DETROIT – Michigan reported 7,108 new cases of COVID-19 and 135 virus-related deaths Wednesday -- an average of 3,554 cases over the past two days.
Wednesday’s update brings the total number of confirmed COVID cases in Michigan to 1,097,129, including 21,744 deaths. These numbers are up from 1,090,021 cases and 21,609 deaths, as of Monday.
Recommended Videos
The deaths announced Wednesday include 78 identified during a Vital Records review.
Testing has increased to around 30,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate at 11.35% as of Monday, which is about the same as last week. Hospitalizations have been steadily increasing for several weeks.
The state’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 3,414 on Wednesday -- the highest it has been since early May. The 7-day death average was 42 on Wednesday. The state’s fatality rate is 2.0%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 105,600 on Monday -- the highest it has been since May.
Michigan has reported more than 10 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Monday, with 68.4% of 16+ residents having received at least one dose while 60.1% of 16+ residents are considered fully vaccinated.
According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 44.6 million cases have been reported in the U.S., with more than 719,000 deaths reported from the virus. Globally, more than 6.5 billion vaccine doses have been administered, including more than 402 million doses in the U.S. alone.
Worldwide, more than 239 million people have been confirmed infected and more than 4.8 million have died, 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.
Coronavirus headlines:
VIEW: Chart: Michigan COVID vaccine coverage
VIEW: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schools
Michigan adopts new definition of school COVID outbreak, raising threshold
Michigan health officials are adopting a new definition of COVID-19 school outbreaks that lifts the threshold from two cases to three associated with a school.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) gets such a definition from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists -- view that here. The new definition changes the threshold to at least three cases within a group, up from two.
Flu expected to circulate more this year due to fewer COVID precautions
While coronavirus pandemic precautions helped keep the flu away last year, experts are worried that we won’t be so lucky this year.
Precautions and restrictions designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 actually also helped prevent the spread of the flu, a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, during the 2020 flu season. This time last year, health experts were concerned that the U.S. would experience a “twindemic” with COVID and the flu, but that didn’t happen, likely due to a combination of mask wearing, social distancing, most schools being closed and overall reduced travel.
But this year, many of those precautions and restrictions are no longer in effect, and the flu is expected to circulate more widely.
Detroit opens scheduling for third dose of COVID vaccinations
Detroit has opened up scheduling for residents with compromised immune systems to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.
Residents must have been fully vaccinated for at least six months and have compromised immune systems to schedule an appointment for a third dose.
Third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations, which were approved by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, will be offered at the TCF Center drive-thru to those with an appointment.
MDHHS ‘strongly recommends’ Michigan schools require universal masking when students return
Michigan health officials are strongly recommending schools require universal masking when students return for in-person learning.
Last month, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services updated its guidance for preventing the spread of COVID-19 within school buildings.
“Because many students have yet to be vaccinated and students under age 12 are not yet eligible, layered prevention measures, including universal masking, must be put in place for consistent in-person learning to keep kids, staff and families safe,” an MDHHS release says.
This update brings MDHHS guidance in line with that of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC recommends vaccinated people wear masks in schools, some indoor settings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in parts of the United States where coronavirus is surging.
The CDC on Tuesday, July 27 cited new information about the ability of the delta variant to spread among vaccinated people. The CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools regardless of vaccination status.
The CDC said that in the United States most new infections are among unvaccinated people. But “breakthrough” infections, which generally cause milder illness, can occur in vaccinated people.
Michigan COVID-19 daily reported cases since Oct. 1:
- Oct. 1 -- 4,029 new cases
- Oct. 2 -- 2,901 new cases
- Oct. 3 -- 2,901 new cases
- Oct. 4 -- 2,902 new cases
- Oct. 5 -- 3,837 new cases
- Oct. 6 -- 3,837 new cases
- Oct. 7 -- 4,204 new cases
- Oct. 8 -- 4,205 new cases
- Oct. 9 -- 3,045 new cases
- Oct. 10 -- 3,046 new cases
- Oct. 11 -- 3,046 new cases
- Oct. 12 -- 4,335 new cases
- Oct. 13 -- 4,336 new cases
- Oct. 14 -- 4,148 new cases
- Oct. 15 -- 4,149 new cases
- Oct. 16 -- 2,832 new cases
- Oct. 17 -- 2,832 new cases
- Oct. 18 -- 2,832 new cases
- Oct. 19 -- 3,554 new cases
- Oct. 20 -- 3, 554 new cases
Michigan COVID-19 daily reported deaths since Oct. 1:
- Oct. 1 -- 40 new deaths (42 from past two days from vital records)
- Oct. 2 -- 20 new deaths
- Oct. 3 -- 21 new deaths
- Oct. 4 -- 21 new deaths (19 from past three days from vital records)
- Oct. 5 -- 46 new deaths
- Oct. 6 -- 46 new deaths (47 from past two days from vital records)
- Oct. 7 -- 41 new deaths
- Oct. 8 -- 41 new deaths (40 from past two days from vital records)
- Oct. 9 -- 12 new deaths
- Oct. 10 -- 12 new deaths
- Oct. 11 -- 12 new deaths (18 from past three days from vital records)
- Oct. 12 -- 60 new deaths
- Oct. 13 -- 50 new deaths (58 from past two days from vital records)
- Oct. 14 -- 52 new deaths
- Oct. 15 -- 52 new deaths (58 from past two days from vital records)
- Oct. 16 -- 15 new deaths
- Oct. 17 -- 15 new deaths
- Oct. 18 -- 16 new deaths (15 from past three days from vital records)
- Oct. 19 -- 67 new deaths
- Oct. 20 -- 68 new deaths (78 from past two days from vital records)
Coronavirus resources:
- View more: Michigan COVID-19 data 📊📈
- Question about coronavirus? Ask Dr. McGeorge here.
- More: Return to School updates
COVID-19 Discussion Forum:
Join our dedicated space to discuss the pandemic. You’re invited to share questions, experiences, insights and opinions.