DETROIT – Michigan reported 1,540 new cases of COVID-19 and 124 virus-related deaths Wednesday, March 16 -- an average of 770 cases over a two-day period.
Wednesday’s update brings the total number of confirmed COVID cases in Michigan to 2,068,817, including 32,561 deaths. These numbers are up from 2,067,277 cases and 32,443 deaths, as of Monday.
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107 of the deaths reported Wednesday were due to Vital Records review.
Testing has increased to around 50,000 to 60,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate at 3.47% as of March 14 -- the lowest it has been since July 2021. Hospitalizations have decreased over the last few weeks, now down to the lowest total since last summer.
The state’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 675 on Wednesday, March 16. The 7-day death average was 39 on March 16. The state’s fatality rate is 1.5%.
Michigan has reported more than 11.4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of March 14, with 70.5% of 16+ residents having received at least one dose, while 64.7% of 16+ residents are considered fully vaccinated.
Across Michigan’s entire population, 66.5% have received at least one COVID vaccine dose.
According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 79.5 million cases have been reported in the U.S., with more than 966,000 deaths reported from the virus. Globally, more than 10.7 billion vaccine doses have been administered, including more than 555 million doses in the U.S. alone.
Worldwide, more than 462 million people have been confirmed infected and more than 6 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.
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CDC: Many healthy Americans can take a break from masks
Most Americans live in places where healthy people, including students in schools, can safely take a break from wearing masks under new U.S. guidelines released Friday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlined the new set of measures for communities where COVID-19 is easing its grip, with less of a focus on positive test results and more on what’s happening at hospitals.
Michigan drops mask recommendations for K-12 schools, most indoor settings as COVID cases drop
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is updating its COVID-19 masking guidance as the state enters a “recovery” phase following a surge in virus infections and hospitalizations.
Following weeks of a record-setting surge in COVID-19 spread across Michigan, the state’s numbers have shown a promising decline. Daily new COVID-19 case counts are down significantly from last month, and the state’s 7-day positive testing rate is the lowest it has been since the end of October.
Coronavirus resources:
- View more: Michigan COVID-19 data 📊📈
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