State sees 108% increase in daily rate of new cases
Over the past week, Michigan has averaged 1,246 new confirmed COVID-19 cases per day, an increase from 950 confirmed cases per day the previous week.
Michigan public health officials reported Wednesday 8,723 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 68 additional confirmed virus deaths over the past seven days.
The latest 7-day case total brought the state’s total confirmed cases and deaths to 2,099,201 and 33,068 deaths since the onset of the pandemic. According to MDHHS, those new case and death totals represent data collected Thursday through Wednesday.
As of Tuesday, a total of 785 omicron BA.2 subvariant cases have been confirmed in Michigan, according to MDHHS. The highly-transmissible subvariant has spread rapidly throughout Europe and Asia, and has become dominant in the U.S. in recent weeks.
Since March 20, the BA.2 subvariant has accounted for over 60% of the positive COVID-19 tests sequenced by MDHHS.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting that Michigan’s 7-day average COVID-19 case rate is 77 cases per day per 100,000 residents, up from 37 cases per day per 100,000 residents last week. That’s an increase of 108%.
The state’s 7-day average testing positivity rate is fluctuating between 5-8%, up from 3-5% last week, with over 137,000 COVID-19 diagnostic tests being performed over the past week, up from over 124,000 the prior week.
Current case rates and hospitalizations, and increased access to vaccines, testing and therapies, indicate Michigan is in the postsurge recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. MDHHS
defines this phase as, “No immediate resurgence predicted. Local and state public health will monitor conditions that could lead to future surges.”
On Monday, the state reported 51 new COVID-19 outbreaks originating in long-term care settings (35). COVID-19 outbreaks are generally defined as two or more cases with a link by place and time indicating a shared exposure outside of a household.
You can view the latest MDHHS response data and modeling update by visiting: michigan.gov/coronavirus.
Second booster dose
All Americans age 50 and older and those age 12 and older that are immunocompromised can now get a second COVID-19 booster if it’s been at least four months since their last booster dose.
Those eligible for a second booster dose include:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration created this chart to help people understand who is eligible for a first and second COVID-19 booster shot:
COVID-19 Community Levels
To determine if a community needs to strengthen their pandemic protection measures, the CDC looks at three key metrics including: new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days, the percent of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days.
These metrics are used to classify a county’s COVID-19 community level as low, medium, or high and are an indication of current strain on local healthcare systems. The levels are updated every Thursday.
In Michigan, as of April 14, the most recent update available, 76 of the state’s 83 counties have low COVID-19 community levels while the remaining nine counties have a medium COVID-19 community level.
Hospitalizations
Statewide, there are 461 Michiganders hospitalized with confirmed positive COVID-19, an increase from the April 13, total of 429 patients and a decrease from the Jan. 15 high of 4,578 patients. Around 75% to 80% of the state’s hospital beds are occupied.
Michigan’s 7-day average of total COVID-19 hospitalizations is 406, up from 376 the previous 7 days.
The 7-day average number of Michiganders admitted to the hospital for confirmed COVID-19 is 65, up from 54 the prior week and down from the peak of 615 the week of April 14, 2021, according to the CDC.
As of April 19, a total of 36 Michigan hospitals were reporting critical staff shortages. This is down from the high of 62 on Jan. 23 but up 24% from last week. Compared to this time last year, MDHHS is reporting that there are 1,458 (6%) fewer staffed hospital beds and 401 (15%) fewer ICU staffed beds.
Over the past week, Oakland County hospitals have seen an 25% increase in the number of new COVID-19 hospital admissions compared to the previous 7 days totaling 70 patients, according to the CDC. The county’s 7-day average percentage of staffed hospital beds in use by COVID-19 patients is 2%, a 0.3% increase from the previous 7 days.
Wayne County hospitals have seen an 25% increase in the number of new COVID-19 hospital admissions compared to the previous 7 days totaling 98 patients, according to the CDC. The county’s 7-day average percentage of staffed hospital beds in use by COVID-19 patients is 2%, a 0.3% increase from the previous 7 days.
Macomb County hospitals have seen an 25% increase in the number of new COVID-19 hospital admissions compared to the previous 7 days totaling 49 patients, according to the CDC. The county’s 7-day average percentage of staffed hospital beds in use by COVID-19 patients is 2%, a 0.3% increase from the previous 7 days.
How to find
COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites
You can find a COVID-19 testing and vaccination site nearest you by visiting: michigan.gov/coronavirus/. Facilities offering free face masks and COVID-19 test kits can be obtained by visiting Michigan.gov/MaskUpMichigan and usps.com/ covidtests.
A new website, COVID. gov, recently launched to help Americans gain better access to vaccines, tests, treatments, and masks, as well as get the latest updates on COVID-19 in their area. The website also features a new Test-to-Treat locator that will help people locate and access pharmacies and community health centers to get tested for COVID-19 and receive appropriate treatments if they need them.