State: 71 outbreaks in schools
Michigan public health officials reported 71 new school COVID-19 outbreaks Monday involving 344 confirmed cases.
According Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), an additional 6,093 COVID-19 cases and 29 virus deaths. Those totals represent testing data collected Saturday through Monday. MDHHS publishes new case, death, and vaccination numbers every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with new outbreak-related data published every Monday.
Of the 29 deaths reported, 9 were identified during a vital records review. Over the past three days, the state has averaged 2,031 cases per day, down from the 3,047 cases per day Sept. 9-10, a 33.3% decrease. The threeday case total brought the state’s total confirmed cases and deaths to 976,505 and 20,535 since the onset of the pandemic.
Among the 71 new school virus outbreaks, three were in Oakland County involving 12 cases and three were in Gratiot and Isabella counties involving 7 cases.
22 of the outbreaks originated in preschools or elementary schools involving 70 cases while 30 of the outbreaks originated in high schools involving 180 cases. The remaining outbreaks originated in middle schools, colleges, and universities involving 94 total cases including the larget outbreak of all at Northwood University in Midland that involves 25 cases.
In addition to the new outbreaks, there are over 40 ongoing virus outbreaks at Michigan schools. This includes an outbreak at The University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus involving 283 cases.
Over 60 percent of Michigan’s public school students — 757,904 students — in 229 public school districts are currently required to wear face masks under local health department orders in Kalamazoo, Allegan, Genesee, Kent, Ottawa, Oakland, Wayne, Benzie-Leelanau, Health Department of Northwest Michigan, Ingham, Washtenaw and Berrien.
Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer reiterated her support for local health departments and school districts that are mandating indoor face masks for teachers, students, and other school staff.
MDHHS recently announced new quaratine guidance for asymptomatic students, both those unvaccinated and vaccinated, in an effort to allow more kids to stay in school. The guidance outlines how even if exposed to the virus, some students would be allowed to stay in school when evidencebased prevention measures, including universal masking, are in place.
As of Monday, most of the state’s 144 new virus outbreaks were concentrated in K-12 schools (77 new outbreaks) and longterm care facilities (21 new outbreaks). At this time, there are 312 ongoing virus outbreaks statewide.
Over the past 7 days, Oakland County is averaging 145.12 cases per day per 100,000 residents, a 1.33% increase from the previous 7 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Wayne County’s 7-day average case rate is 228.17 cases per day per 100,000 residents, a 11.04% increase over the previous 7 days while Macomb County’s 7-day case rate has decreased 1% to 159.04 cases per day per 100,000 residents.
The state’s COVID-19 case and testing positivity rates continue to remain high due to the spread of the Delta variant. Statewide, there are over 1,400 Michiganders hospitalized with COVID-19, the majority being in southeast Michigan, with over 80% of the state’s hospital beds occupied.
In Oakland County, hospitals have seen a 45.86% increase over the past 7 days in new COVID admissions compared to the previous 7 days, according to the CDC. In Kent County, hospitals have seen a 15.46% increase in new COVID admissions over the previous 7 days.