DETROIT – The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 678,295 as of Thursday, including 16,141 deaths, state officials report.
Thursday’s update includes a total of 6,036 new cases and 49 additional deaths, including 33 from a vital records review. On Wednesday, the state reported 672,259 total cases and 16,092 deaths.
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Testing has been steady around 35,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate above 13% as of Wednesday, the highest since early December. The state has reported an up-tick in hospitalizations over the last several weeks.
Related: Michigan COVID hospitalizations: Concerns grow as more younger adults are in ICU
Michigan’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 4,945 on Wednesday -- the highest since December. The 7-day death average was 22 on Wednesday and has been flat for several weeks. The state’s fatality rate is 2.4%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 88,500 on Wednesday. More than 569,000 have recovered in Michigan.
Michigan has reported more than 4.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Wednesday, with 33.8% of residents having received at least one dose.
According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 30.4 million cases have been reported in the U.S., with more than 552,000 deaths reported from the virus.
Worldwide, more than 129 million people have been confirmed infected and more than 2.8 million have died. More than 72 million have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, because of limited testing, different ways nations count the dead and deliberate under-reporting by some governments.
Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phases
VIEW: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 vaccine doses 💉
VIEW: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schools
Federal officials increasing COVID-19 vaccine doses available for Michigan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a statement Tuesday after White House officials announced that there will increase COVID-19 vaccine doses available for Michigan starting next week.
According to a press release, next week’s shipment will increase by 66,020 bringing the total number of doses to 620,040 -- a weekly record for the state. Officials said the allocation includes 147,800 doses of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
This comes after Whitmer recently requested for more vaccines as the state is seeing a rise in COVID numbers.
CDC: Michigan leads country in new cases of COVID per population
The CDC said that Michigan is leading the country in new cases of COVID-19 per population.
On Tuesday, officials reported 5,177 new COVID cases and 48 additional deaths, including 20 from a Vital Records review. On Monday, the state reported 660,771 total cases and 16,034 deaths.
Local 4′s Dr. Frank McGeorge said he’s seen a very clear increase in COVID patients at the hospital where he works.
“Many of them need to be hospitalized. I would honestly say, this feels worse to me here in Southeast Michigan than it was during the wave that started in November. Now, the most concerning trend is the number of middle-aged people with severe COVID,” McGeorge said.
Detroit expands COVID vaccine eligibility to all residents 16 and older
All Detroiters 16 and older are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, the city announced Monday.
Any Detroit resident age 16 or older can now call to schedule an appointment to be vaccinated at the TCF Center.
Appointments can be made by calling 313-230-0505. Anyone living outside of the city of Detroit, but reporting to work each day in the city, also are eligible to schedule an appointment.
Johnson & Johnson vaccine site opened at Northwest Activities Center 9-1 this Saturday.
Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair also announced that the Detroit Health Department has been informed it will receive its first allocation of Johnson and Johnson vaccine this week. Detroiters wanting the one dose J&J vaccine can call 313-230-0505 for an appointment to receive at the Northwest Activities Center, located at 18100 Meyers from 9-1 this Saturday.
Michigan: All adults eligible for COVID vaccine April 5
The state of Michigan announced Friday that all residents age 16 and up will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on April 5, nearly a month before the May 1 date pledged by President Joe Biden.
People age 16 to 49 with certain medical conditions or disabilities will qualify starting March 22, when 50- to 64-year-olds can begin getting shots under a previous announcement. Two days later, March 24, a federally selected regional mass vaccination site will open at Detroit’s Ford Field to administer an additional 6,000 doses a day for two months.
MORE: Michigan’s updated COVID-19 vaccination schedule: Who is eligible and when
Michigan confirms first case of South African COVID variant in Jackson County
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced that the first case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.351 has been identified in a child in Jackson County.
The health department did not say how the boy was infected but a case investigation is underway to determine close contacts and if there are additional cases associated.
This new variant was originally detected in South Africa in October 2020 and shares some mutations with the B117 variant. The first case of the B117 variant -- originally detected in the United Kingdom -- was identified in Washtenaw County.
Michigan loosens COVID restrictions on restaurants -- here are all the details
The state of Michigan has loosened its COVID-19 restrictions on bars and restaurants, including the capacity limit and nightly curfew.
On Tuesday, March 2, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced the restrictions on indoor dining have been revised.
Starting Friday, March 5, Michigan restaurants and bars will be allowed to fill up to 50% capacity, with a maximum of 100 people, according to the state.
“I’m proud that we are able to take this positive step without compromising public health,” Whitmer said.
Since Feb. 1, restaurants had been capped at 25% capacity. From mid-November through the end of January, no indoor dining was allowed at bars or restaurants.
COVID variant cases in Michigan rise by more than 100
The number of the confirmed cases of a more contagious COVID-19 variant in Michigan increased by more than 100 this week, suggesting there is “undetected spread” in the community.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the chief medical director for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said the state has confirmed 422 cases of the COVID-19 B117 variant.
That number increased from 314 cases identified as of six days prior (Feb. 24).
Macomb County offers new COVID-19 vaccination site for seniors 60 and older
Through a partnership with SMART, Macomb County is offering a new vaccination location in Sterling Heights.
The vaccination site is at the Sterling Heights Senior Center on Utica Road, between Schoenherr and Van Dyke roads.
Appointments are required. Eligible residents and workers can call the SMART Macomb Vaccine line at 586-421-6579.
Wayne County announces new vaccination clinics for seniors
Wayne County announced it will open several vaccination clinics for residents 65 and older.
According to county Executive Warren Evans, the vaccination clinics will begin Feb. 23.
“I’m pleased Wayne County is now in a position to begin vaccinating seniors,” Evans said. “I know everyone is eager to safely get back to normal. Our team is working hard to ensure all of our residents can get their COVID shot as quickly as the vaccine is available.”
There are no walk-up appointments and seniors must make an appointment by calling the number for the site in their communities.
The full list of clinics and how to register can be found here.
Michigan COVID-19 daily reported cases since March 1:
- March 1 -- 785 new cases
- March 2 -- 1,067 new cases
- March 3 -- 1,536 new cases
- March 4 -- 1,526 new cases
- March 5 -- 1,486 new cases
- March 6 -- 1,289 new cases
- March 7 -- 980 new cases
- March 8 -- 980 new cases
- March 9 -- 954 new cases
- March 10 -- 2,316 new cases
- March 11 -- 2,091 new cases
- March 12 -- 2,403 new cases
- March 13 -- 1,659 new cases
- March 14 -- 1,571 new cases
- March 15 -- 1,572 new cases
- March 16 -- 2,048 new cases
- March 17 -- 3,164 new cases
- March 18 -- 2,629 new cases
- March 19 -- 3,730 new cases
- March 20 -- 2,660 new cases
- March 21 -- 2,400 new cases
- March 22 -- 2,401 new cases
- March 23 -- 3,579 new cases
- March 24 -- 4,454 new cases
- March 25 -- 5,224 new cases
- March 26 -- 5,030 new cases
- March 27 -- 4,670 new cases
- March 28 -- 4,101 new cases
- March 29 -- 4,101 new cases
- March 30 -- 5,177 new cases
- March 31 -- 6,311 new cases
- April 1 -- 6,036 new cases
Michigan COVID-19 daily reported deaths since March 1:
- March 1 -- 6 new deaths
- March 2 -- 24 new deaths (12 from vital records)
- March 3 -- 5 new deaths
- March 4 -- 37 new deaths (29 from vital records)
- March 5 -- 10 new deaths
- March 6 -- 56 new deaths (48 from vital records)
- March 7 -- 2 new deaths
- March 8 -- 2 new deaths
- March 9 -- 29 new deaths (8 from vital records)
- March 10 -- 8 new deaths
- March 11 -- 23 new deaths (16 from vital records)
- March 12 -- 8 new deaths
- March 13 -- 38 new deaths (30 from vital records)
- March 14 -- 4 new deaths
- March 15 -- 5 new deaths
- March 16 -- 27 new deaths (6 from vital records)
- March 17 -- 0 new deaths
- March 18 -- 25 new deaths (24 from vital records)
- March 19 -- 15 new deaths
- March 20 -- 47 new deaths -- (39 from vital records)
- March 21 -- 3 new deaths
- March 22 -- 3 new deaths
- March 23 -- 16 new deaths (8 from vital records)
- March 24 -- 16 new deaths
- March 25 -- 49 new deaths (30 from vital records)
- March 26 -- 20 new deaths
- March 27 -- 22 new deaths
- March 28 -- 4 new deaths
- March 29 -- 4 new deaths
- March 30 -- 48 new deaths (20 from vital records)
- March 31 -- 10 new deaths
- April 1 -- 49 new deaths (33 from vital records)
Coronavirus resources:
- View more: Michigan COVID-19 data 📊📈
- Question about coronavirus? Ask Dr. McGeorge here.
- More: Return to School updates
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