DETROIT – With COVID case numbers surging, the response from Michigan is far different than what we’ve seen during past waves of COVID.
There aren’t strict mask mandates, bars and restaurants are still open and most students are back in the classroom. The number of daily COVID cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in Michigan is nearly the same as this time last year.
“At this point last year we had restrictions, we had lockdowns, we had closures to prevent the spread. With numbers right back where they were last year, why aren’t we seeing anything to mitigate the spread? This time last year we didn’t have safe and effective vaccines. Now we have three. That is the biggest, most consequential difference between now and last year,” Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said.
Michigan recently reached the 70% vaccination mark. That means 70% of residents 16 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Just under 60% of residents five and older have had at least one dose.
Watch the video above for the full report.
Read: Complete Michigan COVID coverage