Michigan continues its battle with COVID-19 spread, now categorized as at a “severe” risk level for a virus outbreak as the state leads the nation in daily new virus cases.

DETROIT – Until now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined “close contact” with COVID-19 as spending 15 consecutive minutes within 6 feet of someone who is positive. Researchers have discovered much shorter exposures can also spread the virus, especially if those exposures are repeated. The CDC study examined the case of a male Vermont correctional officer who had multiple brief interactions with six incarcerated people who were all asymptomatic and awaiting the results of their COVID-19 tests. READ: CDC: From January to October, US had 299K more deaths than in previous yearsContact tracing was conducted, but health officials said the officer did not meet definition of a close contact since he didn’t spend 15 consecutive minutes with an infected person. The CDC has redefined what is considered to be a close contact of a COVID-19 case to now include someone who has been within 6 feet of an infected individual for a total of at least 15 minutes a day.

Nearly one month since our last report, Michigan has maintained its “medium” risk level for a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, according to data from Covid Act Now. A screenshot of Covid Act Now's map of the United States and colored according to their "Covid Risk Level." Michigan is still labeled at "medium risk" for virus spread, according to data from Covid Act Now. Experts recommend that at least 90 percent of new COVID-19 cases are traced within 48 hours to contain the virus. According to the data, Michigan’s contact tracing did fall to as low as 25 percent at the beginning of August.

DETROIT Researchers are looking into how the change in activity during the peak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impact our sense of time. READ: Spike in COVID-19 cases linked to grad parties in Oakland CountyA recently published British study asked more than 600 people a simple question. Thinking about today, or this week, how quickly has time felt like it was passing in comparison to normal? The study found there were four main factors associated with a distorted perception of time. The amount of stress a person was under also impacted the perception of time.

Less than two weeks ago, Michigan was moved from “medium” to “high” risk for a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak by Covid Act Now. Experts recommend that at least 90 percent of new COVID-19 cases are traced within 48 hours to contain the virus. Covid Act Now’s research shows that Michigan is still doing fairly well with COVID-19 testing. Michigan’s lowest positive test rates were seen in early June and were around 1.1 percent, according to Covid Act Now. A map of Michigan counties and their assigned COVID-19 risk levels from research led by Covid Act Now.

DETROIT – A website that tracks the risk of COVID-19 spreading in each state has changed Michigan’s status from being in control of the spread to “at risk” of an active outbreak. The group of technologists, epidemiologists, health experts and public policy leaders at Covid Act Now used a number of different factors to calculate a risk for COVID-19 worsening in any given state. By their calculations, Michigan is currently only able to trace 48% of new coronavirus infections within two days. As of the calculations done on July 4, the risk level for every region has gone up. Grand Rapids and Lansing are both listed as high risk, while Metro Detroit was increased to medium-high risk.

Michigan has now been labeled at “high risk” for a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as cases increase across the state, according to data from Covid Act Now. A screenshot of Covid Act Now's map of the United States and colored according to their "Covid Risk Level." A map of Michigan counties and their assigned COVID-19 risk levels from research led by Covid Act Now. (Covid Act Now)A number of Michigan counties have moved backward into “high” or “critical” risk levels for a COVID-19 outbreak since last week. Michigan is one of 24 states at high risk for a COVID-19 outbreak.