Michigan health officials reported on Wednesday 1,739 new cases of COVID-19 and 240 additional deaths from the virus in the past two days.
In the last two days, the total number of confirmed cases and deaths in the state has reached 2,064,093 and 32,374 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. According to MDHHS, these new cases and deaths are data collected on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The CDC reports that the 7-day average case rate in Michigan is 73 cases per day per 100,000 residents, while the average 7-day positive test varies between 3-5%, with more than 147 cases conducted in the past. 000 diagnostic tests for COVID-19. week.
In all parts of the state there is a decrease in the number of new cases, new hospitalizations, and positive tests.
On Monday, the state reported 29 new outbreaks of COVID-19 that occurred in long-term care facilities (22) and schools (7). Outbreaks of COVID-19 are commonly defined as two or more cases with reference to location and time that indicate co-infection outside the home.
COVID-19 community levels
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has softened its recommendations on face masks, saying most Americans now live in counties where COVID-19 poses a low or medium threat to health systems. These are people who may stop wearing face masks, the CDC said.
The CDC’s new set of camouflage measures, called “COVID-19 Community Levels,” is designed for communities where COVID-19 is weakening its grip, with less emphasis on new cases and more on what is happening in hospitals in terms of new COVID-19 techniques. 19 and the percentage of staffed beds used by patients with COVID-19.
To determine if a particular community needs to strengthen its pandemic protection measures, the CDC is now looking at three key indicators, including: new hospitalizations of COVID-19 per 100,000 population over the past 7 days, the percentage of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the last 7 days.
These indicators are used to classify the county’s community level by COVID-19 as low, medium, or high and are an indication of the current strain on local health systems. Levels will be updated at least once a week.
In Michigan, as of March 3, the latest update available, 75 of the 83 counties have a low or medium COVID-19 community using the new CDC criteria. 8 districts are classified as high, 41 – to medium, and 34 districts – to low.
“Anyone can definitely wear a mask at any time if they feel safe in the mask,” said CDC Director Dr. Rachel Valensky. “We want to make sure our hospitals are in order and people are not coming in with serious illnesses. … Anyone can go to the CDC website, find out about the number of diseases in their community and make that decision. ”
CDC officials say COVID-19 community levels do not apply to medical facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes. Instead, health facilities should continue to use the level of transmission in society that depends on the number of new cases.
Hospitalizations
Nationwide, 761 Michigan residents were hospitalized with confirmed positive COVID-19, which is 5.5% less than on Wednesday, compared to 806 patients on Wednesday, and 83.3% less than the January 15 high of 4,578 patients. . About 76% of the state’s hospital beds are occupied.
The average 7-day total number of hospitalizations with COVID-19 in Michigan is 903, compared to a maximum of 4,578 on Jan. 15, which is 80% less. Over the past seven days, the average number of Michigan residents admitted to the hospital with confirmed COVID-19 daily is 106, up from 134 in the previous week and compared to 651 in the week of April 14, 2021. CDC.
According to MDHHS, the number of Michigan residents, adults and children hospitalized with COVID-19 is declining in all parts of the state.
As of March 7, a total of 40 Michigan hospitals reported critical staff shortages. This is below the 62 maximum on January 23, but is stable compared to a week ago. Compared to last year, MDHHS reports that 1,383 (6%) fewer staffed hospital beds and 125 (5%) fewer staffed intensive care units.
According to the CDC, over the past week in Auckland County hospitals there has been a decrease in the number of new doses of COVID-19 by 89 patients by 24% compared to the previous 7 days. The average percentage of staffed hospital beds in the county for 7 days used by patients with COVID-19 is 3.5%, which is 1.4% less than the previous 7 days.
In Wayne County hospitals, there has been a 24% reduction in the number of new hospitals with COVID-19 compared to the previous 7 days, for a total of 124 patients. The average percentage of staffed hospital beds in the county for 7 days used by patients with COVID-19 is 3.5%, which is 1.4% less than the previous 7 days.
In Macomb County hospitals, the number of new hospital admissions with COVID-19 was down 24% compared to the previous 7 days with 62 patients. The average percentage of staffed hospital beds in the county for 7 days used by patients with COVID-19 is 3.5%, which is 1.4% less than the previous 7 days.
The mask is free
As new cases and hospitalizations continue their downward trend across the state, MDHHS officials say face masks are no longer recommended to be worn in most enclosed public places, including schools.
However, MDHHS officials continue to recommend face masks to Michigan, regardless of vaccination status, in high-risk congregations, including long-term care facilities, shelters, correctional facilities, prisons and medical facilities, and for people in isolation and quarantine. to stop the further spread of the virus.
Last month, Michigan County Health Departments revoked their mandates for school face masks, which had been in effect since last fall due to a rapid decline in new reported cases and hospitalizations, as well as an increase in vaccinations among young children.
You can view the march of MDHHS. 3 answer data and simulation update here:
Click to access 20220301_Data_and_modeling_update_vDRAFT_003_749180_7.pdf
Vaccines
More than 66% of Michigan residents have received at least one vaccination from COVID-19, which is more than 6.6 million residents.
The level of vaccination coverage includes 27% for people aged 5-11, 48% for people aged 12-15, 54% for people aged 16-19, 53% for people aged 20-29 and 64% for persons aged 30-39 years.
Among older groups, the vaccination rate is 66% for people aged 40-49, 76% for people aged 50-64, 89% for residents aged 65-74 and 86% for residents of Michigan aged 75 and older.
More than 3 million boosters and third doses have been administered across the state. About 53% of the state’s fully vaccinated population received a booster dose.
Free masks and test kits
Michiganders can get free KN95 face masks and test kits on COVID-19 by visiting Michigan.gov/MaskUpMichigan and https://www.usps.com/covidtests.