COVID-19 cases up by 3,675
Increased rate of spread worries health leaders
Coronavirus continues to spread across Michigan, and the increase in COVID-19 is being driven by younger people, health experts have seen.
After a brief delay Thursday afternoon, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced 3,675 new cases of COVID-19. The MDHHS noted that this update included cases that would have been reported Friday, as a technical issue allowed data to pull past the cutoff time.
Statewide, the number of confirmed cases stood at 171,220 and deaths numbered 7,298, with 41 new deaths tied to COVID-19, of which 22 were found in reviews of vital records.
On Thursday, Wayne County, excluding Detroit, passed 22,000 cases, Oakland County passed 21,000, Macomb County passed 18,000, Kent County passed 14,000, and Washtenaw County passed 5,000.
“The increase in testing alone does not explain this rise,” said Emily Martin, Associate Professor of Epidemology at the University of Michigan, according to the Michigan School of Public Health Twitter account. “This rise supersedes any sort of adjustment that you would expect based on testing patterns, so we are
convinced there is a rapid change in the spread across Michigan. This increase has been specifically seen in the zero to 29-year- old age group.”
While more tests have been given, the positivity rate has been much higher in recent days than even the elevated levels seen in the middle of the month, approaching 10 percent.
The Centers for Disease Control noted this on Wednesday, tweeting, “Beginning in June, COVID-19 incidence increased steadily among people ages 18-24. This age group continues to have the highest incidence of COVID-19.”
Nationally, Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNBC that the situation in many parts of the country could be much worse on month from now without a change.
“We can’t just let this happen,” Fauci said in the CNBC interview. “If things do not change, if they continue on the course we’re on, there’s going to be a whole lot of pain in this country, with regard to additional cases, hospitalizations and deaths. We are on a very difficult trajectory. We’re going in the wrong direction.”
Michigan trends
The seven- day average in the state stood at 2,623, and the month of October has seen 46,523 new cases — nearly double the number of new cases seen in September.
The seven- day average in the state stood at 2,623, and the month of October has seen 46,523 new cases — nearly double the number of new cases seen in September.
Nearly 147,000 tests were given over the three prior days, and the positivity rate on Wednesday hit 8.6 percent, nearly triple of most days in the summer. The two prior days saw positivity rates of 6.6 percent and 6.85 percent.
In Michigan, the MDHHS issued new rules Thursday that require restaurants to collect names and phone numbers of diners in order to allow contact tracing and also limited groups to six to a table. Indoor facilities also have new limits the number of people allowed gather indoors.
The update in Michigan came as the global caseload near 44.8 million with 1.18 million deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Cases in the U. S. topped 8.9 million and deaths were above 228,000. Michigan has risen to 15th in the nation in total cases, and now thirteen states have more than 200,000 cases.
California and Texas each have had more than 900,000 cases, while Florida neared 800,000, New York passed 500,000, and Illinois just passed 400,000.
In Michigan, health experts are concerned about the rate of increase and some counties are changing or adjusting policies and practices.
St. Clair County announced Thursday it would limit in-person court hearings and adjust how it conducted contact tracing.
“We want to empower everyone to be smart and take care of yourselves and your family,” said Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer, St. Clair County Health Department. “We can get through this, we will get through this. Now is the time that personal responsibility is key. Be smart. Stay safe and vigilant.”
St. Clair addressees increases
In St. Clair County, leaders are concerned about the increase in local cases, finding it difficult to conduct contact tracing. On Thursday, the St. Clair County Heath Department announced that, effective immediately, it would focus on tracking cases in people 18 and younger as well as conducting contact tracing of cases tied to long-term care facilities, hospitals, schools, and high-risk congregate settings.
The health department will also help businesses with COVID-related issues.
“MDHHS guidance has not changed,” said Dr Mercatante of the St. Clair County Health Department. “Masking is required in public places; social distancing is absolutely necessary; personal hygiene is important. Stay home if you are sick. Stay away from social gatherings, large or small if it is not your immediate family, and masking and social distancing is not occurring.”
In St. Clair County, since Thursday, Oct. 22, cases have grown from 1,163 to 1,323 on Wednesday. On Thursday, the county added 51 cases to reach 987.
Last month, daily new cases regularly numbered a handful. On Sept 1, cases were at 804, and the month ended with cases at 891, up just 87. But October started showing daily news cases between 10 and 25. In the past week, some days have been seen increases of 25 to 35 cases.
With the “high numbers of new positive cases,” the headline department said it was finding new cases all have “numerous close contacts, making contract tracing efforts impossible to maintain.” Because of this, people who have had contact with someone testing positive may not receive a phone call from the health department.
The St. Clair County
Health Department issued guidelines requiring anyone testing positive to isolate for 10 tens and to notify all of your close contacts. Further, those close contacts must self quarantine for 14 days from their last contact with the patient. If symptoms arise, they must get tested.
St. Clair County has seen 8,115 cases per million people.
Local trends
Kent County added the most cases, with 316 new cases to reach 14,164.
Also in western Michigan, Kalamazoo County was up by 117 cases to reach 4,112, and Ottawa County jumped up 130 to reach 5,165.
In Metro Detroit, Oakland County added 288 cases to reach 21,031, while Macomb County was up by 300 and hit 18,117. Though these numbers included some that would have normally gone onto the Friday update, it shows increased spread of coronavirus over the past two days. Oakland County added 417 on Wednesday, so that is 705 cases in a couple of days — more than was added in some weeks in September.
Macomb County was up 572 over the two days.
Wayne County, without Detroit, still had the most confirmed cases, adding 251 to reach 22,249, following Wednesday’s hike of 354, for 605 cases in two days.
Genesee County was up by 125 to reach 5,983.
Lapeer County added 12 to reach 800.
Washtenaw Count y added 64 to reach 5,006.
In mid- Michigan, Isabella County was up 38 cases to finish the day at 987, and Gratiot County added 27 to reach 491. To the north, Clare County added 11 cases to reach 263.