Statewide COVID-19 rates continue to rise with 13,102 new cases in the last week

(Susan J. Demas)

By Kyle Davidson, Michigan Advance

After last week brought an end to a five-week decline in COVID-19 cases, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported another increase in cases in its weekly report released Tuesday.

The department reports a total of 2,619,533 Michiganders tested positive for COVID-19, an additional 13,102 cases compared to the previous week’s increase of 14,353 cases. In total, 36,982 people have died from the virus with 64 deaths reported on Tuesday compared to 174 the week prior. 

The virus has been detected in all of Michigan’s 83 counties. The state’s COVID-19 fatality rate is currently at 1.5%

As of Tuesday, the state reported a total of 738 COVID-19 hospitalizations across Michigan hospitals, a decrease of 149 from the previous week, while 86 adults were in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). That’s down from 39 last week.

The first two cases of COVID-19 were reported in the state on March 10, 2020. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency that day.

Despite the recent increase in cases, most Michigan communities remain at “low” community risk levels. There are 14 counties across the state at “medium” risk level: Alger, Barry, Calhoun, Crawford, Gogebic, Iron, Kalkaska, Monroe, Oscoda, Otsego, Roscommon, Sanilac, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties.

Johns Hopkins University reports that there are about 550 million confirmed cases worldwide and 6.3 million deaths. The United States makes up a significant portion of those, as 87.8 million confirmed cases and 1,017,964 deaths have been recorded nationally.

Michigan currently has an overall vaccination rate (one or more doses) of 67.5%, putting it in the bottom third of state vaccination rates. About 60.7% of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated.

About 76% of the entire United States population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Susan Demas for questions: [email protected]. Follow Michigan Advance on Facebook and Twitter.