Michigan COVID-19 rates continue to rise as state reports 16,681 new cases in the last week

Coronavirus cases continue to rise in Michigan with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reporting another increase in its weekly report released Tuesday.

The department reports a total of 2,636,214 Michiganders tested positive for COVID-19, an additional 16,681 cases compared to the previous week’s increase of 13,102 cases. In total, 37,142 people have died from the virus with 160 deaths reported on Tuesday compared to 64 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 893 COVID-19 hospitalizations across Michigan hospitals, an increase of 155 from the previous week, while 121 adults were in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). That’s up from 86 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.

Most Michigan communities remain at “low” community risk levels. There are 16 counties across the state at “medium” risk level: Antrim, Benzie, Clare, Dickinson, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Iron, Isabella, Kalkaska, Kent, Leelanau, Manistee, Menominee, Midland and Washtenaw counties.

Johns Hopkins University reports that there are about 557 million confirmed cases worldwide and 6.3 million deaths. The United States makes up a significant portion of those, as 88.8 million confirmed cases and 1,021,678 deaths have been recorded nationally.

Michigan currently has an overall vaccination rate (one or more doses) of 67.5%, putting it in the bottom half 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.