tests recorded Saturday were positive in eight counties: Tuscola in the Thumb region at 24.3 percent; Hillsdale in southeast Michigan and Newaygo on the west side at 22.3 percent; Sanilac in the Thumb at 22.2 percent, Oceana at 21.6 percent, and St. Clair at 21.2 percent and Cheboygan at 20.8 percent.

The state’s goal is to keep the positivity rate at 3 percent or below. A high positive rate indicates more uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus.

The state also added 4,698 cases Saturday, further dropping the average daily case count from a high of 7,014 cases April 13 to 4,859 cases Saturday, based on a seven-day rolling average. Like testing results, there were wide variations among counties. Muskegon and Newaygo reported 79 and 76 cases per 100,000 residents, respectively, while the Upper Peninsula’s Keweenaw, Houghton and Gogebic each reported fewer than 10 in every 100,000 residents.

Another 121 deaths were connected to COVID-19, including 91 based on a review of medical records. Deaths are a lagging indicator in COVID trends.

— Robin Erb

Friday, April 23

Cases, hospitalizations, positive tests keep dropping in Michigan

Michigan confirmed another 29 deaths in its COVID toll Friday, bringing the total number of deaths to 17,168. The state also added another 5,031 cases, bringing the total to 814,622.

But the good news continued, too.

In the past 10 days, the average daily case count has plummeted from a high of 7,014 cases to 4,978 cases Friday, based on a seven-day rolling average.

Hospitalizations fell precipitously, too.

On Friday, Michigan hospitals were treating 3,865 patients, including 54 children. That was 557 fewer patients than on Monday, when Michigan had the highest hospitalization totals since the pandemic began.

In addition, the rate of COVID tests that came back positive fell to 11.1 percent. That’s far below the first week in April when the positivity rate surpassed 17 percent for several days. The state’s goal is to keep the positivity rate at 3 percent or below.

— Robin Erb

Thursday, April 22

Daily cases fall below 5,000; Michigan announces pop-up tests for travelers

Michigan connected another 108 deaths Thursday to COVID-19, driving the number to 17,139 deaths in 13 months.

Daily cases fell to 4,867 Thursday, nearly half the total of last Friday, when there were 8,955 cases, the highest one-day tally of the year. The decline has caused the rolling average of daily cases to fall to 5,538 on average from 6,949 a week ago.

Hospitalizations fell for the third day in a row to 3,976 patients (including 58 children) from 4,244 on Monday.

Positivity in testing fell to 12.1 percent Thursday, down from a recent high of 17.9 percent April 6. — Robin Erb

Michigan announces quick tests for travelers

Michigan’s road trippers will have easier access to COVID-19 antigen testing at some of the state’s busiest travel stops, including some airports and Welcome Centers.

The quick tests may offer results — emailed or texted to the traveler — in as little as 15 minutes through an effort by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Transportation.

Travelers will be able to book appointments, but walk-ins may be available at times. Three sites have been confirmed so far: Welcome Centers in Dundee in Petersburg and Monroe and at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City.

Hours will be limited. Travelers can find out more at the MDHHS webpage here that lists pop-up testing. — Robin Erb

Wednesday, April 21

Cases decline to 5,584

Michigan reported 5,584 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday and 45 new deaths, pushing the state past two tragic milestones.

The state now has reported more than 800,000 cases (804,724) and more than 17,000 deaths (17,031).

Michigan, the tenth most populous state, now is the 10th state to cross 17,000 deaths and the 11th to exceed 800,000 confirmed cases.

But the overall numbers reported Wednesday continue to suggest the state is seeing a slowdown in infections.

The daily case count lowered the seven-day average of new cases to 5,720, the lowest it has been since April 3, when it was 5,662. And 12.3 percent of the nearly 46,600 coronavirus tests reported Wednesday came back positive, the lowest since 12.1 percent of March 26’s tests were positive. That’s still well above the state’s goal of 3 percent positive test results or lower.

The state’s hospitals also reported nearly 200 fewer COVID-19 patients statewide with nearly every region reporting treating fewer patients, especially in metro Detroit’s six counties, which reported 91 fewer patients treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19.

There were 4,153 patients statewide on Wednesday, down from 4,350 on Tuesday and an all-time high of 4,422 on Monday.

Despite the improvement, Michigan still has, by far, the nation’s worst ongoing outbreak, with the highest case, positive testing and hospitalization rates in the country, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of daily data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, April 20

Michigan reports 5,259 COVID-19 cases, 85 deaths

The seven-day average of daily COVID-19 cases in Michigan fell to almost 6,000 on Tuesday with the report of 5,259 newly confirmed cases.

It marks the fourth consecutive day the daily average fell. With Tuesday’s cases, the daily average over the past week was 6,082.

During this current surge, it peaked at 7,014 new cases on April 13. It was last below 6,000 on April 6 when it hit 5,931.

The state reported 85 deaths on Tuesday, including 33 that followed a review of medical records. The total represents the second highest recorded during this, the state’s third wave of coronavirus cases. Since the pandemic began, the state has reported 16,986 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

After hitting an all-time peak of 4,422 COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday, the hospitalization number fell by 72 Tuesday to 4,350.

The biggest drop occurred in metro Detroit’s six counties, whose hospitals had seen the most COVID patients ever. The number of COVID-19 patients fell by 85 to 2,523. But patient counts in west and southwest Michigan did climb as cases in those regions have increased.

Also, there are now 71 pediatric COVID-19 patients, the highest recorded.

Before vaccinations began in earnest, those under 10 years old comprised 3.5 percent of all cases in Michigan. Since February that age group has seen the biggest increase in weekly cases and in the past week the age group comprised 6.4 percent of all cases.

The current wave appears to be slowing in the eastern part of the state, with continued declines in the weekly case rate in metro Detroit and the Thumb. But cases continue to rise in west and southwest Michigan, including in Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties.

Of the nearly 35,000 tests reported Tuesday, 13.7 percent came back positive. Over the past week, 13.8 percent were positive and marked 11 consecutive days of declines. Still, the case positivity rate in Michigan remains well above the state’s goal of keeping the rate at 3 percent or below. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, April 19

Hospitalizations hit 4,422, the most on record

More people are hospitalized in Michigan with COVID-19, 4,422, than at any recorded point of the pandemic.

The peak stems from continued growth of patients in metro Detroit, as there are 2,608 in the six-county region. That’s the most on record, but hospital data is incomplete from the earliest days of the pandemic, March and April 2020.

The increase comes as the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases fell over the weekend, with 8,574 reported for Sunday and Monday, or 4,287 per day.

That’s brought the seven-day average down to 6,598 from 6,755 on Saturday. It was 7,014 on April 13.

The state recorded a lower percentage of positive coronavirus tests — 13.2 percent — than it had in over two weeks. Over the past week, 13.9 percent of tests were positive, the first time below 14 percent since March 31.

And for the first time in a couple of weeks, no county had a rate over 30 percent.

Case counts and percent positive tests fell as well in counties in the Thumb, which have the highest case rates during the spring surge.

The state also reported 61 additional COVID-19 deaths for Sunday and Monday, bringing the total to 16,901 since the pandemic began. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, April 17

5,530 new cases, a steep drop

Michigan reported 5,530 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 Saturday, a steep decline from nearly 9,000 a day earlier, which had been the second most reported in the pandemic.

The seven-day average is now 6,755, down from 6,949 on Friday.

The state also reported 69 more COVID-19 deaths, of which 60 were added following a review of medical records. Four of those occurred in March but the rest occurred in April.

Of nearly 58,300 coronavirus tests reported Saturday, 12.1 percent came back positive, the lowest daily rate since 10.9 percent positive was reported March 25. Over the past week, 14.3 percent of tests have been positive, a number that has declined eight consecutive days but still well above the state’s goal of 3 percent or less.

Case rates in the five hardest hit counties — St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola and Macomb — are starting to fall, though they remain the highest in the state. But rates are rising in parts of west Michigan, including in the more populous counties of Kent and Ottawa.

The state does not report updated hospital and vaccination data on weekends.

— Mike Wilkinson

Friday, April 16

Second-most cases in single day; Whitmer says virus starting to 'slow'

A day after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said COVID-19 infections in Michigan were “starting to slow down a bit,” the state reported 8,955 COVID-19 cases on Friday, its second-most in a single day.

Whitmer made her comments during an interview with ABC news and said the state was “making progress” in its battle with the virus.

But despite positive signs, including slightly lower positive rates on coronavirus tests, Michigan has by far the highest rate of infections in the nation.

The new cases included more than 1,000 in both Oakland County (1,086 new cases) and suburban Wayne County (1,021) and 943 in Macomb County.

But there were encouraging signs with a decline in cases in the Thumb region that has been the hardest hit in the state.

The latest testing data showed that 14.7 percent of over 52,000 tests were positive, which helped lower the seven-day rate to 14.9 percent, the first time under 15 percent in two weeks.

The state also reported 40 additional COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total to 16,771 since the pandemic began.

The state also reported the highest number yet of pediatric COVID-19 patients, with 59 being treated in state hospitals. The overall number of patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 rose 35 to 4,244.

Hospitals in metro Detroit and south-central Michigan are now seeing more patients than at any point in the pandemic. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, April 15

Virus closes nine Secretary of State branches

The coronavirus pandemic has caused one more headache this week, as the Michigan Secretary of State’s office temporarily closed nine branches as of Thursday due to exposures to the virus.

Aneta Kiersnowski, a spokesperson for the agency, told Bridge Michigan in an email that those exposed have already been contacted by the local health departments.

“All customers with existing appointments were notified and told what nearby branch their appointment would be honored at,” Kiersnowski said.

Most of the branches are expected to reopen later this month. The closures are:

West Branch: 2394 W. M-55
Lansing: 3315 E. Michigan
Howell: 1448 Lawson
Dearborn: 5090 Schaefer
Owosso: 1720 E. M-21
Livonia: 17176 Farmington
Troy: 1111 E. Long Lake
Newberry: 504 W. Mcmillan
Wyoming: 1056 28th St. SW — Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Thursday, April 15

Michigan reports 6,303 cases, 112 deaths

Michigan reported 6,303 new confirmed cases and 112 deaths on Thursday, as the state continues to have the nation’s highest rate of COVID per 1,000 residents.

The deaths include 81 that followed a review of medical records, but all but two of them were in April.

Deaths are concentrated in the state’s hardest-hit areas.

In St. Clair County, nine more deaths were reported on Thursday and 77 have died since mid-February. That’s nearly a quarter of all COVID deaths in the county since the pandemic began a year ago. By contrast, Detroit has reported 91 COVID deaths since mid-February, less than 5 percent of the 1,933 deaths there.

For the first time in two weeks, less than 14 percent of the nearly 56,400 tests reported Thursday were positive. That brought the weekly positive down for the sixth consecutive day to 15.3 percent.

And for the second day in a row, hospitalizations in the state declined slightly, down 21 to 4,209, though metro Detroit remains near its all-time high. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, April 14

Michigan reports 7,955 new cases

Michigan reported 7,955 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, pushing the seven-day average to just over 7,000 cases per day.

Michigan has the nation’s highest rate by a mile: At 79 daily confirmed and possible cases per 100,000, Michigan’s rate is an astonishing 84 percent higher than No. 2 Rhode Island, which is reporting 43 cases per 100,000.

Though cases counts remain high and are approaching the peak in the fall surge, some of the hardest-hit areas are seeing overall rates come down, including in the Thumb.

St. Clair County, which had been over 140 cases per 100,000, now is averaging 117 cases per day per 100,000 — still one of the nation’s highest rates but falling.

The latest testing data is showing the highest percentages are coming down; the state has only two counties — Sanliac (35.5 percent) and Tuscola (30.3) reporting over 30 percent of tests as positive.

For the state, the weekly positive rate of 15.5 percent — again, by far the highest in the nation — has fallen for five consecutive days. Of the 47,300 tests reported Wednesday, 14.6 percent were positive.

The state reported 35 additional COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday. Though the current surge has not been as lethal as the fall surge, deaths have risen.

But with fewer seniors getting infected than in the fall — 70 percent of those 65 and older have had at least one dose of vaccine — death rates should remain lower. Over 80 percent of all COVID-19 deaths were among those 60 and older. - Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, April 13

Michigan records second-highest daily total

For the first time since the fall surge, Michigan is reporting a weekly average of more than 7,000 daily COVID-19 cases, with 8,867 new cases reported Tuesday.

It’s the second-highest daily tally, behind the 9,779 reported on Nov. 20.

The count follows several days of declines that offered some hope that Michigan’s worst-in-the-nation surge may be leveling off.

But there is good news: The percent of positive cases fell again, to 14.2 percent of over 58,800 tests. That lowered the past week’s positive rate to 15.8 percent, the first time in a week it was below 16 percent.

Hospitalizations continue to increase, though, with 4,250 patients statewide. Of those, 1,392 are in Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties, nearly 150 more than the peak for the region last fall.

That’s created a bottleneck at rural hospitals just north of the region, which send their serious cases to bigger hospitals to the south, said Dr. Mark Hamed. He is the medical director for several counties and an emergency room physician in Sanilac County in the Thumb, which has some of the highest infection rates in the state.

Michigan reported 74 deaths on Tuesday, the third time in a week it has reported more than 70. The last time that many deaths were reported on a single day was Feb. 18, when there were 85.

In January the state recorded an average of 59 COVID-19 deaths a day, a rate that fell to 28 a day in February and to 19 a day in March.

So far in April, the tally has risen to 26 deaths a day. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, April 12

Hospitalizations climb to 4,167 statewide

Hospitals in three of Michigan’s eight health regions now have more COVID-19 patients than they did during the fall surge.

Statewide, there are 4,167 patients hospitalized, up from 343 from Friday. Hospitalizations peaked at 4,326 on Nov. 30 before declining through mid-February.

Hospitals in the two regions of metro Detroit, covering six counties, are treating more than 2,500 confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, up from a previous peak of 2,225 on Dec. 2.

Hospitals in Region 1, which covers nine counties from the Ohio border to north of Lansing in south-central Michigan, reported 357 COVID-19 patients, up from a peak of 335 on Dec. 8.

The increase comes as the state reported 9,674 new cases for Sunday and Monday, an average of 4,837 daily cases. Over the past week, the daily average is now 6,457, and has dipped each of the last three days.

The state also reported 12 deaths over the two days, bringing the pandemic total to 16,512. There have also been 747,697 confirmed cases.

The state reported 14.5 percent of nearly 69,000 tests came back positive. The seven-day rate is 16.1 percent and has fallen for three straight days. That rate had risen every day since Feb. 28 until Friday. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, April 10

6,892 new cases, 74 deaths

Michigan reported 6,892 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, along with 74 deaths.

The deaths include 57 that were added following a review of medical records. One of the added deaths was in January, 15 were in March and the rest in April.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 16,500 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and another 1,063 probable ones.

Of the 44,400 tests reported Saturday, 15.9 percent came back positive; 16.6 percent of the past week’s tests have been positive. The state’s goal is to keep its positive test rate at 3 percent or lower. A high positive rate indicates more uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus.

The state does not report hospitalizations or vaccination data on the weekends. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, April 9

No new restrictions, 7,834 cases

As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced no new COVID-19 restrictions but implored Michigan residents to take more precautions Friday, the state reported another 7,834 new confirmed cases and 26 additional deaths.

Michigan has averaged 6,763 new cases a day for the past week and is on pace to exceed the peak — just over 7,200 daily cases — of the fall surge.

There are no obvious signs that state case numbers have hit their peak: Michigan hospitals continue to see more patients and five of the state’s eight regions reported the highest number of COVID-19-related emergency room visits in the past four days.

At a media event Friday, the governor asked (but did not require) schools to take high school classes online for two weeks and youth sports to shut down for two weeks. She also encouraged state residents to avoid indoor dining.

But she did not order any new restrictions, a departure from invocation of emergency powers in response to a similar increase in November, again noting that the state’s rising numbers of vaccinated residents is the difference. She pointed to the 3.1 million people who have at least started the vaccination process and, as of Friday, the more than 2 million who have completed it.

COVID-19 cases remain highest in the Thumb, with St. Clair County now reporting, on average, 146 cases per 100,000 residents, by far the highest rate in the state. Nearby counties, including Macomb, Sanilac and Huron are all over 100, well above the state rate of 68 per 100,000 residents.

Results from 52,300 COVID-19 tests reported across Michigan Friday showed 17.5 percent came back positive, putting the weekly average at 16.9 percent across the state, far above the state’s goal of keeping positivity rates at 3 percent or lower.

Five Michigan counties — Huron (38.7 percent), Sanilac (34.4), Tuscola (33.4), St. Clair (30.7) and Missaukee (30) — have positive test rates at or exceeding 30 percent. Another 24 counties are between 20 and 30 percent.

One piece of good news: More than 286,000 people sought virus tests in the past week, up from 233,000 in the first week of March.

There are now 3,824 people hospitalized for treatment of confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up over 1,000 since last Friday.

The hardest hit are the six counties of metro Detroit, which now have more COVID-19 patients than they saw during the fall wave, and the region that stretches from south-central Michigan to north of Lansing. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, April 8

73 deaths, 7,819 cases, as third wave rips Michigan

Michigan reported 73 COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, the most since 85 were reported on Feb. 18.

The deaths include 43 that followed a review of medical records, but all of the reported deaths have occurred in the last two weeks. That underscores the lethality of the current surge, as Michigan has the highest infection and hospitalization rates in the country.

Since the third wave began in mid-February, those younger than 60 comprised 16 percent of deaths, compared to 10 percent before then. Seniors 60 and older, who were among the first to get the vaccines, now make up 84 percent of deaths, down from 90 percent.

The biggest drop was among those 70 and older: from 74 percent of all deaths before mid-February to 64 percent since. Those 65 and above have the highest rates of vaccination in the state, according to the state.

Statewide, 3.1 million people have had at least one dose of the vaccine and 1.9 million have had either both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The state also reported 7,819 additional confirmed coronavirus infections on Thursday, pushing the seven-day average to 6,429, the highest since Dec. 5.

Of the 56,300 tests reported Thursday, 14.7 percent came back positive, the lowest rate in eight days. Michigan, however, still has by far the highest rate in the country. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, April 7

Michigan reports 8,015 cases

Michigan reported Wednesday another 8,015 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the eighth highest daily count since the pandemic began.

The state also reported 30 additional COVID-19 deaths, the most since 32 were reported Feb. 3 (excluding days when the totals included previous deaths based on an updated review of medical records).

Michigan currently has the highest rate of new infections in the country, the highest percentage of positive tests and the most COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

The current surge is pushing hundreds of patients a day into hospitals, with COVID-19 patient loads in metro Detroit at or approaching levels from the second wave in the fall.

Across the state, 3,595 patients were hospitalized Wednesday with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. It’s risen over 1,000, or 40 percent, in a week.

There were 1,006 adult COVID-19 patients Wednesday in hospitals in Wayne, Washtenaw and Monroe counties, about the same as on Dec. 7. There were more than 1,100 adult COVID patients in hospitals in Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties.

Central-southern Michigan, from the Ohio border to north of Lansing, is also approaching hospital patient levels reported in the fall, as is the northern lower peninsula. Hospitals in the Upper Peninsula and west Michigan are seeing more patients but remain well below the fall levels.

Case rates are highest in the Thumb counties, including St. Clair, and Macomb County.

Excluding the earliest days of the pandemic when coronavirus testing was limited, the state reported its highest percent of COVID tests that came back positive — 17.9 percent — from 39,400 tests given. Over the past week, 16.2 percent of tests have been positive.

The state’s goal is to keep its positive test rate at 3 percent or lower. A high positive rate indicates more uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, April 6

More than 3,500 in hospitals with COVID, largest weekly jump since last spring

The number of Michigan people hospitalized for COVID-19 rose by more than 200 Tuesday — and by more than 1,100 people in the past week, a 45 percent climb. That is the highest one-week increase since the earliest days of the pandemic.

There are now 3,554 COVID patients in Michigan hospitals, up from 3,334 on Monday and 2,446 a week ago.

Hospitals across the state — but particularly in metro Detroit and the lower peninsula — are seeing rising hospitalizations. Michigan has the nation’s highest rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations by far, with 308 patients for every million residents.

New York has the second highest rate at 266 patients per million.

The increase comes as the state reported 4,964 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, along with 58 additional deaths, 16 of which followed a review of medical records. All of the deaths occurred in March and April.

Michigan’s rate of new infections, also the nation’s highest, is hitting the Thumb region hardest. Four counties in the Thumb now have a positive testing rate above 30 percent: Sanilac (32.6 percent), Tuscola (32.5), St. Clair (31.6) and Huron (30.7).

The state’s goal is to keep its positive test rate at 3 percent or lower. A high positive rate indicates more uncontrolled community spread of the deadly virus.

Only 17 of Michigan’s 83 counties have a positivity rate under 10 percent. In the past week, 15.8 percent of 285,000 COVID tests given across Michigan came back positive. On March 1 the weekly rate was under 4 percent.

No other state has a rate higher than 9.6 percent (South Dakota).

— Mike Wilkinson

Monday, April 5

Michigan crosses 700,000 infections, leads nation in case, patient, positive rates

With 10,293 new COVID-19 infections reported Monday, Michigan has now exceeded 700,000 confirmed cases, with a total of 702,499 since the pandemic began over a year ago.

The reported cases cover the past two days amount to a 5,146 daily average. The state’s average daily rate over the past week, 5,961, is the highest for Michigan since early December.

The state also reported 21 confirmed COVID-19 deaths Monday, bringing the total state COVID-19 deaths to 16,239.

Michigan now leads the nation in its rate of new infections per 100,000 people, hospitalized patients per 100,000, and in the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back as positive, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Of 67,000 tests reported Monday, 16.6 percent came back positive. Over the past week, 15.6 percent of more than 239,000 tests have come back positive. The had maintained as its goal to remain at 3 percent positive or lower.

Cases remain high in counties north of Detroit, including St. Clair, Macomb and Lapeer and the Thumb counties of Sanilac, Huron and Tuscola. But they are rising in 63 of the state’s 83 counties.

Michigan also reported that nearly 3 million residents have gotten at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, with 2.95 million having started the vaccination process. Of those, 1.8 million have completed the vaccination process, either by getting the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or both doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

— Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, April 3

Michigan reports 8,400 COVID cases, positivity rate nears 18 percent

Michigan is amidst its worst outbreak of COVID-19 since the height of the second wave in December, reporting 8,413 new cases on Saturday — the sixth most ever — as the state’s test positivity rate approached 18 percent.

Three counties — Macomb (1,279), Oakland (1,183) and suburban Wayne (1,068) — exceeded 1,000 new cases. But cases in the state’s Thumb region also continue to soar. St. Clair County reported 378 cases, and is now averaging 129 daily cases per 100,000 people, the highest rate in the state.

Related:

The state reported 17.6 percent of the 48,300 tests reported Saturday came back positive. For the past week, the average positivity rate was 15.1 percent, the highest at any point in the pandemic after last spring, when testing was far more limited.

The state’s goal during the pandemic is to keep the positivity rate at 3 percent or lower, which it has reached at times. A higher positivity rate indicates more community spread of the virus.

Of the 57 deaths reported Saturday, 51 came after a review of medical records. All but two of the deaths occurred in March and April. One was recorded in December and another in January.

Despite the sharp jump in cases in Michigan, which currently has the highest rate in the nation, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has repeatedly indicated no new state restrictions are imminent.

She told reporters Friday that residents should continue to take advantage of the new coronavirus vaccines and remain vigilant by wearing masks, maintaining social distance and avoiding large gatherings. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, April 2

COVID hospitalizations rise 44 percent in week, Michigan reports 5,500 cases

Michigan hospitals continue to see a surge of COVID-19 patients, with 2,801 statewide patients on Friday, up 861 or 44 percent in a week.

The hospital caseload is rising fastest in metro Detroit where Macomb and St. Clair counties are seeing some of the highest infection rates.

Overall the state reported 5,498 new COVID-19 cases and 20 additional COVID-19 deaths on Friday.

Out of the 37,900 COVID tests reported Friday across the state, 14.5 percent were positive. The state's goal is to get positivity rates down to 3 percent or less; a lower percentage indicates more control over community spread of the virus.

Michigan currently has the highest infection rate in the country and the highest percent positive rate. It ranks fourth in the number of COVID-19 patients per 1 million residents.— Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, April 1

Michigan exceeds 6,000 COVID cases Thursday, has highest case rate in nation

Michigan reported 6,036 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, pushing the seven-day average to 5,061, the first time the average has exceeded 5,000 since Dec. 12.

The state also reported 49 additional COVID-19 deaths Thursday, 33 which followed a review of medical records.

Michigan now has the highest case rate, per 100,000, in the nation and the highest percentage of all coronavirus tests coming back positive — 12.8 percent of the 53,300 tests reported Thursday came back positive, and the rate was 13.5 percent of all tests over the past week.

Hospitalizations also continue to mount. As of Thursday there were 2,712 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in Michigan hospitals. That’s up nearly 800 from last Friday and more than double the 1,310 that were hospitalized as of March 19. — Mike Wilkinson

Contagious Brazil COVID variant reaches Michigan

Another highly contagious variant of the COVID-19 virus has reached Michigan, state health officials said Thursday.

A Bay County resident tested positive for the P.1 variant, also called the Brazil variant because it was first identified in travelers who flew out of that country in January.

"This variant has been associated with increased transmissibility and there are concerns it might affect both vaccine-induced and natural immunity," the state health department said in a release.

Michigan is averaging 4,945 daily cases over the past week, the steepest increase in cases in the country. Health officials continue to urge all Michigan adults to get vaccinated, and the department said available doses should also protect against the new variant.

The Bay County Health Department learned of the variant on Wednesday, according to the release. It is investigating the infected individual's exposure history in an attempt to identify the source, and it is also recommending any recent contacts quarantine for 14 days.

It's the second new variant identified in Bay County in as many weeks, according to health officer Joel Strasz, who said his department investigated three cases of the B.1.1.7 variant last week.

To date, Michigan has identified 1,468 cases of the B.1.1.7 U.K. variant in 51 different jurisdictions, along with seven cases of a B.1.135 South Africa variant.

Nationally, the CDC has reported 172 confirmed cases in 22 other states of the P.1 variant that originated in Brazil, where recent outbreaks have reportedly overwhelmed local hospital systems. - Jonathan Oosting

Wednesday, March 30

Michigan tops 6,300 COVID cases, highest since December

Michigan reported 6,311 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest number of daily cases since Dec. 4 when 8,089 were reported.

The state is averaging 4,945 daily cases over the past week, the steepest increase in cases in the country.

Although it can take weeks or months to officially confirm daily death counts, the state reported 10 additional COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday.

The highest rates of new cases are occurring in Sanilac, St. Clair, Huron and Macomb counties, with Sanilac and St. Clair reporting over 100 new daily cases per 100,000 population. The rate is 99 new daily cases per 100,000 in Huron County and 89 new daily cases in Macomb.

Of the 40,900 tests reported Wednesday, 15.1 percent came back positive, marking the third straight day above 15 percent. Michigan now has the highest percentage of tests coming back positive in the nation. High test positivity rates indicate higher levels of community spread of the virus.

— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, March 30

Positive coronavirus tests above 15 percent; Michigan reports 5,177 new cases

Michigan now has the highest rate of positive coronavirus tests in the nation after 15.4 percent of tests reported Tuesday were positive.

For the past week, 12.4 percent of tests were positive, the highest rate in the country.

Michigan also now has the second-highest rate of new infections per 100,000, trailing only New Jersey. It reported 5,177 cases on Tuesday, giving it a seven-day average of 4,680.

The state also reported 46 new COVID-19 deaths, 20 of which came after review of medical records.

Although deaths lag infections by weeks, the sustained decline in deaths that began in the second week of December has ended and has started to rise again as hospitalizations — hitting 2,446 on Tuesday, up 126 from Monday — have doubled in less than two weeks.

Northern metro Detroit, in particular Macomb and St. Clair counties, and the Thumb region are experiencing the biggest increases. Macomb County is averaging just over 80 new daily cases per 100,000, almost as much as it had during the second wave in December.

St. Clair County is at 99 daily cases per 100,000 while Huron and Sanilac are at 96 and 95. In the past week, a third of all tests in Huron and Sanilac county are coming back positive; it’s 26 percent in St. Clair, 25 percent in neighboring Lapeer and 21 percent in Macomb.

The biggest jump in hospitalizations is in the region that includes St. Clair and Macomb counties, with 836 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. There were just 400 COVID-19 patients in that region less than 10 days ago.

— Mike Wilkinson

Monday, March 29

Whitmer tells providers to vaccinate 16 and up; surge continues

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday said providers administering the coronavirus vaccines should not turn away anyone even though only those 50 and older are currently eligible.

Whitmer had targeted April 5 for the day everyone 16 and older can sign up for a vaccine, but expanded it as Michigan is experiencing one of the worst outbreaks in the nation.

Her pronouncement Monday urges providers to prioritize older residents, who are most vulnerable to serious illness and death, but to fill any unused slots with whoever wants the vaccine.

“In an effort to ensure no vaccine goes to waste, we continue to ask providers to fill every vaccine appointment with someone 16 years or older,” said Whitmer spokesperson Robert Leddy in an email to Bridge Michigan.

The announcement came hours after Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and officials in Kalamazoo County opened up vaccines to anyone 16 and older.

The state is expected to receive its largest shipments of vaccines this week — over 500,000 doses — and has already started vaccination on over 2.6 million people, with nearly 1.5 million having had both doses.

But the state is experiencing a COVID-19 surge, sending hundreds more into hospitals across the state with over 4,400 new cases a day on average. The vaccines are looked at as a bulwark against the jump in cases.

Twelve states have lowered the age of eligibility to those 16 and older, according to a survey of states by the New York Times. Whitmer wants to vaccinate 70 percent — or 5 million people — of the 8 million Michigan residents who are 16 and up. — Mike Wilkinson

Michigan has highest positive rate in nation

Michigan now has the highest coronavirus positive test rate in the country, as 12 percent of the past week’s tests were positive, including 15.6 percent of those reported Sunday.

On Monday, Michigan reported 8,202 cases for Sunday and Monday — for an average of 4,101 per day — along with eight additional COVID-19 deaths.

In addition to the highest positive rate, Michigan has the second-highest rate of new cases, trailing only New Jersey, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of data compiled daily by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The surge has hospitalized 2,300 people in Michigan, up from 1,940 on Friday. That’s the second biggest jump since last May.

Most of that increase was reported in metro Detroit hospitals, with those in Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties reporting a 25 percent increase in three days.

Case rates are soaring in those counties too. Macomb County has a rate of 78 new daily cases per 100,000 people, up from 41 cases a week earlier, while the rate increased to 98 daily cases per 100,000 in St. Clair County from 63 and 49 per 100,000 from 29 in Oakland County.

Many of those infected are young and many of those hospitalized are younger than hospitals have seen in the previous waves.

In response, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on Monday lowered the age of vaccine eligibility to 16 years old, a week in advance of when the state will officially drop the age to 16. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, March 27

554,000 vaccine doses expected

Three coronavirus vaccine manufacturers are expected to ship more than 554,000 doses to Michigan this upcoming week, the most since mass vaccinations started in December.

The biggest increase comes from Pfizer, which is sending nearly 300,000 doses, about 30,000 more than its previous high. Moderna, as it has for over two months, is expected to ship just under 200,000 doses.

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines require two doses. Michigan is also getting over 58,000 doses from Johnson & Johnson, which is a single-dose vaccine.

Overall, 2.5 million Michigan residents over 16 have received a vaccine dose— and half of those have done so in the past 30 days, according to state figures.

Because of increasing supplies, Michigan — like many states — has lowered the age eligibility to get a vaccine. People 50 and up can now get them. As of April 5, everyone 16 and older will be eligible.

Michigan, which is amid the biggest surge of cases in the nation, reported another 4,670 cases Saturday and 22 additional COVID-19 deaths.

Michigan has the third highest overall rate in the country but its numbers have shot up faster than either New Jersey or New York, the states with higher rates of new daily cases per 100,000 people.

Michigan also reported Saturday that 11.8 percent of over 42,000 tests came back positive. For the past week, over 10 percent of tests have been positive, also the third highest rate in the country. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, March 26

Michigan surpasses 16,000 COVID deaths

Michigan reported 20 COVID-19 deaths on Friday, pushing the state’s total to more than 16,000 since the pandemic began last year.

The state also reported another 5,030 new confirmed coronavirus infections as it continues to record one of the fastest increases in new daily cases in the nation.

Over the past week, Michigan averaged 3,678 new cases a day — a 57 percent increase and more than double the 1,362 average daily cases two weeks ago.

And for the first time since Dec. 17, over 10 percent of the past week’s coronavirus tests came back positive, including 10.2 percent of those reported Friday.

Though case rates are rising across much of the Lower Peninsula, they went above 100 (106) per 100,000 in Huron County in the Thumb, where several school districts have seen outbreaks.

The rate hit 83 daily cases per 100,000 in nearby St. Clair County. In Macomb County, the state’s third most populous county, the new daily rate hit 60 cases per 100,000, up from 34 a week ago and just 10 daily cases per 100,000 a month ago — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, March 25

Michigan cases top 5,000

Michigan reported 5,224 new coronavirus cases Thursday, the most since 5,937 were reported Dec. 10.

The state also reported 49 new COVID-19 deaths, 30 of which came after a review of medical records.

Hospitalizations continued to climb, especially in the suburbs north of Detroit, with the state now reporting 1,858 patients being treated with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up 278 or 17 percent since Monday.

The sudden rise has caused the Beaumont Health system in southeast Michigan to limit visitation of patients in its hospitals, effective Thursday, and triggered concern among hospital leaders across the state.

“We have noticed an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases in metro Detroit over the past few weeks,” said Dr. Nick Gilpin, medical director of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology for Beaumont Health.

The state reported that 9.8 percent of tests reported Thursday came back positive and 9.5 percent of all tests in the past week were positive.

Michigan has the fourth-highest rate of positive tests in the country and the third-highest rate of cases, according to daily data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, March 24

More than 4,400 new cases

Michigan’s coronavirus surge surpassed 4,000 new cases for the first time in more than two months, with 4,454 new cases reported Wednesday.

The cases pushed the seven-day average to 3,122. Michigan now has the third-highest rate of new daily cases, surpassed only by New Jersey and New York. The last time Michigan saw this many cases was on Jan. 9 when it averaged 3,178 daily cases.

The state saw 11.3 percent of nearly 37,800 coronavirus tests come back positive, pushing the seven-day rate to 8.8 percent. That’s the fourth-highest rate in the country.

Outside of the Upper Peninsula, the increases are being seen across almost the entire state, from metro Detroit to the Thumb to central and northern Michigan. Public health officials believe variants like the B.1.1.7 variant first discovered in the United Kingdom is playing a role; it is considered more transmissible than the predominant strain of the coronavirus.

The spikes have caused widespread outbreaks in schools and have triggered an increase in hospitalizations. Because deaths lag two weeks or more after infections, it is still too early to tell if this wave, the state’s third sustained one since the coronavirus struck the state in March 2020, will be as lethal as those in the spring of 2020 and again from October through January.

All told, 15,935 Michigan residents are confirmed to have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. The state reported 16 deaths on Wednesday. Because over 1.1 million people 65 and older have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine — and nearly 800,000 have had both — public health officials hope there will be far fewer deaths. Older residents are making up a far smaller fraction of current cases than during past spikes.

— Mike Wilkinson

Related: Michigan schools reopened. Then came a spike in COVID outbreaks

Wednesday, March 23

Patient surge worries Michigan hospital industry

A sudden jump in COVID-19 patients has hit Michigan’s hospitals, with those in northern Michigan and metro Detroit seeing a 40 percent to 50 percent increase in patients in less than a week.

The number of patients treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 jumped from 400 last Friday to 568 on Wednesday in the region that includes Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties. In the same time period in the northwestern lower peninsula, COVID-19 patients have increased from 46 to 65, a 41 percent jump.

The Michigan Health and Hospital Association called the jump “alarming” Wednesday, pointing out that many of the patients are adults who have not been vaccinated, particularly those in their 30s and 40s.

The good news is that fewer of the patients are 60 or older, for which COVID-19 has been most lethal. Over 80 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in Michigan have been among those 60 and older.

But as cases have risen, many of the latest victims are younger ages, including school-age children who may, in turn, be infecting their parents and others in their households. The state is currently seeing a sharp increase in outbreaks at K-12 schools.

Until next week, only those 50 and older or those with underlying health conditions are eligible for a coronavirus vaccine in Michigan.

The eligibility will be opened to everyone 16 and older beginning on April 5.

“Michigan is making progress at ultimately defeating the COVID-19 pandemic through increasing vaccination rates, but the war is not yet over,” said MHA Chief Medical Officer Gary Roth. He urged state residents to wear masks, wash their hands, avoid crowds and get the vaccine.

According to the MHA, hospitalizations increased by 633 percent for adults ages 30-39 and by 800 percent for adults ages 40-49 between March 1 to March 23. They also found that hospitalization growth rates decline as the vaccination rates per age group increases.

Hospitalizations for those 80 or older grew 37 percent; 44 percent of that age group has been fully vaccinated.

— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, March 23

3,579 new cases on Tuesday, positivity rate hits 12%

Michigan reported 3,579 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, pushing the seven-day daily average to 2,938 as 12 percent of tests came back positive.

Michigan is amid a steep increase in weekly cases, which have tripled in a month. The state has the fourth-highest rate of new confirmed or probable cases per 100,000 in the country.

On Tuesday, the state reported that 12 percent of tests came back positive, up from 10 percent the day before. The state now has the fourth-highest positive rate in the nation.

Michigan also reported 16 additional COVID-19 deaths, eight of which followed a review of medical records. All of the deaths occurred in March.

The state also reported 1,687 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, an increase of 107 in one day. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, March 22

Michigan hospitalizations jump 20 percent

A month-long surge in new cases has pushed Michigan coronavirus hospitalizations up more than 20 percent since Friday, with hospitals treating 270 additional COVID-19 patients as of Monday.

Hospitalizations are up most in metro Detroit and in northern and western areas of the lower peninsula.

There are now 1,580 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 1,310 on Friday. It’s the biggest gain since Nov. 9 when the state saw 390 new patients.

Despite weeks of rising cases, Michigan had seen hospitalizations grow more slowly in the past month than they had during the second wave that ran from October through mid-January and the hope was that the vaccination of over 2.2 million state residents would help limit instances of serious illness.

The state reported 4,801 new cases on Monday covering a two-day period, for an average of 2,400 per day. The seven-day average now stands at 2,719 new daily cases. The state reported six new deaths Monday.

Since the pandemic began there have been 629,612 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 15,093 confirmed deaths.

Over the weekend, 8.8 percent of tests came back positive and 7.7 percent over the past week, up from 5.8 percent the previous week. Higher test positivity rates indicate greater community spread of the virus.

— Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, March 20

Michigan reports 47 COVID-19 deaths, 2,660 new cases

A greater portion of coronavirus tests are coming back positive across Michigan, with 8.5 percent of all tests reported Saturday confirming a new infection.

That pushes the rate over the past week to 7.3 percent. It was 5.2 percent a week earlier.

Those higher rates produced 2,660 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday, pushing the seven-day average to 2,482 daily cases. Michigan now has the fourth-highest rate of new infections in the country.

The state also reported 47 deaths, including 39 that came after a review of medical records. Of the deaths, 39 were in March, three in February, and the rest in earlier months.

Counties in Michigan’s Thumb region — St. Clair, Sanilac and Huron — continue to have the highest growth in overall case rates. Huron County is now averaging 71 new daily cases for every 100,000 people, up from 39 the week before. Sanilac is at 66 daily cases per 100,000 (up from 29) and St. Clair is at 57, up from 31 daily cases per 100,000.

Wexford County, in the northwestern Lower Peninsula, has the highest rate at 75 cases per 100,000.

Just over a month ago, on Feb. 18, no county had a positive test rate over 10 percent and statewide just under 3 percent were coming back positive.

On Saturday, the state’s testing data shows that 21 counties have a positive rate exceeding 10 percent, including populous counties Macomb, suburban Wayne and Genesee. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, March 19

Cases rise over 3,700

Coronavirus cases are quickly growing in Michigan, as the state reported 3,730 new cases on Friday, with more than 500 of those apiece coming from Oakland, Macomb and suburban Wayne counties.

The new cases put the state’s seven-day average at 2,339 cases per day. Michigan is now tied (with Delaware) for the third-highest rate per 100,000 people in the country. Only New Jersey and Rhode Island have higher rates.

The jump comes on the same day Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced expanded capacity at Comerica Park for Detroit Tigers’ baseball while adding new testing requirements on high school athletes.

Some of the higher rates of new infections are among those 10 to 19 years old, and state officials said there are many outbreaks tied to youth sports. In the past day, those 10 to 19 comprised 19 percent of all cases; overall that age group has made up just 10 percent of cases.

New testing data shows that 7.3 percent of more than 44,500 tests came back positive and over the past week 6.8 percent have been positive. It was 5 percent the week before.

The biggest increases are in the Thumb, from St. Clair County to Huron County, and in the northern Lower Peninsula, including Missaukee, Wexford, Otsego and Roscommon counties.

The state also reported 15 new COVID-19 deaths on Friday.

Hospitalizations rose again to 1,310 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, up from 1,237. The 73-patient increase is the largest since rates started rising in mid-February. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, March 18

Cases jump to 2,629

Michigan’s recent increase in coronavirus infections continued Thursday, with the state reporting 2,629 new confirmed cases. That raised the seven-day average to 2,149, the highest since Jan. 17, when it was 2,229.

The state also reported 25 new COVID-19 deaths, including 24 that came following a review of medical records. Of the 25 deaths, one was last July, while one was in January, another in February and the rest in March.

The number of patients hospitalized for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 rose to 1,237, up by 60 from Wednesday.

Testing data showed that 6.2 percent of more than 49,500 tests came back positive. Over the past week, an average of 6.4 percent of tests have been positive, up from 4.8 percent the week before.

Fifteen counties now have a positive rate over 10 percent over the past week, including Missaukee County in the northern Lower Peninsula with the highest rate at 25.2 percent. Macomb County, the third most populous county, has a positive rate of 11.5 percent over the past week. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, March 17

New cases top 3,000 for first time since January

New coronavirus infections are rising rapidly in Michigan, with the state reporting 3,164 confirmed cases Wednesday but no additional deaths.

It is the first day with more than 3,000 cases since Jan. 19, when there were 3,625.

While cases have increased markedly in the past three weeks, a smaller portion of cases involve those who are 60 years old or older and considered the most vulnerable to the virus.

That could be because of a surge in vaccinations, with half of the state’s 2 million-plus vaccines going to those 65 and older.

In the past 10 days, residents 60 and older have comprised just 13.8 percent of all coronavirus cases in Michigan. Before the vaccination program started in earnest in early January, those age groups made up over 23 percent of cases, almost equal to their representation in the overall population.

That age group was targeted for early vaccinations because those over 60 comprise over 80 percent of COVID-19 deaths.

Cases are rising quickly in many parts of the state, including Macomb County in metro Detroit, where over 10 percent of the past week’s tests have come back positive and the daily case rate per 100,000 residents has gone from 17 to 29 new daily cases.

The biggest increases are coming in St. Clair County (doubling to 45 cases per 100,000 from last week), Oakland County (20 per 100,000 from 12), Monroe County (27 per 100,000 from 19) and parts of northern Michigan.

Only three states — New Jersey, Rhode Island and Delaware — have higher rates of new confirmed or probable coronavirus cases over the past week, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of data compiled daily by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the CDC, Michigan is averaging 24 new daily cases of confirmed or suspected coronavirus per 100,000 people (it’s 21 confirmed cases per 100,000).

On March 1, the state ranked 43rd with 11 confirmed or probable cases per 100,000.

Of more than 36,100 tests reported Wednesday, 6.3 percent were positive. Over the past week, over 6 percent of all tests were positive, up from 4.5 percent of the tests the preceding week. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, March 16

2,048 cases and 27 deaths

Michigan reported 2,048 new coronavirus cases and 27 deaths Tuesday as the daily positive test rate approached 9 percent for the first time since early January.

The cases bring the seven-day average to 1,951, up from 1,795 on Tuesday. It was 1,250 a week ago, an increase of 56 percent.

Michigan now has the nation’s seventh highest rate of new daily cases per 100,000, with 22 confirmed or suspected new daily cases per 100,000. Just 10 days ago, the state had the 43rd highest rate.

The percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive has risen sharply in the past week, to 8.6 percent of the 20,900 tests reported Tuesday coming back positive. That’s up from 5.6 percent just eight days ago.

The rate had hovered about 3.4-3.6 percent from mid-February until early March when it began rising. Hospitalizations rose again too, up 30 from Monday to 1,124 COVID-19 patients.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 612,628 confirmed cases and 15,810 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

The state also reported that nearly 2 million people have gotten a vaccine dose. As of Tuesday, the state said over 1.98 million “first” doses have been administered and, of those, 1.1 million have gotten both.

Nearly 19,000 of those have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, March 15

3,143 cases over two-day span

Michigan reported 3,143 new confirmed coronavirus cases Monday, covering the previous two days for an average of 1,571 daily cases.

That pushes the seven-day average to 1,795, up from 1,626 on Saturday and 1,250 a week earlier, a 44 percent jump in seven days.

More than 6.8 percent of the reported tests from the weekend were positive, pushing the seven-day rate to 5.5 percent. Cases and positive tests have risen for over three weeks.

Hospitalizations jumped 96 since Friday, with 1,094 patients now being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. It’s the first time since Feb. 12 the number has exceeded 1,000.

The state also reported nine new deaths over the two days. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, March 13

Michigan reports 1,659 cases

Michigan reported 1,659 new confirmed coronavirus infections Saturday, pushing the seven-day average up again, this time to 1,626 cases, a rate not seen since late Jan. 29 — when it was 1,631 a day and case counts were still falling.

The state also reported that of nearly 36,600 coronavirus tests, 5.4 percent came back positive, pushing the seven-day rate to 5 percent. It was 4 percent a week ago and 3.4 percent two weeks ago.

A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus and the state has hoped to keep the rate at 3 percent or lower.

The state also reported 38 new COVID-19 deaths, including 30 that came after a review of medical records. Of those, one occurred in November, six in January, nine in February and 22 in March.

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, there have been 607,437 confirmed cases and 15,774 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, March 12

Michigan COVID cases surge, more than 2,400 Friday

Michigan is experiencing a sustained increase in new coronavirus infections, with the 2,403 confirmed cases reported Friday driving a 32-percent increase in just one week.

The cases have pushed infection rates up in many counties, but especially in metro Detroit, where suburban Wayne County reported 368 cases Friday, the most in the state. That’s pushed that county’s rate up from 15 daily cases per 100,000 people to 21 cases per 100,000 in just a week, a 40 percent increase.

Macomb County (which went from 15 to 20 cases per 100,000) and Oakland County (10 to 14 per 100,000) saw similar increases.

St. Clair County more than doubled: from 13 daily cases per 100,000 to 28.

The state hasn’t seen a daily case count this high since Jan. 15, when 2,598 cases were reported.

But the case surge has not yet produced a corresponding rise in deaths or hospitalizations, which may be linked to the more than one million Michigan residents who have now had at least one dose of a vaccine.

Michigan reported seven new COVID-19 deaths Friday.

Since the pandemic began there have been 15,737 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 605,778 confirmed coronavirus cases.

The increases in cases, continuing for three weeks, have only spurred a modest increase in hospitalizations — up by 11 patients to 998 hospitalized for COVID around the state Friday.

Meanwhile, of the more than 47,000 coronavirus tests reported Friday, 5.3 percent came back positive, another ominous sign after weeks of seeing that rate below 4 percent. The seven-day rate is 4.8 percent; it was 3 percent just two weeks ago.

A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus and the state has hoped to keep the rate at 3 percent or lower.

Despite the increase in new cases, the Michigan Department of Corrections will allow face-to-face visitations with prisoners after more than a year of banning them because of the pandemic.

Nearly 24,500 prisoners or staff in the state prison system have contracted COVID-19 and there have been 146 reported deaths, according to the latest figures.

— Mike Wilkinson

Michigan residents 16 and older eligible for COVID vaccine by April 5

All Michiganders 16 and older, regardless of health status, will be eligible for a COVID vaccine beginning April 5, the state announced Friday.

It’s possible for the agency to do this now because of the expectation for more vaccines to flood into Michigan, said Kerry Ott, spokesperson for the department that covers Luce, Mackinac, Algiers and Schoolcraft counties.

For people 16 and older with a disability or medical condition that place them at higher risk from COVID-19, eligibility will begin March 22, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday. The state had previously said only residents 50 or older, regardless of health issues, were eligible beginning March 22. DETAILS >>

Thursday, March 11

More than 1M vaccinated in Michigan; cases rising fast

Michigan reported that just over 1 million residents have now been fully vaccinated — either getting both doses of the vaccines that require two or one of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The state has now fully vaccinated nearly 18 percent of the 5.7 million people 16 and over that it wants to vaccinate to achieve herd immunity.

All told, 1.8 million have received at least one dose of the two-dose vaccines and 1,010,866 of those have gotten both doses.

Both the vaccines from Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna require two doses.

Around the state, the percentage coverage varies greatly. In Schoolcraft, Ontonagon, Grand Traverse, Mackinac and Iron counties — all in northern Michigan or the Upper Peninsula — over 20 percent of those 16 and older have gotten both doses. Detroit and Cass County, meanwhile, have only vaccinated about 5 percent of their 16 and older populations.

According to CDC data, Michigan 32nd nationally in the rate of administering first doses and 25th in administering both doses. — Mike Wilkinson

Related: One plane, one island and 50 vaccines, a year after COVID struck Michigan

Michigan cases rising fastest in Midwest

Michigan reported 2,091 news coronavirus cases Thursday, pushing the state to the 17th highest rate in the nation, with 17 confirmed or probable cases per 100,000 people.

Michigan now has the highest rate in the Great Lakes region, and its increase has been quick: It had the 43rd highest rate less than a week ago, on March 5, when there were 11 cases per 100,000 in Michigan.

The increase comes as normal activities resume, with data compiled by the state Monday showing a sustained increase in mobility since about the beginning of February.

Those cases have also triggered an increase in hospitalizations, with 987 people being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 as of Thursday, up from 942 on Wednesday and 890 a week ago.

The news comes as vaccine manufacturers told Michigan officials they will deliver 20,000 more doses next week than this week, with the state expecting a total of 443,000 doses from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

Manufacturers have increased supplies for three consecutive weeks, and more than 1 in 6 residents — 18.4 percent — have had at least one dose of the vaccine.

Testing data showed that of 45,400 tests reported Thursday, 4.4 percent came back positive. A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus and the state was averaging below 4 percent for nearly a month until late last week. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, March 10

Michigan passes 600,000 cases

One year after Michigan’s first confirmed coronavirus case, the state passed the 600,000 case threshold with 2,316 new confirmed infections, the highest single-day count since Jan. 15.

The new cases pushed the seven-day average to 1,362, the highest since it was 1,370 on Feb. 4. There have now been 601,284 confirmed cases. With seven new COVID-19 deaths, the state has reported 15,707 over the course of the past year.

The first confirmed coronavirus infection was documented on March 10, 2020, though thousands of undetected cases were likely rampant in Michigan at the time, when there was limited testing ability.

Cases have risen in Michigan for the past three weeks and Wednesday’s numbers continue that climb, likely spurred by more mobility and the loosening of restrictions on businesses and gatherings.

A month ago, only two states had lower rates of new infections than Michigan. As of Tuesday, Michigan now ranks 26th highest case rate, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Of the 36,200 tests reported Wednesday, 4.7 percent came back positive. The seven-day rate rose to 4.3 percent, the highest since Feb. 4. A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus.

On Feb. 10, Michigan had the 39th highest positive test rate. It now stands at 27th as other states see rates fall and Michigan’s has risen. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, March 9

Michigan positive rate hits 6 percent

For the first time in more than five weeks Michigan saw the percent of positive coronavirus tests hit 6 percent on Tuesday, pushing the seven-day average to 4.2 percent.

Since the end of the second wave of the virus in mid-January, the positive test rate — considered an indicator of how fast the virus is spreading — had fallen and stabilized around 3.5 percent.

But in the past 10 days it has started to rise, hitting 6 percent of the 17,500 people tested for COVID-19 reported Tuesday. The seven-day average had remained below 4 percent for 26 consecutive days till hitting 4.1 percent on Saturday.

The positive test rate has climbed as cases have risen. State health officials said the two were expected to rise once some restrictions were lifted on Michigan businesses in February. The state lifted further restrictions late last week.

Michigan also reported 29 newly confirmed deaths tied to COVID-19 Tuesday, including 21 involving past deaths after a review of medical records. Of the 29 total deaths, one occurred in August, 4 in February and the rest in March.

Hospitalizations in the state have also risen: 954 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 now being treated in hospitals across Michigan, up from 935 on Monday and from 821 on Feb. 21.

— Mike Wilkinson

Monday, March 8

1,960 new cases and four deaths over the weekend

Michigan reported 1,960 confirmed cases of coronavirus and four deaths for Sunday and Monday, a daily average of 980.

The seven-day average of daily cases rose to 1,266, up from 1,107 a week ago.

Testing results show that about 4.8 percent 39,600 rests reported the past two days came back positive, pushing the seven-day rate to 4.2 percent. A week ago the seven-day positive rate was 3.5 percent.

A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, March 6

1,289 new cases reported Saturday

Michigan reported 1,289 confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 596,054.

The new daily average over the past week is 1,210 cases, up from 1,191. It has risen on 12 of the last 14 days and is now 45 percent higher than it was two weeks ago when the daily average was 832 cases.

The state also reported 56 COVID-19 deaths, including 48 that followed a review of medical records. There are now 15,666 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, March 5

1,486 cases and 10 deaths

Michigan reported 1,486 coronavirus infections and 10 deaths Friday, raising the seven-day daily average to 1,191 from 1,131.

The case increases are most pronounced in metro Detroit, where the rate of new daily cases per 100,000 residents rose to 15 from 10 in the past week in Macomb and suburban Wayne counties and to 10 from eight in Oakland County.

Deaths have decreased dramatically since December, when 3,326 people died. They’ve fallen to 1,825 in January, 707 in February and 34 so far in March. Throughout the pandemic, Michigan has had 594,765 confirmed infections and 15,610 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

Of more than 44,600 tests reported Friday, 4 percent came back positive, with 3.9 percent of the past week’s tests coming back positive. It was 3.4 percent for the preceding week.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration has set the state's target goal at 3 percent or lower. A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 fell Friday to 866, down from 890. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, March 4

Coronavirus cases up to 1,536

Coronavirus cases are slightly increasing statewide, with 1,536 confirmed cases and 37 deaths reported Thursday.

The biggest increases are in southeast Michigan, where cases in the past week increased 34 percent in Macomb County, 39 percent in Oakland County and 57 percent in suburban Wayne County. Statewide, average daily cases increased 10 percent, from 1,022 last week to 1,132 on Thursday.

However, the overall rates in each county are still below 13 new daily cases per 100,000, well below December’s statewide rate of 72 new daily cases per 100,000. That month, some counties averaged more than 100 cases per 100,000.

Thursday’s death toll includes 29 from a review of medical records.

Of nearly 46,200 tests reported Thursday, 3.5 percent came back positive and the rate over the past seven days was 3.7 percent, the highest since Feb. 11 when the weekly rate was 3.8 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, March 4

Coronavirus cases are on the increase

Michigan recorded 1,536 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, the most since 1,774 were reported Jan. 29, according to the state department of health and human services.

The totals push the seven-day average to 1,113 daily cases. Just two weeks ago, the seven-day average was 847.

The state also reported five new COVID-19 deaths Wednesday.

Since the pandemic began, Michigan has reported 591,753 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 15,558 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

Case counts in Michigan have risen for over a week, coming after more than two months of declines. But the daily case rates, though climbing, are still a small fraction of where they were when Michigan was hit by the second wave of cases in November and December.

The state is now averaging 11 new daily cases per 100,000, up from 8 just 10 days ago. But in early December, there were as many as 72 daily cases per 100,000 people.

Suburban Wayne County, with new 158 cases, led the state Wednesday, followed by Oakland (125 cases) and Macomb (91 cases). Much of the lower peninsula is seeing cases rise while there were only 11 cases across the 15 counties of the Upper Peninsula

Testing data release Wednesday showed 4 percent of more than 35,700 COVID tests came back positive, and 3.6 percent over the past seven days.

Hospitalizations were down, with 882 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 being treated as of Wednesday, down from 959 on Tuesday.

— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, March 2

Notable jump in COVID-19 hospitalizations Tuesday

After more than two months of steady declines, Michigan’s hospitals are seeing an increase in COVID-19 patients, nearing 1,000 patients statewide. It’s one in a handful of alarming trends in recent days, and comes as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced some relaxation of COVID protocols.

On Tuesday, the state reported 959 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients being treated, that’s a rise of 66 patients from Monday. It is the largest increase since Nov. 30 when the state hospitals added 229 patients.

Most of the increase is occurring in hospitals in the six counties of metro Detroit, state data shows.

The increase in hospitalizations is another sign that a steady decline in statewide COVID infections has stalled, with a recent uptick in new infections.

The state reported 1,067 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday and 24 deaths.

The state also reported 5 percent of the coronavirus tests recorded Monday came back positive, the highest level in three weeks.

Despite the latest numbers, Michigan remains well below levels from late last year. In early December, more than 4,300 COVID-19 patients were being treated, the state was averaging nearly 7,000 cases a day, an average of 100 people were dying of COVID-19 every day and the positive test rate was between 12 and 16 percent.

In December alone, 3,325 people were confirmed to have died of COVID-19, making it the second deadliest month of the pandemic after April 2020.

Since the pandemic began, the state has seen 590,217 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 15,558 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

— Mike Wilkinson

Monday, March 2

Cases down 95 percent at nursing homes; 12 deaths statewide over 2 days

Coronavirus cases continued to decline dramatically this week at Michigan’s nursing homes and other senior care facilities, which were among the first to receive vaccines, according to the latest data.

Over the past week there were 44 new coronavirus cases, down from 73 a week before and from 827 the week ending Dec. 28, a decline that is far steeper than the state’s overall drop in cases.

The weekly number of cases in long-term care facilities has fallen 95 percent since Dec. 28, compared to statewide which is down 54 percent.

More than 238,000 vaccine doses have been administered in nursing homes, homes for the aged, adult foster care and other senior living facilities, to both residents and staff.

Officials have said a greater percentage of staff declined the vaccine than residents but staff have also seen a sharp decline in weekly cases too. There were 99 staff cases last week, down from 125 the week before. Since Dec. 28, when there were 727 cases, they’ve fallen 87 percent.

Experts told Bridge Michigan the steep decline in nursing home cases is a result of the vaccine campaign. Nursing home residents and those in homes for the aged and adult foster care facilities have been the hardest hit by the pandemic, accounting for more than 5,500 — 37 percent — of the more than 15,500 COVID-19 deaths in Michigan. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, March 2

Weekend cases average 784 per day

Michigan public health officials on Monday reported an average of 784 new coronavirus cases for Sunday and Monday and 12 total COVID-19 deaths.

The state's seven-day average is now 1,107 cases a day, up from 1,101 a day on Saturday.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 587,581 confirmed cases and 15,522 deaths in Michigan.

Hospitalizations rose over the weekend, to 893 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 841 on Friday. It is the first time the number of patients rose over a weekend since Nov. 30. The number of COVID-19 patients had fallen steadily from Dec. 1, when it peaked at 4.326 and hit a low of 821 Thursday.

Test results from over 47,000 tests showed 4 percent were positive over the previous two days. The seven-day rate remained at 3.4 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, Feb. 27

1,156 cases, 68 deaths

Michigan public health officials reported 1,156 confirmed cases of coronavirus on Saturday and 68 deaths.

The cases total pushed the seven-day daily average to 1,095, up from 1,020.

The deaths include six recent ones and 62 that were determined after a review of medical records of earlier deaths. Fifth-three of the 68 total deaths occurred in February, 12 in January, three in November, and one each in October and December.

Since the pandemic began, Michigan has reported 587,581 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 15,522 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. There are another 57,969 probable coronavirus cases and 986 probable COVID-19 deaths.

Of nearly 36,000 coronavirus tests reported Saturday, 3.4 percent were positive. The rate for the past week has been 3.5 percent, just above the state’s target goal of 3 percent or lower. A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus.

The state does not report hospitalization or vaccine data on weekends. — Mike Wilkinson

Michigan poised for big surge in vaccine doses

The two manufacturers of the coronavirus vaccines have told Michigan they intend to ship more than 400,000 doses combined to the state next week, the most in any week since the vaccines first became available in mid-December.

Pfizer-BioNTech will ship nearly 213,000 doses and Moderna will ship 190,000, according to Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The combined total is well above the 326,000 shipped in the first week of February.

The two manufacturers, along with a third, Johnson & Johnson, which is awaiting U.S. approval for its vaccine, told Congress this week that they expect to collectively ship 140 million doses across the United States by the end of March. Michigan, which typically receives 3 percent of the shipments, would stand to get 4 million new doses by the end of March, dwarfing the 2.6 million doses it’s received over the previous 11 weeks.

The most the state has administered in a given week was 321,000 two weeks ago, an average of nearly 46,000 doses a day.

But, Sutfin said the state has the capacity to administer 80,000 doses a day and local health officials have told Bridge Michigan the only thing limiting them is the supply.

As of Friday, 1.35 million Michigan residents have gotten at least one dose of the vaccines — the current vaccines each require two doses — and 774,000 of those have gotten both. The state is currently focusing on people ages 65 and older, and essential workers including teachers.

— Mike Wilkinson

Cases creeping back up, but positive rates still low

Michigan reported 1,073 new coronavirus cases on Friday, as daily average cases are rising in all but one region of the state.

The increase in cases the past week has pushed the seven-day daily case average past 1,000, to 1,020 from 816 one week ago. But some regions are rising faster than others.

In the northern Lower Peninsula region covering most of the north, from Presque Isle County to Lake Michigan, the daily case rate jumped 77 percent in the past week, from 6 cases per 100,000 residents to nearly 11 per 100,000 residents.

Other increases included:

57 percent (6.9 cases per 100,000 to 10.8) in the region that stretches from Genesee County, the Thumb and the Lake Huron shore counties.
26 percent (9.2 to 11.6 cases per 100,000) for south central Michigan, from the Ohio border to north of Lansing.
21 percent (9.2 to 11.2 cases per 100,00) for southwest Michigan
22 percent (7.7 to 9.4 cases per 100,000) in metro Detroit.

Cases decreased in the 13 counties of west Michigan, from 9.8 to 9.3 per 100,000.

The state also reported one new COVID-19 death.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 585,425 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 15,454 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

In testing, of the 41,300 tests reported Friday, 3 percent came back positive.

For the first time since early December, the number of patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 did not decline from Monday through Friday. The 841 patients reported Friday was the same as on Monday and an increase of 20 from Thursday.— Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Feb. 25

Average daily coronavirus cases in Michigan jump back over 1,000

For the first time in two weeks, the daily average number of coronavirus cases climbed back over 1,000 to 1,037, as Michigan on Thursday announced 1,388 new confirmed cases.

The number of cases marks the third consecutive day of more than 1,200 cases after they were below 1,000 for 13 of the previous 16 days.

Despite the increase in cases, there are other positive data points, with the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations continuing to fall, as has the percent of positive coronavirus tests.

There are now 821 patients being treated for suspected or confirmed COVID-19, the fewest since there were 800 on Oct. 5. And 2.9 percent of 48,700 tests reported Thursday came back positive, below the desired threshold sought by state officials.

A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s goal is to keep the statewide rate at or below 3 percent.

The state also reported 48 new COVID-19 deaths, 30 of which came after a review of medical records. One of the deaths occurred in December, another in January and the rest were in February.

In terms of cases, suburban Wayne County, with 168 new cases, had the most, followed by Macomb (145) and Oakland (121) counties. Each has seen a slight increase in the average number of daily cases.

The daily rate of cases per 100,000 has risen in 49 of the 83 counties and Detroit, though overall still well below the rate seen during the second wave of coronavirus cases seen in November and December. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Whitmer hints she may loosen nursing home restrictions

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday she may soon loosen restrictions on nursing home visitation that have been in place since COVID arrived in Michigan nearly a year ago.

Michigan now is in “a much stronger position” in its fight against the virus, Whitmer said during a news conference in which she covered several topics. Whitmer didn’t specify what factors put the state in that position. But Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state’s chief medical executive, noted at the same press event that new coronavirus cases had fallen in the state for six weeks, and tests positivity rates and hospitalizations had declined as well. (Though the number of new cases has risen the past two days.)

“We're hopeful that we'll be able to announce additional aspects of reengagement” in visitation policies “hopefully as soon as next week,” Whitmer said. The governor offered no details on how the rules might change or a timeline.

She also called on Republicans to release federal funds that could, among other things, cover costs for more rapid antigen tests. Those tests can be given to family members of those in long-term care facilities before they’re allowed entrance.

Earlier in the day, industry leaders and family members of long-term care residents once again called for broader access to facilities.

“When this began, we had very little with which to fight the virus. We knew it was deadly for seniors … that (they) had all the wrong checks in their check boxes in terms of comorbidities and medical complications,” said David Gehm of Wellspring Lutheran Services, which operates long-term care facilities throughout the state.

He was speaking to the House Health Policy Committee.

“But things have changed,” Gehm said. “We've seen changes in case counts, we've seen changes in mortality, we’ve seen additions to our arsenal.”

-- by Robin Erb

Over 300 B.1.1.7. variant cases in Michigan

Michigan public health officials have now identified 314 cases of the B.1.1.7. variant of the coronavirus, the variant considered more transmissible than others.

The cases, first discovered in Washtenaw County, have now been identified across 19 counties in the state, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive, said at a Wednesday news conference.

National experts predict the variant, which spreads more quickly than the new coronavirus first detected in Michigan last March, could be the more dominant coronavirus by the end of this March, she said.

The state also reported 1,245 newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus Wednesday, pushing the seven-day average to 966, up from 925. The number of daily cases had been falling since mid-January but that decline has plateaued.

They also reported nine additional COVID-19-related deaths.

Of the 37,700 coronavirus tests reported Wednesday, 3.3 percent were positive. It had been above 4 percent the previous two days.A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s goal is to keep the statewide rate at or below 3 percent.

Michigan currently has the 34th highest positive test rate and the 43rd highest rate of new daily cases, putting the state among the best in terms of controlling the spread of the coronavirus, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of national coronavirus data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— Mike Wilkinson and Robin Erb

Tuesday, Feb. 23

Cases jump to 1,358 after steady declines

Michigan reported 1,358 new confirmed coronavirus cases Tuesday, the most since Feb. 4.

The number of daily cases had been steadily falling, with the total being below 1,000 on 13 of the last 16 days. The cases Tuesday pushed the seven-day daily average up to 925 from 848.

The state also reported 34 COVID-19 deaths, 18 of which came after a review of medical records. All of the reported deaths, however, have occurred in February.

For the second day in a row, the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive exceeded 4 percent (4.1 percent). The percentage had been below 4 percent the 12 previous days.

COVID-19 hospitalizations rose for the first time since Jan. 20, up to 891 patients from 841 on Monday. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Feb. 22

Cases fall to average of 742 on Sunday and Monday

The state reported an average of 742 new coronavirus cases for Sunday and Monday, and just three COVID-19 deaths on Monday.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 581,403 confirmed coronavirus cases and 15,362 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

Hospitalizations fell slightly over the weekend, with 841 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down from 860 on Friday.

Testing data showed a slight increase in the percent positive, with 4.1 percent of nearly 46,900 tests over two days coming back positive. The state’s seven-day rate had fallen to 3.4 percent. A lower positive rate gives public health officials a better ability to identify outbreaks. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, Feb. 20

Michigan reports 635 new cases, 63 deaths

Michigan public health officials reported 635 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday, pushing the seven-day average to 816, the lowest since Sept. 28 when it was 761.

The state also reported 63 COVID-19 deaths, 57 of which came after a review of medical records. One of the deaths was in December, 10 were in January and the rest were in February.

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, Michigan has reported 579,919 confirmed coronavirus cases and 15,359 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. There are another 56,350 probable coronavirus cases and 983 probable COVID-19 deaths.

Out of the nearly 38,000 coronavirus tests reported Saturday, 3.1 percent came back positive. For the past week, it’s been 3.3 percent. A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s goal is to keep the statewide rate at or below 3 percent.

The latest vaccine data shows that nearly 1.2 million people in Michigan have gotten at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine and of those, nearly 600,000 have gotten both.

Michigan is currently ranked 31st in the rate of distributing at least one dose but 12th in rate of administering both doses.

Hospitalization data is not released on Saturdays. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Feb. 19

1,193 new cases reported Friday

The steady decline in coronavirus infections has slowed amid other positive signs in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan public health officials reported 1,193 new confirmed cases on Friday, the same as a week ago. The seven-day average remained unchanged at 847 cases per day.

Case counts have fallen by 20 percent to nearly 30 percent or more each week since mid-January; they fell 12 percent this week.

But those smaller declines mask a far bigger drop: Daily cases were 6,500 on Dec. 1, 2,700 on Jan. 1 and 1,400 on Feb. 1. Hospitalizations have also declined, from 4,300 on Dec. 1, 2,700 on Jan. 4 and 1,400 on Feb. 1.

Friday, 860 patients were hospitalized statewide with the virus.

Since the pandemic began, the state has reported 579,284 confirmed cases and 15,273 confirmed deaths. There have been another 56,162 probable cases and 978 probable COVID-19 deaths.

Testing data shows that 3 percent of 35,500 tests reported Friday came back positive and it’s been 3.4 percent for the past week. A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus. The Whitmer administration’s goal is to keep the statewide rate at or below 3 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Feb. 18

Michigan reports 888 cases

Michigan reported 888 new coronavirus infections Thursday and 85 deaths, of which 72 were previous deaths now determined to be linked to COVID-19.

The state has now reported 578,203 confirmed cases and 15,273 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

Though most of the newly reported deaths came after a review of medical records, all occurred in February. So far there have been 442 reported COVID-19 deaths in Michigan in February.

In a sign that the deadly virus is under more control, for the first time in at least three months no county has a positive test rate over 10 percent. Of the 32,500 coronavirus tests reported Thursday, 2.9 percent came back as positive. A lower positivity rate indicates more control over community spread of the virus.

Hospitalization numbers also fell Thursday, with fewer than 900 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients hospitalized across the state. That’s the first time that’s happened since Oct. 7. There are now 877 COVID-19 patients. There were just over 1,400 on Feb. 1. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Feb. 17

11 percent of residents have at least one vaccine dose

Over 11 percent of all Michigan residents have one dose of the coronavirus vaccine and 5.2 percent have both doses, the latest state public health records show.

Despite the strides, however, the state is now 33rd in the rate at which residents are getting the first dose, down from 20th just over a week ago as other states ramp up their vaccinations programs.

Michigan, however, has the 13th highest rate at getting people vaccinated with both doses.

The state also reported that 959 new coronavirus cases were confirmed Wednesday, along with 11 COVID-19 deaths. The state is now averaging 11 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases a day per 100,000 people, the fourth lowest rate in the country, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since the pandemic began, Michigan has reported 577,223 confirmed coronavirus cases and 15,188 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

Michigan also reported that 3.8 percent of coronavirus tests recorded Wednesday came back positive. State health officials have targeted a 3 percent positive rate as the goal in order to consider the coronavirus outbreak under control. — Mike Wilkinson

90 cases of variant recorded at Bellamy Creek prison

Even as Michigan gains ground in battling the coronavirus, a more contagious variant of the virus has gained a foothold. Testing detected 90 cases Tuesday among prisoners and staff at the Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility, in Ionia, east of Grand Rapids.

The Michigan Department of Corrections stepped up testing last week after a prison employee tested positive for the variant.

In all, 95 samples were tested by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Laboratories, and 90 were positive for the variant. Testing positive were 88 prisoners and two employees. More than 100 lab results are pending.

The variant, known as B.1.1.7., has a higher rate of transmission and thus could increase cases, hospitalizations and deaths. In the past week, emerging research in the U.K. suggests the variant also may be more likely to cause severe disease or death than the initial form of COVID-19 that struck Michigan last March. Lab tests confirmed the first variant case in Michigan Jan. 16. A cluster of Washtenaw cases appear to be linked; but some other cases have no known connections to each other, an MDHHS spokesperson told Bridge Michigan last week.

In all, 157 cases of the variant have been detected in the state. Elsewhere, cases were found in Washtenaw County — 39; Wayne — 10; city of Detroit — 3, Clinton — 2; four each in Calhoun and Kalamazoo, and one each in Charlevoix, Eaton, Kent, Macomb, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Van Buren. — Robin Erb

Tuesday, Feb. 16

Michigan records 775 new COVID cases and 19 deaths

Michigan recorded 775 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, according to state public health officials, with 19 additional COVID-19-linked deaths.

The seven-day average of cases remained below 900, at 897 daily cases.

Since the pandemic began there have been 576,224 confirmed cases of the virus and 15,177 confirmed deaths.

Of nearly 16,600 coronavirus tests reported Tuesday, 3.5 percent came back positive and for the past week the average has been 3.4 percent. State health officials have targeted a 3 percent positive rate as the goal in order to consider the coronavirus outbreak under control.

Only two counties currently have a test-positivity rate over 10 percent: Hillsdale in southern Michigan (11 percent) and Gogebic in the western Upper Peninsula (13.1 percent). A majority of Michigan counties (66) are now under 5 percent positive, including the 10 most populous counties.

The number of people currently hospitalized for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 fell to 939, down from 957. A week ago it was 1,175 and two weeks ago it was 1,403.

— Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Feb. 15

COVID cases continue to fall Monday

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 1,265 new coronavirus cases on Sunday and Monday, a daily average of 632, the lowest number of reported new infections since Sept. 22 (504 cases).

That lowered the seven-day Michigan average to 867 daily cases, the lowest since Sept. 30.

The state also reported eight COVID-19 deaths over the two days.

Since the pandemic began, the state has reported 575,224 confirmed coronavirus cases and 15,158 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. There have been another 54,919 probable coronavirus cases and 972 probable COVID-19 deaths.

The average daily cases rate is 25 percent lower than a week ago and it’s been falling anywhere from 10 to 30 percent each week since mid-January.

For the first time since Oct. 12, the number of patients hospitalized for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 fell below 1,000 Monday, with 957 patients. There were 941 on Oct. 12.

Over the past two days, 3.5 and 3.2 percent of people tested for the coronavirus came back positive, another good trend. State health officials have targeted a 3 percent positive rate as the goal in order to consider the coronavirus outbreak under control.

— Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, Feb. 13

Less than 900 new COVID cases Saturday, 88 new deaths

Michigan public health officials reported 852 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday and 88 COVID-19 deaths.

That brings the state’s total number of confirmed cases to 574,224 and deaths to 15,150.

The newly reported cases lowered the state’s seven-day average to 939 daily cases.

The deaths include 84 earlier deaths that are now determined to be COVID-19-related following a review of medical records.

COVID deaths have fallen sharply in Michigan in the past two months.

In December the state recorded 3,309 deaths, an average of 107 a day. That daily average fell to 58 in January and, through Friday, the rate is 24 deaths per day so far in February.

The percent of tests coming back positive held steady Saturday at 3.6 percent. Over the past seven days it has been 3.7 percent, with the state approaching its goal of getting it down to 3 percent, a level at which public health workers feel they can better identify and control the spread of infection. Two weeks ago, the seven-day rate was 5 percent.

— Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Feb. 12

Michigan has second lowest coronavirus case rate in nation

Michigan reported nearly 1,200 new confirmed coronavirus infections Friday, giving the state the fewest cases in a week — just over 6,700 — since early October and the second lowest rate of new cases in the nation.

In the third week of November, the state recorded nearly 51,000 cases, but case levels have fallen steadily since. Including confirmed and probable cases, Michigan is now averaging 12 daily cases for every 100,000 people.

Only North Dakota, at 7 cases per 100,000, is lower, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The national rate is 29 new daily cases per 100,000 people.

Michigan also reported 10 additional COVID-19 deaths Thursday, moving the total since the pandemic began to 15,062.

Over the past seven days, 3.7 percent of all coronavirus tests came back positive. The state has set a goal of getting the test positivity rate down to 3 percent, a level at which public health experts believe the spread of the coronavirus can be controlled with testing, contact tracing and quarantines. The rate was 4.3 percent the previous week.

Hospitalizations fell again as well, with 1,024 patients Thursday being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That’s a drop of 272 patients in a week. At the beginning of the year there were 2,700 COVID-19 patients in Michigan hospitals.

— Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Feb. 11

Michigan passes 15,000 COVID deaths

Michigan reported another 75 COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, bringing the state’s death toll to 15,052, the eighth-most in the nation.

Michigan also reported 1,284 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, lowering the seven-day average to 990 daily cases.

And for the first time since Sept. 25, the percent of positive coronavirus tests coming fell below 3 percent, with 2.8 percent of 47,753 tests reported positive. The state’s goal is 3 percent.

The state also was expected Thursday to vaccinate its 1 millionth resident with at least the first dose. As of Wednesday, 994,000 had gotten one dose and nearly 400,000 have had both doses.

Compared to other states, Michigan ranks 27th in the rate of first doses and 12th in both doses. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Feb. 11

COVID variant spreads to 10 counties

A coronavirus variant — believed to spread at 1.5 times faster than the virus that already has been linked to nearly 15,000 Michigan deaths — has seeped into 10 counties scattered across the state’s lower peninsula, the city of Detroit, and a Michigan prison.

The first known case of the variant entering the state’s prison system has been found at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Ionia County east of Grand Rapids, prompting now-daily antigen tests of prisoners and staff. Until now, tests were weekly.

Some prisoners and staff at the Duane Waters Health Center in Jackson and Macomb Correctional Facility in Lenox Twp. also will be tested daily because several Bellamy Creek prisoners who tested positive for COVID-19 were transferred to those sites.

While the variant known as B.1.1.7. is not believed to cause more severe disease, its higher rate of transmission could increase cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Lab tests confirmed the first case in Michigan Jan. 16. While the Washtenaw cases appear to be linked; there are no known connections to the other cases in the state, Lynn Sutfin, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said Wednesday.

In all, 61 cases of the variant have been detected in 10 counties and the city of Detroit. The breakdown: Washtenaw County - 39 cases; Wayne County - 6; Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties - 4 each; Detroit - 2; and one each in Charlevoix, Eaton, Kent, Macomb, Sanilac and Van Buren counties.

Coronavirus case count under 1,000 for fourth straight day

The number of new coronavirus infections continues to fall, with Michigan reporting 915 confirmed cases on Wednesday, the fourth straight day under 1,000.

The count also put the seven-day average at exactly 1,000 daily cases, a level not seen since early October.

The state also reported 12 additional COVID-19 deaths, putting the total at 14,977 since the pandemic began.

Driving the decline in cases and deaths are fewer positive coronavirus tests, with just 3.3 percent of over 34,300 tests reported Wednesday coming back positive, the lowest level since Oct. 7. State health officials have targeted a 3 percent positive rate as the goal in order to consider the coronavirus outbreak under control.

Counties across the state are reporting fewer cases with most now at levels not seen since September. For instance, on Nov. 30, Kent County was averaging 526 new cases a day; it’s now averaging 78. In Oakland County, the Nov. 30 average was 758 cases; it’s now 96.

And back in November, all of those counties were seeing positivity rates over 10 percent: 13.3 percent in Oakland, 14.4 percent in suburban Wayne, 14.5 percent in Kent and 18.5 percent in Macomb. As of Wednesday, none is over 5 percent: Macomb is at 4.5 percent, Oakland at 3.5 percent, suburban Wayne at 4.8 percent and Kent at 4.2 percent.

— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Feb. 9

New coronavirus cases fall to lowest since early September

Michigan public health officials reported just 563 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, the lowest since 544 were reported Sept. 14.

That pushes the seven-day average to just over 1,000 cases and the state’s rate of cases per 100,000 is the third lowest in the nation, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of daily case data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The state also reported 60 new COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, 31 which came after a review of medical records. Of the 60, one occured in December, 10 in January and the rest in February.

Since the pandemic began the state has reported 569,980 confirmed cases and 14,965 deaths.

Out of 17,000 tests, 4.1 percent came back positive. Compared nationally, Michigan has the 39th lowest rate, another positive sign.

Hospitalizations continue to decline with 1,175 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients statewide. The state now ranks 35th nationally with an estimated 123 COVID-19 patients per 100,000, well below neighboring states of Ohio (188 per 100,000) and Indiana (190).

— Mike Wilkinson

For the first time since early October, Michigan public health officials reported fewer than 1,000 new coronavirus cases on consecutive days, with an average of 884 cases for Sunday and Monday.

The last time it was lower was Oct. 4 and 5, when the two days averaged 704.

The state also reported 11 new COVID-19 deaths for Sunday and Monday.

Over the weekend, out of over 51,600 tests, 4.5 percent came back positive, continuing a trend under 5 percent. State health officials have targeted a 3 percent positive rate as the goal in order to consider the coronavirus outbreak to be under control.

There are now 1,211 people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Michigan, nearly 200 fewer than a week ago. On Jan. 8, the virus hospitalized nearly 2,500. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, Feb. 6

Virus cases fall close to 1,000

Michigan public health officials reported 1,018 new confirmed infections of the coronavirus virus Saturday, the lowest daily count since 905 were reported Oct. 12.

The decline in cases has pushed the seven-day daily average to 1,201 cases. A month ago, on Jan. 6, the seven-day average was 2,942.

Compared to other states, only Missouri, Oregon and North Dakota have a lower seven-day rate per 100,000 people.

The state on Saturday also reported 15 recent deaths and another 82 that were determined to be caused by COVID-19 after a review of medical records. One of those deaths occurred in November but the others occurred in January and February.

Of more than 36,100 coronavirus tests reported Saturday, 4.1 percent came back positive. State health officials have targeted a 3 percent positive rate as the goal in order to consider the coronavirus outbreak to be under control.

Thirty-seven states have a higher test positivity rate.

— Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Feb. 5

Coronavirus variant now in three southeast Michigan counties

The coronavirus variant, B.1.1.7. — known for its ability to spread rapidly — has now been detected in 30 southeast Michigan cases across three counties, even as the state races toward its goal of inoculating 70 percent of Michiganders 16 and older.

The precise level of the vaccines’ effectiveness against the variant is not certain, though the two vaccines approved to date in the U.S. appear to offer protection. The variant is one of several that concern health officials for their ability to spread rapidly — by some estimates at 1.5 times faster than the new coronavirus that first was detected in China in late 2019.

In all, 23 cases of the variant have been detected in Washtenaw County — all linked to the University of Michigan campus; six were found in Wayne County and one in Kalamazoo County, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Washtenaw County is offering drive-thru testing Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Pioneer High School, 601 W. Stadium Blvd, in Ann Arbor. Positive results from this testing will be sequenced for the B117 variant. Pre-registration is available but not required. — Robin Erb

COVID hospitalizations continue to fall in Michigan

The number of patients treated in Michigan hospitals for COVID-19 fell below 1,300 for the first time since late October, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

There are 1,296 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Friday, less than a third of what it was at its peak of 4,300 amid a surge in the virus in late November and part of a steady decline since then.

Hospitalizations are one of three key metrics the Whitmer administration said it has used to determine whether to lift economic, school and travel restrictions in the state. The others have been new daily cases of coronavirus and the positive test rate.

Those, too, have continued to improve: The state reported 1,379 new cases Friday, putting the seven-day average at 1,250, the lowest average since it was 1,174 on Oct. 14.

And of nearly 47,000 coronavirus tests reported Friday, 3.8 percent were positive. For the past week, 4.3 percent of tests were positive; two weeks ago the seven-day rate was 6.5 percent. Higher positive rates suggest there is more community spread of the virus.

Just one county, Gogebic, has a rate over 10 percent (10.2 percent). In mid-January, 27 counties were above 10 percent.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 566,630 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 14,797 deaths, including 19 reported Friday. There have been another 52,869 probable cases and 952 probable deaths.

— Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Feb. 4

Positive rate down to 3.4 percent; 1,358 new infections

Michigan on Thursday reported 1,358 new coronavirus infections, pushing the seven-day average down, again, to 1,306.

The state reported another 74 COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, 48 more recorded in January and 26 in February, following tens of thousands of infections in November and December led to severe illnesses and death.

But the state also reported Thursday that of nearly 49,600 tests, just 3.4 percent came back positive, the second straight day under 4 percent.

The state has wanted to get to 3 percent, a rate at which health experts believe they can safely identify and control coronavirus outbreaks.

The state also reported that over 842,000 people have gotten the first dose of the vaccine, with nearly 234,000 of those having gotten both doses. The state now ranks 20th nationally in vaccination rate, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Feb. 3

Positive cases fall under 4 percent

For the first time since early October, fewer than 4 percent of the coronavirus tests reported Wednesday were positive, another sign of the state’s recovery from the deadly second wave.

Of more than 39,700 tests, 3.9 percent were positive, the lowest rate since Oct. 8. Over the past week, 4.5 percent of tests have come back positive, and Michigan has had one of the lowest positive test rates in the country.

State officials have targeted 3 percent as the goal; the lower the rate, the better able public health officials are at identifying and controlling the spread of the virus.

The state also reported 1,383 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 32 deaths.

With the newly reported deaths, 34 were in February and 1,655 in January. The second wave of the coronavirus was more deadly than the first, when just over 5,600 died in March, April and May. From October through January, nearly 7,900 have died of COVID-19 in Michigan.

The number of people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 fell below 1,400, to 1,376. It hit a high of 4,326 on Nov. 30 and has fallen steadily since. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Feb. 2

Michigan reports 1,203 new cases and 63 new deaths

The state reported 1,203 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, along with 63 COVID-19 deaths.

Of the deaths, one occurred in December, 52 in January and 12 in February and 36 of were determined to be caused by COVID-19 after a review of medical records.

Since the pandemic began, the state has had 562,510 confirmed coronavirus cases and 14,672 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

The seven-day average rate of daily new cases stands at 1,422. Compared to all states, Michigan’s rate of daily new cases — confirmed and probable — is 19 per 100,000 people. Only five states, Colorado, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota and Oregon, have lower rates, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statewide, 1,403 people are currently hospitalized for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down six from Monday.

After a string of days with less than 5 percent of all coronavirus tests coming back positive, 5.7 percent of tests reported Tuesday came back positive and 6.1 percent of tests reported Monday. For the past seven days, however, the overall rate is 4.7 percent.

Only six counties are above 10 percent. All are in northern Michigan or the Upper Peninsula. Detroit and the state’s largest counties — Oakland, Macomb, suburban Wayne and Kent — are all between 4 and 6 percent. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Feb. 1

Michigan passes 1 million vaccines

Michigan has now administered more than 1 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine, the state reported Monday.

Just over 800,000 people have received at least the first dose, while 200,182 have received both doses.

Many of those who have been vaccinated have been health care workers and over 50,000 residents and staff at skilled nursing facilities. Another 54,000 people in other senior care facilities, like assisted living, have received at least one dose of the vaccines.

COVID-19 is blamed for the death of 4,007 nursing home residents and another 1,400 residents of adult foster care and homes for the aged. Combined that’s about 37 percent of all 14,609 COVID-19 deaths in Michigan.

The state also was notified that another 255,000 doses were shipped to the state, bringing the total to 1.73 million to date.

Since a slow rollout, Michigan has seen its rate of vaccinations climb compared to other states. It now ranks 17th in the rate per 100,000 at which it is administering the first dose, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was 45th in early January. — Mike Wilkinson

Eight deaths reported, as new cases continue to decline

Michigan reported eight COVID-19 deaths over the past two days as the number of patients hospitalized for the disease fell again.

There are now 1,409 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down nearly 260 from the week before and at levels not seen since mid-October.

That’s the result of a steep decline in new infections, as the state reported 2,033 confirmed cases for Sunday and Monday, or 1,033 each day. The seven-day average fell to 1,461 daily cases and Michigan continues to have one of the lowest rates in the country.

Although 6.1 percent of tests reported Monday were positive, the seven-day average was 4.9 percent. The seven-day rate last hit 4.9 percent on Oct. 20.

Michigan restaurants were able to reopen Monday in part because of the progress the state has seen in combating the coronavirus. Most parts of the state are seeing case rates fall and 40 counties are experiencing positive test rates at 5 percent or lower. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, Jan. 30

Michigan reports 1,538 new cases, lowest since mid-October

Michigan reported 1,358 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, the lowest since 1,237 cases were reported Oct. 13.

New cases have declined for several weeks, though the death toll continues: The state reported 104 COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, which include 93 deaths determined after a review of medical records.

Thirteen of the 104 deaths reported Saturday were in December and one was in November. The rest were in January, which has 1,583 deaths so far, the fourth-most after April (3,743), December (3,306) and November (2,272).

Since the pandemic began, Michigan has 14,601 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. There have been 559,241 reported coronavirus cases, just over 5.5 percent of the state’s population.

The state also reported that 4.4 percent of more than 41,400 tests reported Saturday were positive. Over the last week, 5.2 percent were positive, down from 6.2 the previous week.

Experts say lower positive test rates indicate less community spread of the virus. In November, the rate hit a high of 16 percent of all tests as the state approached nearly 10,000 daily cases and hospitals filled with COVID-19 patients.

Almost every part of the state is experiencing declines in new cases as the positive rate comes down.

But Washtenaw County, where the University of Michigan increased student testing after the discovery of the B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant, has had an increase in cases.

The county’s rate of new daily cases per 100,000 rose to 28, up from 18 the week before. Despite the increase just 3.7 percent of all tests have come back positive. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Jan. 29

Cases jump in Washtenaw County

Five University of Michigan off-campus group housing units are experiencing outbreaks of the coronavirus, the university reported Friday, as Washtenaw County is reporting an increase in daily cases.

The university said residents in those units are now in quarantine, a move that comes after the university reported that the more contagious B.1.1.7 variant of the coronavirus had been detected in at least 14 students.

The university is conducting hundreds of additional tests of students as they have returned to campus, with testing in Washtenaw County overall jumping nearly 50 percent in the last week.

That’s led to the discovery of hundreds of more cases as the overall positive testing rate for the virus — 4.1 percent this week — is up slightly from 3.1 percent the week before. The new case rate in Washtenaw, 27 daily cases per 100,000, is up from 17 daily cases per 100,000 the week before.

The increase in Washtenaw stands in contrast to almost every other county in Michigan where case rates continue to fall. Statewide, 1,774 new coronavirus infections were reported Friday.

The state also reported six additional COVID-19 deaths, the second time in a week that there are fewer than 10 reported in a day. From late November through Dec. 25, the state averaged nearly 110 deaths a day; it’s averaged 53 COVID-19 deaths since then.

Since the pandemic began last March, there have been 557,883 confirmed cases and 14,497 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

In addition to declining case averages, just 4.2 percent of the more than 52,000 tests reported in Michigan Friday came back positive, the lowest rate since Oct. 10. Experts say lower positive test rates indicate less community spread of the virus. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Jan. 28

Michigan reports 1,872 cases, 80 deaths, 695,000 total vaccinations

Over 695,000 people have received at least the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of Thursday.

Of those, 158,000 have had both of the required two doses. That places the state 18th in the rate of administering both doses and 21st in first doses, according to the latest state data.

The state also reported another 1,872 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 80 deaths, including 67 that followed a review of medical records. Most of those deaths were in January.

The percent of coronavirus tests reported Thursday that came back positive fell to 4.5 percent, out of 47,800 tests. The last time it was lower was Oct. 10, when it was 4.2 percent.

The number of patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 fell again, to 1,536, half the number that was hospitalized just five weeks ago. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Jan. 27

Daily deaths fall below 10

For the first time since mid-October, Michigan health officials reported fewer than 10 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday.

There were six new deaths, all from the last week. The state reported four deaths on Oct. 12 but since then the state has seen a rise in COVID-19 cases — and over 7,000 COVID-19 deaths.

The more recent decline in deaths is an outgrowth of fewer cases, which have been slowly falling for several weeks. On Wednesday, the state reported 1,681 new coronavirus infections, putting the seven-day average at 1,727 daily cases per 100,000 people. Only a few states in the country have a lower rate.

For the third time in a week, the test positivity rate fell below 5 percent, with 4.9 percent of 48,000 tests reported Wednesday coming back positive.

Only seven counties in the state have seven-day averages above 10 percent and 16 counties have rates at 3 percent or lower, including Washtenaw County in metro Detroit.

The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients also fell again, to 1,594 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, the lowest number since mid-October. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Jan. 26

Michigan vaccination rate improves as cases continue to fall

Michigan is vaccinating state residents at a far faster rate than previously, with more than 600,000 residents having received at least one dose.

That places the state 21st in the rate of first-dose vaccinations per 100,000 residents, a marked improvement from 45th in the first weeks of the vaccination program. The state ranks 20th for those who have gotten both required doses of the vaccine.

The good vaccine news comes as new coronavirus infections continue to decline, with 1,476 cases reported Tuesday. That puts the seven-day daily average at 1,777, the lowest rate since mid-October.

But the state reported another 79 COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, all from January except one from December. Since the pandemic began, 14,405 have died of confirmed COVID-19.

Testing data showed 7.1 percent of more than 26,000 tests reported Tuesday came back positive. Over the past week, the average has been 6.2 percent and Michigan has the 40th lowest rate in the country as of Sunday data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hospitalizations fell again as well, with 1,638 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 currently being treated in hospitals across the state. At the beginning of the year, there were 2,700 being treated statewide. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Jan. 25

Michigan’s continued trend of falling coronavirus cases and deaths continued Monday with the state reporting 3,011 new cases and 35 deaths since Saturday.

That averages to a little more than 1,500 cases and 17 deaths for the previous two days.

Case counts, as well as hospitalizations and positive tests, continue to fall in much of Michigan. The state reported just under 1,700 COVID-19 hospital patients, the fewest since Oct. 29.

And the state reported 5.9 percent of coronavirus tests returned positive, with the state averaging 6.2 percent over the past week.

Compared to other states, Michigan now has one of the lowest case rates per 100,000 people in the country, with only two states — North Dakota and Oregon — having lower rates.

In terms of hospitalizations per 100,000 people, Michigan ranks 35th at 170 patients per 100,000 and it ranks 40th in terms of percent of tests coming back positive.

In each case, ranking lower is better. Arizona is No. 1 in hospitalizations with 589 patients per 100,000, triple Michigan’s rate, and Oklahoma has the highest percent positive, 18.2 percent, nearly three times higher than Michigan’s current rate. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, Jan. 23

High death toll shows pandemic remains deadly despite overall improvement

Although coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to decline in Michigan, the state reported more than 200 COVID-19 deaths for just the fifth time on Saturday.

The 221 deaths include 205 that followed a review of medical records; those deaths occurred mostly in early January. But 74 occurred in December and three each in October and November.

The state, which three times a week reports COVID-19 deaths that are determined after a review of medical records, has reported more deaths only on two other days: 232 on April 23 and 222 on Jan. 9.

Of the reported deaths, 30 occurred in Oakland County, 24 in Macomb County, 19 in suburban Wayne County and 15 in Genesee County.

The numbers are a reminder of how deadly COVID-19 remains despite weeks of declining infections, lower positive test rates and fewer COVID-19 hospital patients.

The arc of positive news continued Saturday with the state reporting 1,601 new coronavirus infections, pushing the seven-day average down to 1,791, the lowest rate since the third week of October.

The percent of positive tests reported Saturday was 5.9 percent, as is the seven-day average.

Since the pandemic began, 548,069 people have had confirmed coronavirus infections and 14,291 have died from confirmed COVID-19. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Jan. 22

More than a half-million Michiganders have first vaccine dose

The rollout of the coronavirus vaccine in Michigan has improved markedly, with 536,000 having gotten at least the first of two doses.

That has improved Michigan’s standing nationally to 25th, up from 45th just two weeks ago in terms of vaccines administered per 100,000 residents. The state ranks 22nd in the rate of people who have gotten both doses; 105,882 people have gotten both as of Friday.

It’s more welcome news as the state continues to see average case rates, hospitalizations and deaths decline. And the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive stayed below 6 percent, with 5.1 percent of tests reported Friday returning positive. Over the last week, the overall rate has been 5.9 percent.

The state reported 2,157 new confirmed cases and 17 deaths. The cases pushed the seven-day rate down again; it remains among the lowest in the country.

Since the pandemic began, over 546,000 people have been infected and 14,070 have died from COVID-19.

Vaccinations in nursing homes and other senior citizen living facilities have increased, with just over 70,000 getting at least the first dose of the vaccine. The elderly make up a substantial portion of those who have died, with nursing home residents comprising 28 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in the state— Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Jan. 21

Cases, hospitalizations fall as state records 14,000th death

Michigan’s COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to fall, the state reported Thursday, but not enough to stop Michigan from passing another grim milestone.

The state recorded and passed its 14,000th death linked to COVID-19 on Thursday after the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services added 148 deaths, including 128 of them from a review of medical records of previous deaths. That brought the total count to 14,053 deaths linked to COVID-19.

But overall, case counts, case rates, testing and hospitalizations continued to fall as Michigan continued efforts to distribute COVID vaccines.

The health department reported 2,165 new cases Thursday, bringing the total up to 544,311 and settling the seven-day average to 1,901 cases a day — the lowest since late October. That case count was a stark contrast to daily case counts just before Thanksgiving, when Michigan was reporting an average of more than 7,000 new cases each day between Nov. 19 and 23.

Positive test results fell, too, to just 4.9 percent Thursday, in contrast to a high of 16 percent recorded Dec. 2. Positive test results have remained below 10 percent since Jan. 6.

And for the first time since Nov. 2, there were fewer than 2,000 patients (1,907) in Michigan’s hospitals with confirmed COVID-19. On Nov. 30, Michigan’s hospitals were caring for 4,326 patients with confirmed COVID. — Robin Erb

Wednesday, Jan. 20

Cases and hospitalizations decline; fewer positive tests

Much of Michigan is experiencing a decline in new coronavirus cases and fewer tests are coming back positive, welcome signs that show the deadly second wave of COVID-19 is receding.

The state reported 2,031 new confirmed cases and although that’s higher than the last five days, it still helped bring the seven-day average below 2,000 for the first time since Oct. 25.

On Dec. 1, a number of counties were hitting peak numbers and the state had the most patients yet being treated for COVID-19. Then, Macomb County was experiencing 78 new daily coronavirus cases per 100,000; it was 18 on Wednesday. Oakland was at 57 on Dec. 1; it’s now at 18 cases as well.

Similar trends are found across the state — in Muskegon County, 126 new cases were occurring daily on Nov. 16 per 100,000. Now it’s 12 cases. Bay County hit a rate of 114 daily cases per 100,000 on Nov. 16 and is at 22 cases now.

The percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive hit 6.5 percent Wednesday, the seventh time in eight days below 7 percent.

Just 13 counties have a rate over 10 percent in the past week; there were 27 counties at or above 10 percent a week earlier.

The state reported another 40 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday and state epidemiologist Sarah Lyon-Callo said the state has seen its COVID-19 mortality rate fall for four consecutive weeks.

Since the pandemic began there have been 542,146 confirmed cases and 13,905 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.— Mike Wilkinson

Tues., Jan 19

Cases remain flat as hospitalizations continue decline

Michigan public health authorities reported 1,738 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the seven-day average down to 2,072. It hasn’t been below 2,000 since Oct. 25.

Since the pandemic began in March, 540,113 confirmed infections have been reported and 13,865 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, including 41 reported Tuesday.

There are now 2,053 people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down 87 from Monday and 157 from a week ago. A month ago there were over 3,200 COVID-19 patients in Michigan.

The latest testing results — with 7.5 percent positive — marked the first time the total exceeded 7 percent in eight days.

The state, with roughly 7 percent of all tests positive in the last week, has one of the best rates in the country, with only 11 other states having a lower percent positive.

Only four states — Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont and North Dakota — have a lower case rate (average new daily infections per 100,000) than Michigan’s 28 daily cases. The national rate is 64 new daily cases per 100,000, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of federal records.

In terms of hospitalizations, the state ranked 35th as of Jan. 14, when federal data were most recently updated. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Jan. 18

Vaccine distribution picks up; cases hit three-month low

Michigan has now received 1.05 million total doses of the coronavirus vaccine, with the state reporting Monday that counties have had over 218,000 new doses shipped to them since Friday.

Overall, some 420,000 residents have had at least one of two doses, while 67,815 of those have had both doses.

In the first few weeks of vaccinations, Michigan was among the worst states in doses administered per 100,000 residents. Michigan now ranks 30th, though that does not include doses administered since Thursday.

Over 206,000 doses were administered last week, 58 percent more than the 130,000 the previous week.

Although the pace of vaccinations has increased in the past three weeks, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has said there are still unnecessary delays. She has joined with governors in seven other states to petition the federal government to allow them to work directly with manufacturers to buy doses.

Public health officials have said they are running out of the vaccines, and Wayne County has said it had to reschedule appointments because it had run out.

On Monday, Wayne County announced it was switching from the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to the Moderna vaccine. Each is considered equally safe but, unlike Pfizer, the Moderna vaccine does not require the extreme low temperatures and extra handling. — Mike Wilkinson

Michigan hits three-month low in new cases

Michigan has one of the lowest rates of new coronavirus infections in the country and one of the lowest positive test rates, according to the latest data from the state.

The state reported an average of 1,421 new cases for Sunday and Monday, pushing the seven-day average to 2,108, or about 21 new daily cases per 100,000 people. The national rate is 66 new daily cases per 100,000.

The new case rate in Michigan was last this low in late October.

Over the past seven days, just 6.5 percent of tests have come back positive, down from 8.6 percent the week before. Though 10 counties remain above 10 percent, the rest are below, including the most populous: Oakland (6.7 percent), Macomb (7.2), Kent (7.3) and suburban Wayne County (8.2 percent). Detroit is at 4.8 percent over the past week.

The state reported 20 additional COVID-19 deaths on Monday, or an average of 10 for Sunday and Monday. There have been 13,824 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. There have been 538,377 confirmed coronavirus cases.

Hospitalizations again fell from last week, whith 2,140 patients with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, down 82 from Friday. The state does not update hospital numbers over the weekend. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, Jan. 16

Washtenaw County woman first in state with COVID variant

Michigan health officials on Saturday announced the state’s first confirmed case of the coronavirus variant, which originated in the United Kingdom and is believed to be more contagious.

The state announced a Washtenaw County woman who recently traveled to the United Kingdom tested positive for the variant, known as B.1.1.7., and came into close contact with two individuals. All are under quarantine.

The confirmation comes as new coronavirus cases are declining in Michigan, but the same week that health officials warned that the United States has two distinct coronavirus variants and many more likely will be identified in coming weeks.

“The discovery of this variant in Michigan is concerning, but not unexpected,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state’s chief medical executive, said in a statement.

“We all have a personal responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19 and end this pandemic as quickly as possible.”

New cases fall below 2,000 for first time since December

For the fourth straight day, Michigan health officials on Saturday reported that fewer than 7 percent coronavirus tests were positive, falling to 6.1 percent with Friday’s tests.

The percentage of positive tests has fallen steadily since hitting 10.5 percent on Jan. 4 and Jan. 5, a promising sign that widespread infections are subsiding.

The state also reported 1,932 new coronavirus infections, the first time under 2,000 since Dec. 27 and 28. That brings the seven-day average to 2,350 cases, the lowest in over two months. It was last lower on Oct. 27, at 2,126.

The total number of coronavirus infections now stands at 535,534. The 103 deaths reported Saturday — 93 from January and the rest in December — brings the total to 13,804.

Of the newly reported deaths, 16 were in Macomb County, 13 in Oakland County and 10 in suburban Wayne County.

Compared to other states, Michigan’s case rate is one of the lowest. It has averaged 30 new daily cases — confirmed and probable — over the past week, good for 47th in the country, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of federal coronavirus data. — Mike Wilkinson

Whitmer joins other governors in asking for more vaccine doses

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and governors of Wisconsin and Minnesota on Friday asked the Trump administration to allow the three states to buy coronavirus vaccines directly from manufacturers.

Whitmer, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made the request in a letter to U.S. Human Services Secretary Alex Azar as many states are set to run out of the vaccines before the next wave of shipments arrive.

The request from the Democrats comes as a promise earlier this week to release millions of doses held in reserve may not come to fruition because there is no reserve, according to the Washington Post.

Azar announced the plan to release the doses this week, but the Post reported the reserve had already been allocated and shipped in late December.

Michigan is 30th among states for administering an initial dose and 28th in getting both doses. Just under 350,000 statewide have received at least one dose and, of those, 57,000 have received the second.

Outside of weekends, the state is averaging about 32,000 vaccinations a day this week, up from 22,000 a day the week before.

Whitmer and the others said their states need more vaccines from the manufacturers.

“If you are unable or unwilling to give us that supply, we urge you to grant permission for us to directly purchase vaccines so we may distribute them to the people of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota as quickly as possible,” they said in their statement. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Jan. 15

Coronavirus case counts stable

Michigan’s daily coronavirus count remained stable again Friday, with 2,598 new confirmed cases reported as positive tests fell below 7 percent for the second straight day.

The new cases bring the seven-day average to 2,461, nearly equal to the recent low on Dec. 28 before a slight rise following Christmas. Since the pandemic began the state has reported 533,602 cases and now 13,701 deaths, including 29 reported Friday.

The promising trends include the lower case counts but also test positivity: 6.3 percent of the most recent tests came back positive, the second time under 7 percent in two days and fifth day in six they’ve been below 8 percent.

And no county in the state has a rate over 20 percent for the first time in many weeks; Hillsdale County has the highest seven-day rate at 18.8 percent. Rates are down in most counties, including the most populous: It’s at 5.6 percent in Detroit, 8.3 percent in Kent County, 8.7 percent in Macomb and 9.2 in suburban Wayne.

On Dec. 1, Macomb had hit 19 percent, Kent was at 14.5, Wayne was at 14.4 and Detroit was at 8.6 percent.

And for the first time since Nov. 4, the number of confirmed COVID-19 patients fell below 2,000 with 1,992 patients reported Friday.

The drop from a high of 3,900 COVID-19 patients on Dec. 1 has been steady but not as sharp as the increase that began once the coronavirus second wave hit. At the beginning of October there were fewer than 500 confirmed COVID-19 patients; it was 1,500 on Nov. 1 and then 3,900 a month later. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Jan. 14

Counts, hospitalizations stable as positive tests decline

Evidence that any post-holiday bump in coronavirus cases is over is emerging from the state’s data.

The number of new cases reported Thursday — 2,698 — is almost identical to Wednesday and pushed the seven-day average down for the sixth straight day, now at 2,608.

Also, the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive fell to 6.3 percent of 48,900 tests, with the seven-day average falling to 7.6 percent.

And the number of people hospitalized for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inched lower, to 2,238 people.

All are positive signs after a brief rise in cases over 11 days beginning Dec. 28. But state officials are still cautiously optimistic.

“We are glad that we made it through the holidays without a big increase in numbers, but there have been some worrying signs in the new numbers,” said Lynn Sutfin, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The state has also improved its national standing in vaccine distribution, moving to 29th among all states, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The state had been among the worst just a week ago. Through Tuesday the state said over 332,000 people have gotten the first of two required vaccine doses, including over 52,000 residents and staff of long-term care facilities including nursing homes.

Long-term care facilities have accounted for 40 percent of all of the 13,672 deaths in Michigan, and similar percentages of COVID-19 deaths nationwide.

The state reported 139 new COVID-19 deaths yesterday, of which 126 occurred this month with the other 13 occurring in December. — Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Jan. 13

Positive test rate hits recent low

For the first time since October, the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive fell below 7 percent, hitting 6.9 percent among nearly 39,000 tests, the state reported Wednesday.

The positive test rate, which hit a high of 16 percent on Dec. 2, has not been as low as 6.9 percent since Oct. 29, when it was 6.6 percent. The state has set a target of 3 percent.

That good news is coupled with another drop in the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19: as of Wednesday there were 2,246, the fewest since Nov. 4 where there were a reported 2,215 COVID-19 patients.

The state also reported 2,694 new coronavirus infections, for a total of 528,306, and 32 additional COVID-19 deaths. There have now been 13,533 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, including 583 in January.

The state has averaged 2,700 cases a day in the past week.

Only four states have a lower daily cases rate per 100,000 than Michigan does, according to federal data analyzed by Bridge Michigan. The state’s past week positive test rate, 8.9 percent, is higher than only 12 other states.— Mike Wilkinson

Shirkey announces he had COVID-19 and recovered

Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, a fierce critic of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s pandemic policies, tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 23 and has since recovered, a spokesperson announced Wednesday.

It’s not immediately clear why the Clarklake Republican waited three weeks to publicly disclose the diagnosis. He reported his positive test result to the Senate Business Office “in accordance with Senate policy,” said Amber McCann.

Shirkey “experienced a fever and was fatigued” but recovered during a home quarantine, she told reporters.

The Senate GOP leader “believes” he was exposed on Dec. 19 and had not been in Lansing since Dec. 18, McCann said. She later issued a correction, acknowledging Shirkey was in Lansing on Dec. 21 and visited the state House for outgoing House Speaker Lee Chatfield’s farewell address.

Shirkey is the 14th Michigan lawmaker known to have contracted COVID-19 since March, when Rep. Isaac Robinson died from what was believed to be virus complications. State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud, D-Dearborn, disclosed a positive test result last week. Dozens of staffers also tested positive last year.

Michigan public health officials reported just under 2,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, pushing down the seven-day average to almost 3,000 a day as the percent of positive tests hit 7.2 percent.

The state also reported 100 COVID-19 deaths, 96 from January and the others from December.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 525,612 confirmed cases and 13,501 deaths.

Across the state case counts have fallen, easing pressure on hospitals. Oakland County, for instance, was averaging more than 700 cases a day in late November; it’s now at 342 daily cases.

The state also reported that 7.2 percent of 34,700 tests came back positive, extending the decline in test positivity that health officials say is key to keeping low to minimize spread of the coronavirus.

There was a slight increase in the number of patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in state hospitals, with 2,443 reported on Tuesday, up 47 from Monday. But that number is 315 lower than it was a week ago.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Jan. 12

New coronavirus cases, test positivity rates fall

The state also reported 100 COVID-19 deaths, 96 from January and the others from December.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 525, 612 confirmed cases and 13,501 deaths.

Across the state case counts have fallen, easing pressure on hospitals. Oakland County, for instance, was averaging more than 700 cases a day in late November; it’s now at 342 daily cases.

Monday, Jan. 11

Cases, test positivity remain stable as hospitalizations continue to fall

Amid worries about a possible post-holiday coronavirus surge, Michigan reported an average of 2,268 new confirmed cases for Sunday and Monday, keeping the overall seven-day average nearly unchanged.

With the new cases, which push the total to 523,618, the state is averaging 3,017 cases a day — almost identical to the rate over each of the past five days.

While still well above what was seen as recently as Oct. 1, when the state was averaging 900 cases a day, it’s well below the 7,200 it was averaging just before Thanksgiving and just after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration ordered a “pause” in some business and social activities.

In other coronavirus news:

The state also reported 47 additional deaths, bringing the total to 13,401.
Hospitalization fell below 2,400 statewide for the first time since Nov. 5.
The state reported that 232,000 people have been vaccinated, up from 195,000 last Friday. Nationally, however, the 2,227 people per 100,000 who have been vaccinated ranks the state 39th among all states. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, Jan. 9

Michigan records second deadliest COVID day Saturday

Michigan reported another 222 deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday, the second deadliest day of the pandemic. The state indicated that half of the new deaths occurred in January, with the rest from November and December.

The only day with a higher reported number of deaths was April 21, when 232 were reported.

The high toll comes as the number of new coronavirus cases in Michigan has stabilized — it was 2,706 on Saturday — after rising for about two weeks.

The 111 deaths recorded Saturday from December pushed that month’s death total to 3,302.

Overall, there have been 519,082 confirmed coronavirus cases and 13,354 COVID-19 deaths in Michigan during the pandemic.

The worst stretch of death came between Nov. 21, when 111 COVID-19 deaths occurred, and Dec. 21, when another 113 happened. Over those 31 days, a total of 3,450 people died of COVID-19, an average of 111 each day.

The daily death toll has fallen in recent weeks, coinciding with fewer coronavirus infections and fewer COVID-19 patients in Michigan hospitals (the state does not report updated hospitalization data on Saturdays).

Another encouraging note: For the second straight day, the COVID-19 tests coming back positive stayed below 9 percent (8.3 percent). It had averaged nearly 10 percent from Dec. 31 through Jan. 5.

The state does not update vaccine distribution data on Saturdays. As of Friday, 195,240 doses of approved vaccines had been administered across Michigan, with 10,215 going to nursing home residents and staff. The state had received 725,850 doses as of Friday. Like many states, Michigan has had some early stumbles in getting vaccines administered. — Mike Wilkinson

Friday, Jan. 8

Case count averages rise Friday, but positive signs emerge

Despite a small rise in the average number of new coronavirus infections in Michigan, the state reported Friday fewer people in the hospital, fewer deaths and a lower positive test rate.

Overall, there were 3,625 new confirmed coronavirus cases, pushing the seven-day daily average up to 3,178, the highest since Dec. 23.

And the past week of higher case counts have pushed the rate up in many counties across the state, though far below the November and December highs they experienced.

But the number of hospitalizations fell, with just under 2,500 patients treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, down from Thursday and down just over 200 from Monday’s total.

That is welcome news as is the percent positive rate: 8.7 percent from over 52,000 tests. The rate had bumped up over 10 percent in the past week after going as low as 7 percent (3 percent is the state’s target goal).

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has said that the coronavirus trends will be watched as her administration looks at restrictions set to expire Jan. 15. Hospitalizations, case counts and positive test rates are all big factors, she has said.

The state reported Friday that it vaccinated over 26,000 people on Thursday, by far the most vaccinated in one day, and nearly 11,000 more than on its previous high the day before.

The state also reported 38 new COVID-19 deaths, bringing the January total to 302 and the overall total to 13,132. — Mike Wilkinson

Thursday, Jan. 7

Holiday gatherings may have spurred uptick in cases

With Michigan reporting another 4,000 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, it’s looking more likely that holiday gatherings have spurred another uptick in cases.

The new infections push the seven-day daily average to nearly 3,100, the highest since Dec. 23.

After the second wave of cases peaked on Nov. 21, with a daily average of over 7,200 cases, it steadily fell, hitting a low of 2,400 on Dec. 28. It has slowly risen since and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and others in her administration said they were looking at case trends to see if the holidays would have an impact. Whitmer said Wednesday that data on travel indicated people had been moving around more.

The governor has said that trends on cases, hospitalizations and positive test rates will have an impact on whether restrictions, like those on restaurants and bars, will be lifted before the current Jan. 15 expiration date or possibly extended.

Although case rates are up, they are half — or even lower — of what they were in December and November when the state, like much of the country was hit the hardest.

That pushed hospitalization rates to their highest since the pandemic began but they have steadily gone down, as they did again Thursday, with just under 2,600 patients statewide being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19.

But the percent of coronavirus tests coming back positive is also up. Over the past week, nearly 10 percent of tests (9.7) have been positive, compared to 8.5 percent of tests in the week prior.

The state also reported 176 COVID-19 deaths Thursday. Of those, 106 have occurred in January, 68 in December, 1 in November and one back in May (the state routinely reviews earlier deaths to see if medical records indicate it could be a COVID-19 death).

Oakland County (31) had the most reported deaths, followed by suburban Wayne County (20) and Macomb County (14).

The state reported it vaccinated the most people yet in a single day on Wednesday — 24,836, pushing the overall total to 174,749 people. The state also reported it had received another 60,000 doses, bringing the total to 725,850.

Whitmer announced Wednesday that all people 65 or older, along with some frontline workers like teachers and law enforcement, would be eligible to receive the vaccine as early as Jan. 11.— Mike Wilkinson

Wednesday, Jan. 6

Infections cross 4,000 for first time in year

Michigan health officials reported 4,326 new infections, the highest number this year — and the highest in three weeks.

The case counts are indicating the end of the steady decline that had started in early December and lasted through the holidays.

For a couple of weeks that data has been volatile — going up and down in big swings, with Wednesday’s data leaning toward rising cases and higher positive tests. After falling as low as 7 percent two weeks ago, over 10 percent of all new coronavirus tests are now coming back positive.

In terms of cases, after a couple of weeks of steady declines in both daily counts and rates per 100,000 residents, many counties are seeing those number rise — though still far below the case counts of mid-November and early December.

Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Kent counties are all experiencing slight increases, as are many other counties. Suburban Wayne County reported 598 new cases Wednesday, it’s highest number in weeks and the most in the state, followed by Oakland (505), Macomb (405) and Kent (348 cases). — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Jan. 5

Case counts fall but December deaths top 3,000; more vaccines arrive

Michigan reported 2,119 new confirmed coronavirus infections on Tuesday, halting several days of increases in the seven-day average of cases.

Since Dec. 29, the average number of cases had risen but declined with Tuesday’s case count to 2,927.

Infections are down across the state and are a fraction of what they were just six weeks ago. On Nov. 21, eight counties were averaging 100 new infections daily for every 100,000 people and another six were between 90 and 100 new daily cases.

On Tuesday, no county had a rate over 60 new daily cases and 53 of the state’s 83 counties had a rate lower than 30 daily cases per 100,000, including most of the more populous counties. Kent County, the state’s fourth largest by population, was at 35 new daily cases per 100,000 — it was 99 on Nov. 21.

But the state reported another 189 COVID-19 deaths, with most of those occurring in December, pushing to 3,017 the total deaths last month, the second most deadly — behind April — since the pandemic began. There have been 117 COVID-19 deaths so far in 2021.

The latest testing data showed that just over 10 percent of tests returned positive and hospitalizations, which had been steadily falling for several weeks, rose slightly, with 2,758 patients being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19, up from 2,698 on Monday. — Mike Wilkinson

Michigan gets 140,000 more vaccine doses

Michigan health officials on Tuesday reported the shipment of another 140,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine, though they arrive as the state has struggled to administer the first 380,000 already sent to the state.

So far Michigan has now received 520,150 doses of the vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, with the Pfizer vaccine making up over 411,000 doses of the total.

With the latest data, however, the state reported 140,245 doses had been administered and a Bridge Michigan report showed the state has one of the lowest rates of vaccine administration.

However, the state’s data — shared daily with the federal government — may be substantially undercounting vaccinations. Linda Vail, health officer for Ingham County, said hospitals in the county, along with the health department, have vaccinated over 7,000 people. But the state’s latest data indicate just 2,600 vaccinations have occurred in the county.

Health officials told Bridge that a number of health care workers have been reluctant to get the vaccine, with thousands declining the opportunity. — Mike Wilkinson

Monday, Jan. 4

Michigan crosses 500,000 mark in cases

More than 500,000 Michigan residents have now been infected with the coronavirus, with the state reporting nearly 5,000 new cases on Monday.

Those cases, 4,992 over two days, or 2,496 a day, put the total since March at 502,119.

The case counts pushed the seven-day daily average up to 3,087; they had fallen below 2,500 on Dec. 28 but are still well below the November high of nearly 7,300 daily cases. The rate per 100,000 residents — 31 new daily cases — is also far below neighboring states and the national average of 67 daily cases per 100,000.

The state reported 80 additional COVID-19 deaths. So far in January, there have been 58 COVID-19 deaths with the others reported Monday occurring in December, which now has had 2,888 deaths.

Testing data showed a 7.8 percent positive rate for the most recent day, following three days where the rate had averaged over 10 percent. The state’s goal is 3 percent; it reached as high as 16 percent, on Dec. 2.

The number of COVID-19 patients in Michigan hospitals continued to fall, though slightly. There were 2,698 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients as of Monday, down from 2,758 reported on Dec. 30. — Mike Wilkinson

Saturday, Jan. 2

Over 200 COVID-19 deaths reported as case counts rise

Michigan recorded 265 COVID-related deaths Saturday covering a three-day period. The state emerged from a deadly December, when it averaged 92 deaths a day linked to the virus, for a total of 2,857, making it the second deadliest month of the pandemic. Only April was higher.

December’s toll will likely rise even higher as more death certificates are finalized and reported.

Suburban Wayne County, excluding Detroit, had 36 of the newly reported deaths, Macomb County had 30 and Oakland County had 21. Genesee has 13 and St. Clair 12.

The new report, which covered Dec. 31, Jan. 1 and Saturday, also showed 8,983 new coronavirus infections, or roughly 2,994 for each of the three days. That puts the state’s seven-day average of cases at 2,837. That daily average has risen daily since Dec. 28 when it stood at 2,444.

The increase has pushed up infection totals in several counties around the state including Oakland (from a seven-day average of 248 cases a week ago to 288 cases in the current week) and Kent (from 174 to 227).

But other areas continued to see infection averages fall, including Detroit (119 to 104 daily cases), Macomb County (206 to 197) and suburban Wayne County (306 daily cases to 253).

The state does not report vaccine and hospital data on weekends and testing data typically available was not released today. — Mike Wilkinson

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