DETROIT – Michigan reported 25,858 new cases of COVID-19 and 338 virus-related deaths Wednesday -- an average of 12,929 cases over a two-day period, a new state record for daily cases, in the final data update of 2021.
The previous record of 9,779 new cases in one day was set in Nov. 2020. Of the 338 deaths announced Wednesday, 232 were identified during a review of records.
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Wednesday’s update brings the total number of confirmed COVID cases in Michigan to 1,507,338, including 26,988 deaths. These numbers are up from 1,481,480 cases and 26,650 deaths, as of Monday.
Note: Due to the holiday, the next update from the state won’t come until Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.
Testing has increased to around 50,000 to 60,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate jumping up to 22.93% as of Wednesday. Hospitalizations have declined slightly over the last two weeks but are still near record-high levels.
The state’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 8,402 on Wednesday, a new record-high. The 7-day death average was 101 on Wednesday. The state’s fatality rate is 1.8%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 238,600 on Wednesday.
Michigan has reported more than 10.9 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Wednesday, with 68.4% of 16+ residents having received at least one dose, while 62.7% of 16+ residents are considered fully vaccinated.
Across Michigan’s entire population, 63.4% have received at last one COVID vaccine dose.
According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 54 million cases have been reported in the U.S., with more than 824,000 deaths reported from the virus. Globally, more than 9 billion vaccine doses have been administered, including more than 505 million doses in the U.S. alone.
Worldwide, more than 286 million people have been confirmed infected and more than 5.4 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:
COVID cases and deaths trends by Michigan county
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Michigan will update COVID quarantine guidance to match CDC
Michigan’s health agency says it’s updating guidance for COVID-19 quarantine to match new CDC recommendations.
On Dec. 29, MDHHS said it would keep its previous guidelines in place while it reviewed the new CDC guidelines, which shortens isolation periods for most, even with a positive COVID test. On Dec. 31, officials said the state will be following the new CDC guidance.
The CDC is recommending a shortening of the quarantine and isolation duration for those who aren’t vaccinated or haven’t received their booster to five days followed by an additional five days of wearing a well-fitting mask around others. The updated guidance is specific to the general public.
11 takeaways from Whitmer’s first COVID briefing since June
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer held a COVID briefing Tuesday for the first time since June, answering questions about whether this surge warrants new mandates and delivering specific messages for both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents.
“We’re in for another tough 4-6 weeks, is what all the experts are projecting, with the omicron variant spreading rapidly across the country,” Whitmer said.
Whitmer spoke from the Hispanic Center in Grand Rapids. She was joined by Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Many struggle to find at-home COVID tests in Michigan as demand skyrockets
Most stores and websites are sold out of at-home COVID-19 tests.
Local 4′s Consumer Investigator Hank Winchester went out with hidden cameras to search for tests.
When you walk the aisles of almost any pharmacy in Metro Detroit in search of an at-home COVID test, you’re likely to find a sign indicating they’re sold out.
Michigan COVID-19 daily reported cases since Dec. 1:
- Dec. 1 -- 8,265 new cases
- Dec. 2 -- 9,221 new cases
- Dec. 3 -- 9,222 new cases
- Dec. 4 -- 5,530 new cases
- Dec. 5 -- 5,530 new cases
- Dec. 6 -- 5,530 new cases
- Dec. 7 -- 7,693 new cases
- Dec. 8 -- 7,692 new cases
- Dec. 9 -- 5,891 new cases
- Dec. 10 -- 5,892 new cases
- Dec. 11 -- 5,381 new cases
- Dec. 12 -- 5,381 new cases
- Dec. 13 -- 5,381 new cases
- Dec. 14 -- 5,861 new cases
- Dec. 15 -- 5,861 new cases
- Dec. 16 -- 6,325 new cases
- Dec. 17 -- 6,324 new cases
- Dec. 18 -- 4,666 new cases
- Dec. 19 -- 4,666 new cases
- Dec. 20 -- 4,667 new cases
- Dec. 21 -- 6,843 new cases
- Dec. 22 -- 6,843 new cases
- Dec. 23 -- 6,591 new cases
- Dec. 24 -- 6,591 new cases
- Dec. 25 -- 6,591 new cases
- Dec. 26 -- 6,592 new cases
- Dec. 27 -- 6,592 new cases
- Dec. 28 -- 12,929 new cases
- Dec. 29 -- 12,929 new cases
Michigan COVID-19 daily reported deaths since Dec. 1:
- Dec. 1 -- 179 deaths (160 from past two days from vital records)
- Dec. 2 -- 138 new deaths
- Dec. 3 -- 139 new deaths (169 from past two days from vital records)
- Dec. 4 -- 42 new deaths
- Dec. 5 -- 42 new deaths
- Dec. 6 -- 43 new deaths (47 from past three days from vital records)
- Dec. 7 -- 175 new deaths
- Dec. 8 -- 175 new deaths (185 from past two days from vital records)
- Dec. 9 -- 117 new deaths
- Dec. 10 -- 118 new deaths (151 from past two days from vital records)
- Dec. 11 -- 53 new deaths
- Dec. 12 -- 53 new deaths
- Dec. 13 -- 54 new deaths (36 from past two days from vital records)
- Dec. 14 -- 165 new deaths
- Dec. 15 -- 165 new deaths ( 230 from past two days from vital records)
- Dec. 16 -- 127 new deaths
- Dec. 17 -- 127 new deaths (159 from past two days from vital records)
- Dec. 18 -- 53 new deaths
- Dec. 19 -- 53 new deaths
- Dec. 20 -- 54 new deaths (63 from past three days from vital records)
- Dec. 21 -- 196 new deaths
- Dec. 22 -- 196 new deaths (250 from past two days from vital records)
- Dec. 23 -- 54 new deaths (158 from past two five from vital records)
- Dec. 24 -- 55 new deaths
- Dec. 25 -- 55 new deaths
- Dec. 26 -- 55 new deaths
- Dec. 27 -- 55 new deaths
- Dec. 28 -- 169 new deaths (232 from vital record review)
- Dec. 29 -- 169 new deaths
Coronavirus resources:
- View more: Michigan COVID-19 data 📊📈
- Question about coronavirus? Ask Dr. McGeorge here.
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