Omicron variant drives record case numbers
Daily average tops 20,000
Michigan’s daily COVID-19 cases on Thursday and Friday broke a new state record as the omicron variant spreads across the state.
The daily average for those two days was 20,346 new cases, which is significantly higher than 13,673, which was the average for Tuesday and Wednesday and the record.
Michigan public health officials reported on Monday 40,692 new COVID-19 cases for Thursday and Friday and 259 additional virus deaths. The deaths reported included 136 identified during a vital records review.
Friday’s case total brought the state’s total confirmed number of cases to 1,636,611 and deaths to 27,822 since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services publishes new case, death and vaccination numbers every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Locally, Oakland County had 6,668 new confirmed cases and 31 deaths; Macomb County had 4,828 new confirmed cases and 25 deaths; and Wayne County had 5,474 cases and 42 deaths. In all three counties the number of cases increased dramatically. In Oakland the deaths increased by 8 while the deaths dropped slightly in Macomb and Wayne.
According to the MDHHS, 4,462 adults are hospitalized in Michigan with confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases as of Friday, while 4,412 adults are hospitalized with confirmed infection. Both numbers have increased since Monday when 4,432 were hospitalized and 4,190 with confirmed infection. Confirmed cases in intensive care units number 835, which is up from 807 on Wednesday.
“The omicron variant is one of the most contagious viruses we have seen in our lifetime. It’s more important than ever for the community to help contain the spread of this illness. Our health care systems are overwhelmed. If you have ignored our pleas for help
before, now is the time to take action. We need everyone’s help to get through this fourth surge. Wear a mask. Get vaccinated. Get boosted,” Dr. Nick Gilpin, Beaumont Health’s medical director of infection prevention and epidemiology, said on Thursday.
The state’s vaccination coverage rate for residents that have had at least one shot is at 63.8%. The number of residents five years of age or older who have received both shots is 57.6% and those with at least one shot is 63.3%. The age categories with the lowest percentages of vaccinated are 5-11 years 22.02% and 1215 years 45.59%. The age group with the highest percentage with one shot is 6574
at 88.82%.
As of Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Michigan ranks 29th among states in COVID-19 transmission with a sevenday case rate of 986 per 100,000. In comparison, New York City has a sevenday case rate of 3,149.5 (highest in the country), while it is 308.2 in Idaho, the lowest.
Locally according to
the CDC, on Friday, Oakland County had a sevenday case rate of 1,147.28 per 100,000 with a 42.06% positivity rate; Macomb County had a 1,241.12 seven-day case rate with 34.5% positivity rate; and Wayne County had 1,374.17 sevenday case rate with a 33.97% positivity rate. In seven days the case rates have jumped 42.06% in Oakland, 34.91% in Macomb and 28.37% in Wayne.