November has seen 107K new COVID-19
November continued to be a month of seemingly uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 throughout Michigan, with more than 100,000 cases confirmed this month and nearly 1,000 dead.
On the day that the Centers for Disease Control advised against travel for Thanksgiving, Michigan saw 7,592 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and 134 deaths tied to the disease.
The state has already confirmed 107,218 cases in November, almost 38 percent of the total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic arrived in Michigan eight months ago.
“We are still seeing an exponential rise in cases across the state,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said in a Thursday press conference.
For the first time in Michigan, the seven-day average of new COVID-19 infections topped 7,000, moving up to 7,025. On Nov. 1, that figure was 2,879, the last day it was below 3,000.
With the deaths of 134, 61 found in reviews of vital records, announced Thursday, so far in November, 984 deaths have been reported, an average of 52 per day.
The governor described this as the worst surge the state has seen since the arrival of coronavirus.
The update came as the worldwide caseload neared 56.7 million with almost 1.36 million dead. In the U.S., more than 11.6 million cases have been find and nearly 251,500 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University data compiled since the start of the pandemic.
Counting the probable cases, Michigan has had 311,041 cases and reported 8,717 deaths.
Hospitalizations
Michigan ranked fourth in the nation in hospitalizations for COVID- 19, Khaldun said, behind only Texas, Illinois, and California.
She said that hospital beds, statewide, are at 79 percent capacity, and health officials were concerned about overwhelming public health and hospital systems.
“Our hospitals are closer and closer to becoming overwhelmed,” Khaldun said.
Furthermore, so many cases are being found that contract tracers around the state are having a harder time reaching everyone who could have been in contact with a positive case. Khaldun said people should download and use the tracing app Michigan has developed, emphasizing that it keeps your information private.
Thanksgiving
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, eyeing the potential increase of COVID-19 infections, asked Michigan residents to forego travel and gatherings this Thanksgiving in order to help the state slow the spread of COVID-19.
“We’re preserving future holiday gathering together by taking this seriously now,” Whitmer said. “By not gathering with people outside of your household this Thanksgiving, it is an act of kindness and love.”
The CDC, citing the overall increase in caseload by 1 million in a single week, asked Americans to hold off on traveling and visiting family or friends. The safest way to celebrate for families is with just people from your household.
“Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year,” the CDC stated. “Celebrating virtually or with the people you live with is the safest choice this Thanksgiving.”
Khaldun said holding off on Thanksgiving this month could prevent having to plan funerals in January.
“The smartest thing is not to gather,” Khaldun said, suggesting dropping off food or having Zoom get-togethers. “Indoor gatherings are a major way that COVID-19 is spreading right now.”
Support local businesses
If gathering or visiting others or a business, people should wear face masks, avoid close contact, and frequently wash hands.
“The virus doesn’t care who you are,” Whitmer said. “We are all at risk of getting sick.”
The governor also strongly encouraged residents to shop locally, even asking people to request holiday gifts that are from local businesses and to buy gift certificates.
She acknowledged that efforts to slow the spread of the disease, particularly by restricting dining- in options, hurts small businesses, but she asked that people follow guidelines so the spread slows and business can get back to normal for most in Michigan.
The governor did note, though, that people should have an expectation that businesses ensure customers and employees are wearing face masks. If walking into a shop and seeing people without masks, Whitmer said: “I encourage you to walk out.”
Local trends
Kent County, in western Michigan, added the most cases on Thursday, moving to 25,696 cases. Ottawa County was up 330 cases to reach 10,579. Kalamazoo County was up by 232 cases to get to 6,791 cases.
Dr. Khaldun noted that the positivity rates in Kent and Kalamazoo counties had reached 16 percent.
Statewide, the positivity rate had hit 14.4 percent on Monday, and on Wednesday, it was 12.5 percent.
Metro Detroit added more than 2,100 cases on Thursday.
• Wayne County, without Detroit, was up by 697 to reach 32,319 cases.
• Oakland County added 670 to reach 32,958 confirmed cases.
• Macomb County saw 567 new cases to reach 28,745.
• Detroit was up by 198 to end at 18,139.
In central Michigan, Ingham County had a large increase, topping the two prior days combined with 247 new cases to reach 7,264. To the north, Isabella County was up by 43 to hit 1,780, and Gratiot County added 45 to reach 1,132. Clare County increased by 17 to reach 519 cases.