Michigan coronavirus data for Wednesday, April 14: Closing in on new daily case record
Michigan is averaging more than 7,000 new cases of COVID-19 per day for the first time since Nov. 23 as it continues to lead all other states in new cases per capita.
At the peak of the fall surge, there were three days in which the seven-day average sat above 7,000, and it peaked at 7,270 on Nov. 21. Now, the state is up to 7,014 cases per day and climbing.
Four counties in the state’s “thumb” lead the way in cases per capita. Huron, St. Clair, Sanilac and Tuscola counties each have more than 1,000 cases per million residents per day.
Four additional counties -- Macomb, Otsego, Lapeer and Arenac -- are above 900 cases per million per day, and another 10 are higher than 800 per day.
For context, the top level of the state’s six-level risk assessment is “>150 new cases per 1 million people.” Seventy-five counties are at that level.
Below is a look at state and county numbers for new cases and positivity rates, as well as statewide numbers on hospitalizations, deaths and vaccinations.
New cases: The state is averaging 7,014 new cases a day.
The daily case average jumped another 18% from last week.
In two weeks, Michigan has gone from reporting 4,680 new cases per day to 7,014. On Tuesday, there were 8,867 new cases -- indicating the average is likely still climbing.
The top counties in cases per capita over the past seven days: Huron, St. Clair, Sanilac, Tuscola and Macomb.
The good news is Michigan’s positive test rate has seen a slight decline in recent days. The bad news: it’s still three-times higher than the threshold recommended by health officials for closing schools and communities.
The seven-day positivity rate is about where it was a week ago, which matched the peak of the fall surge.
Sixty-nine of the state’s 83 counties reported increases in positivity rates week-over-week.
The top ten positivity rates came from Huron, Sanilac, Tuscola, Oceana, St. Clair, Missaukee, Lapeer, Iosco, Wexford and Newaygo counties. However, all 10 counties did report declines in their rates week-over-week.
State health officials noted last week that the high positive test rates not only indicate high case rates, but that not enough residents are getting tested.
Hospitalizations: 4,250 inpatients on Tuesday
Michigan had 4,205 adults patients and 45 pediatric patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Tuesday, April 14. That includes 842 patients in the ICU.
By comparison, there were 2,687 patients hospitalized on Thursday, April 1, with 511 in the ICU.
Health systems are closing in on the patient totals from last spring’s initial surge, and some hospitals have already begun postponing elective surgeries.
Deaths: The state is averaging 41 deaths a day.
That compares to an average of 31 deaths a day a week ago, and 23 deaths per day two weeks ago. The current death rate is the highest since Feb. 8.
Deaths are a lagging factor, but typically follow a surge in cases and hospitalizations by a few weeks. State officials have said they’re closely monitoring this data.
Vaccinations: 41.9% of adults have received at least one dose
Through Monday, April 12, there were 3,389,738 Michiganders with at least one dose of vaccine, and more than 2.2 million who had completed their vaccine regimen.
About 27.5% of residents 16 years and older have completed their vaccination.
Below is a breakdown by age group of adults who have gotten at least one dose of vaccine and those who are fully immunized.
75 and older: 70% initiated; 61.3% completed.
65 to 74: 70.8% initiated; 60.8% completed.
50 to 64: 49.5% initiated; 29.1% completed.
40 to 49: 34% initiated; 18.1% completed.
30 to 39: 30.6% initiated; 15.6% completed.
20 to 29: 21.1% initiated; 10.1% completed.
16 to 19: 13.5% initiated; 2.9% completed.
State’s overall risk assessment: All regions at highest level
All eight of Michigan’s MI Start regions are back to Level E in the state’s overall risk assessment for the second consecutive week.
In assigning the risk scores, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services looks at factors such as new cases and deaths per capita, test positivity rates, number of tests administered and emergency department visits for COVID-19 symptoms. The scale used by MDHHS has six levels -- “low” plus Levels A-E.
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