Michigan reports 11,918 COVID-19 cases, 242 new deaths

Michigan identified 11,918 new coronavirus infections and 242 new COVID-19 deaths last week, according to the latest update by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The new cases bumped the state’s seven-day average up 32% from 1,010 cases per day to 1,333. MDHHS didn’t indicate if there was a backlog of cases responsible for the increase, or if coronavirus cases were trending up.

Meanwhile, the average for COVID deaths doubled from 13 to 26 deaths per day over the last week. Daily coronavirus deaths have been inching up over the last few months.

The state’s case counts are expected to be underestimates due to the rise in at-home testing, but health officials say they’re still useful in addition to wastewater surveillance and tracking hospitalizations, test positivity and deaths.

In total, there have been more than 2.95 million confirmed and probable cases, and 40,327 confirmed and probable deaths since the start of the pandemic in Michigan. Of them, 2,541,952 cases and 36,596 deaths are confirmed. About 408,409 cases and 3,731 deaths are probable.

The health department has included both probable and confirmed cases in its totals since the spring. A case is confirmed only when there is a positive PCR test. Cases are classified as “probable” when there was no such test but a doctor and/or an antigen test labeled them COVID.

Below is a chart that indicates the seven-day average for new cases reported per day throughout the pandemic. (Can’t see the chart? Click here.)

Cases by counties

Of Michigan’s 83 counties, only Alcona and Luce reported no new cases last week.

The following 10 counties have seen the most new, confirmed cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days: Schoolcraft (211), Baraga (172), Ontonagon (155), Gogebic (146), Berrien (140), Macomb (126), Wayne (124), Jackson (119), Mason (114), and Gladwin (106).

Without adjusting for population, these 10 counties have seen the greatest number of new cases over the last week: Wayne (2,223), Oakland (1,345), Macomb (1,107), Kent (477), Washtenaw (370), Genesee (306), Ingham (229), Kalamazoo (228), Berrien (216), and Jackson (191).

The arrows and colors on the map below show per-capita cases compared to the previous week in Michigan’s 83 counties. Hover over or tap on a county to see the underlying data. (Hint: Drag the map with your cursor to see the entire Upper Peninsula.)

Can’t see the map? Click here.

The chart below shows new cases for the past 30 days by county based on onset of symptoms. In this chart, numbers for the most recent days are incomplete because of the lag time between people getting sick and getting a confirmed coronavirus test result, which can take up to a week or more.

You can call up a chart for any county, and you can put your cursor over or tap on a bar to see the date and number of cases.

Can’t see the chart? Click here.

Hospitalization

As of Monday, Dec. 5, there were 1,106 adult and 29 pediatric patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID across Michigan’s health systems. A week ago there were 985 and 44, respectively.

Of those COVID patients, 134 were in the intensive care units and 52 were on ventilators.

Deaths

Forty-five counties reported at least one new COVID death last week, up from 28 such counties a week ago.

Wayne led all counties in the latest report with 49. Other top-reporting counties included Oakland with 26, Macomb with 24, Genesee with nine, Ingham and St. Clair with seven, Kent and Ottawa with five, Berrien with four, and Monroe with three deaths.

Below is a chart that tracks the state’s seven-day average for reported COVID-19 deaths per day over the course of the pandemic. (These are based on the date reported, not necessarily on the date of death.)

Can’t see the chart? Click here.

Testing

Over the last week, the state’s positivity rate was 12.8%. That’s up from 12% the previous week, and on par with three weeks ago (12.6%).

Below is a chart of daily test positivity rates for Michigan throughout the pandemic. The data is based on confirmatory PCR testing.

Can’t see the chart? Click here.

The interactive map below shows the seven-day average testing rate by county. You can put your cursor over a county to see the underlying data.

COVID-19 vaccinations

As of Wednesday, Nov. 30, about 63.8% of residents had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, according to Michigan health department data.

About 59.1% of Michiganders of all ages have completed their initial series, and 37.9% of individuals 5 and older have received a booster dose.

Since the new bivalent, omicron-specific booster shot became available, at least 1.27 million Michiganders have gotten the updated protection.

Below is a chart that shows vaccination rates by county for people 5 and older. (Can’t see the chart? Click here.)

For more statewide data, visit MLive’s coronavirus data page.

To find a testing site near you, check out the state’s online test find send an email to COVID19@michigan.gov, or call 888-535-6136 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

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