State: 8,297 new cases, 104 virus deaths over two days

Michigan public health officials reported Friday 8,297 new COVID-19 cases and 104 additional virus deaths over the past two days.

The two-day case total brought the state’s total confirmed cases and deaths to 1,081,525 and 21,563 deaths since the onset of the pandemic.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), those totals represent testing data collected Thursday and Friday. MDHHS publishes new case, death, and vaccination numbers every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with new outbreak-related data published every Monday.

Of the 104 deaths reported, 58 were identified during a vital records review. Over the past two days, the state has averaged 4,149 cases per day per 100,000 residents, down from 4,335 cases per day per 100,000 residents Oct. 12-13, a 4% decrease.

Due to technical difficulties reported by MDHHS Friday afternoon, data on COVID-19 case increases by county will not be available in this update.

The state’s 7-day COVID-19 average case and testing positivity rates continue to remain high due to the spread of the Delta variant among unvaccinated residents, including children.

Michigan’s 7-day average case rate is 301 cases per day per 100,000 residents, a slight increase from the previous 7 days at 296. The state remains in the high community transmission category, which is defined by the CDC as averaging at least 100 new cases per day per 100,000 population over a 7-day period.

The state’s 7-day average testing positivity rate continues to average between 8-10%. The CDC is also reporting that 86% of U.S. counties have high community transmission levels, which is a 3.5% decrease compared to a week ago. All 83 Michigan counties remain in high transmission.

Over the past 7 days, Oakland County is averaging 222 cases per day per 100,000 residents, which has not increased or decreased over the previous 7 days, according to the CDC. Wayne County’s 7-day average case rate is 190 cases per day per 100,000 residents, a 2% increase over the previous 7 days while Macomb County’s 7-day case rate has increased 6% over the previous 7 days to 278 cases per day per 100,000 residents.

Statewide, there are over 2,000 Michiganders hospitalized with confirmed positive COVID-19, the majority being in southeast Michigan, with 80% of the state’s hospital beds occupied.

MDHHS is reporting that the percentage of inpatient hospital beds occupied by individuals with COVID-19 is 9.3%, up from 8% last week. This percentage has been increasing for 12 weeks.