Grim milestones: State reaches 800,000 cases, 17,000 deaths

Michigan hit two grim milestones Wednesday, topping 800,000 in total cases and more than 17,000 total deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began more than a year ago.

The state health department announced 5,584 new confirmed cases of the virus and 45 new deaths, bringing the totals to 804,724 cases and 17,031 deaths.

With the latest numbers, roughly one in 12 Michigan residents have contracted the virus and roughly one in 587 state residents have died from it.

The numbers continue to be driven by spikes in cases in southeast Michigan and other populated areas of the state.

There were 695 new cases and four deaths in Oakland County, 594 cases and four deaths in Macomb County, 568 cases and four deaths in Wayne County, and 405 cases and nine deaths in Detroit. Southeast Michigan accounted for 40.5% of the new cases and 46.67% of the new deaths.

Other areas of the state also had relatively high numbers. There were 390 cases in Kent County, 279 cases and one death in Genesee County, 189 cases in Ottawa County, 126 cases and one death in Ingham County, 120 cases and one death in Washtenaw County, and 117 cases and one death in Livingston County.

In mid-Michigan, there were 35 cases in Isabella County, 18 cases and one death in Gratiot County, and 11 cases in Clare County.

Four of Michigan’s 83 counties had no new cases or deaths.

The state’s goal is to vaccinate 70% of the population age 16 and older against the virus. So far, nearly 32% of that population has been completely vaccinated, and more than 45% have had at least one shot of the twodose vaccine.