Area hospitalizations see spike

Isabella County has seen hospital stays shoot up 54% in December

Hospitalizations from COVID-19 have increased by 54% in Isabella County since the start of December, health department records show. In Clare County, they have increased by 48%.

On Dec. 2, Central Michigan District Health Department’s weekly data sheet reported a total of 54 Covid-related hospitalizations in Isabella County. In the most recent data available, from Wednesday, that number had increased to 86.

That includes everyone who has spent time in the hospital for

COVID-19, from overnight to extended stays. In Isabella County, Covid-related hospitalizations have run — on average — slightly longer than hospitalizations for other reasons.

With 2,955 cases reported on the same data sheet, Isabella County’s hospitalization rate is

2.8%. As of Wednesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, reported 2,950 cases in Isabella County. Because cases trickle in from multiple sources throughout the day, it is common for the two to report different numbers at different times.

The latest hospitalization data for MclarenCentral Michigan, which THEMDHHS has reported is valid as of Monday, is that 10 people remain hospitalized with it, including four in intensive care. The hospital has a 61 percent bed occupancy rate, which includes non- COVID hospitalizations.

Thirty- nine Isabella County residents have died from COVID-19.

In Clare County, a total of 46 hospitalizations were reported on Dec. 2. As of Wednesday, that number had increased to 68.

With 1,032 confirmed cases in CMDHD’S Wednesday data sheet, Clare County has a hospitalization rate of 6.5%. During October, when the county saw a significant increase in cases, including a large outbreak at a Clare County nursing home, its hospitalization rate was as high as 15%.

Clare County hospitalizations for COVID-19 ran a little longer than hospitalizations for other causes, it was previously reported.

As of Monday, there were eight people hospitalized with COVID-19 at Midmichigan HealthClare for COVID-19. None were in intensive care. The hospital’s bed occupancy rate is 24 percent.

Thirty- seven Clare County residents have died from COVID-19, according to state records.

Gratiot County isn’t one of CMDHD’S member counties. It is a part of Mid- Michigan District Health Department, which doesn’t report hospitalizations.

According to state records, as of Monday 69 percent of beds at MidMichigan Health-alma were occupied, including 22 people for COVID-19. Five are in intensive care.

Gratiot County has had a cumulative total of 2,151 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 60 county residents dying from it.

FILE PHOTO Mclaren-central Michigan reported that 61% of its beds were occupied as of Monday. Those are hospitalizations for any cause. Ten people with COVID-19 are currently hospitalized, including four in intensive care.