A nasal swab at the Spectrum Health COVID testing site in Grand Rapids on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. The site is no longer active for testing. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to indicate three weeks of cases increasing, rather than a four-week increase.
Michigan identified 13,043 new coronavirus infections and 181 new COVID-19 deaths last week, according to the latest update by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The increase in cases marked three consecutive weeks with a rise in the seven-day average. Michigan is reporting 1,457 cases per day, compared to 989 cases per day three weeks ago.
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.
Michigan’s 181 reported deaths last week brought the latest seven-day average down to 20 reported deaths per day. The data has followed an up and down pattern for months as the state works through backlogs and reporting delays.
In total, there have been more than 2.96 million confirmed and probable cases, and 40,508 confirmed and probable deaths since the start of the pandemic in Michigan. Of them, 2,552,154 cases and 36,740 deaths are confirmed. About 411.250 cases and 3,768 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 for the second consecutive week.
The following 10 counties have seen the most new, confirmed cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days: Baraga (208), Menominee (179), Dickinson (170), Iron (155), Macomb (151), Gogebic (146), Schoolcraft (137), Wayne (134), Kalamazoo (124), and Ionia (121).
Without adjusting for population, these 10 counties have seen the greatest number of new cases over the last week: Wayne (2,397), Oakland (1,466), Macomb (1,326), Kent (468), Washtenaw (342), Kalamazoo (325), Genesee (306), Ingham (249), Saginaw (206), and Jackson (183).
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. 12, there were 1,187 adult and 38 pediatric patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID across Michigan’s health systems. Two weeks ago there were 985 and 44, respectively.
Of those COVID patients, 133 were in the intensive care units and 60 were on ventilators.
Hospitals have noted busier emergency room due to the rise in respiratory infections including COVID-19, influenza and RSV. Health officials are reminding Michiganders to practice good hygiene and stay away from others if you’re feeling sick.
Deaths
Thirty-seven counties reported at least one new COVID death last week, down from 45 such counties a week ago.
Wayne led all counties in the latest report with 43. Other top-reporting counties included Oakland with 22, Macomb with 18, Kent with seven, Ottawa with five, Berrien and Eaton with four, Washtenaw and Calhoun with three, and Kalamazoo with two.
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 on par with last week, and up from 12% the previous week.
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, Dec. 7, about 63.9% of residents had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, according to Michigan health department data.
About 59.2% of Michiganders of all ages have completed their initial series, and 38% of individuals 5 and older have received a booster dose.
Since the new bivalent, omicron-specific booster shot became available, at least 1.33 million Michiganders have gotten the updated protection. Last week, children 6 months to 4 years old became eligible for the new shot as well.
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.
Read more on MLive:
Court asked to decide by Feb. 1 on Michigan minimum wage increase
Redistricting Commission sues Michigan legislature for $3.1M over legal funds, budget
Inflation cools to 7.1% in November – the lowest rate since 2021
Upper Peninsula paper mill could get $1B upgrade
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