LANSING, Mich. – Michigan health officials are reporting significant increases in out-of-hospital emergencies and deaths amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Hospitals and medical centers were initially overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients when the pandemic hit in Michigan in March, which led people to avoid seeking care unrelated to COVID-19. Emergency centers remain open and most selective operations have resumed at medical centers across Michigan. Some states are reporting an increase of around 40,000 COVID-19 cases in just the last week. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer moved some counties into “high risk” categories due to recent spikes in COVID-19 cases.