As Michigan is experiencing a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, many people are concerned that the number of deaths will also climb in the coming weeks. Some new research suggests COVID-19 deaths might not rise as sharply as they did in the spring. They found death rates were highest in late March -- at 41% for COVID-19 patients in intensive care units -- compared to a much lower 21% for similar patients during that time. But when they adjusted for age and other medical problems, death rates still dropped by 18%, on average. Both papers suggest that improved treatment protocols, newer therapies and lower hospital volumes allowing for better care are working to lower the death rate.

DETROIT Theres a lot of confusion surrounding the term death rate when it comes to the coronavirus (COVID-19). What does that really mean, and how high is the virus death rate in Michigan and beyond? The answer is that many are using the term death rate imprecisely without an apples to apples comparison. Its going to artificially elevate the case fatality rate." The case fatality rate for older people is higher.

This map is tracking coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths in each county in the United States.