Michigan COVID: Here’s what to know May 20, 2021 – WDIV ClickOnDetroit

DETROIT – The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 879,685 as of Wednesday, including 18,741 deaths, state officials report.

Wednesday’s update includes a total of 1,560 new cases and 31 additional deaths. On Tuesday, Michigan reported a total of 878,125 cases and 18,710 deaths.

Testing has been steady around 35,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate just above 6% as of Wednesday — the lowest in several weeks. Hospitalizations have declined over the last three weeks.

Overall, new cases have slowed over the last 21 days. The state’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 1,453 on Wednesday — the lowest in several weeks. The 7-day death average was 50 on Wednesday, slightly lower than the last two weeks. The state’s fatality rate is 2.1%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 110,100 on Wednesday.

More than 755,000 have recovered from the virus in Michigan.

Michigan has reported more than 7.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Tuesday, with 56.8% of 16+ residents having received at least one dose while 46% of 16+ residents are considered fully vaccinated.

According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 33 million cases have been reported in the U.S., with more than 587,800 deaths reported from the virus. Globally, more than 1.3 billion vaccine doses have been administered.

Worldwide, more than 164.9 million people have been confirmed infected and more than 3.4 million have died. More than 94 million have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, because of limited testing, different ways nations count the dead and deliberate under-reporting by some governments.

Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phases

Coronavirus headlines:

VIEW: Chart: Michigan COVID vaccine coverage

VIEW: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schools

Michigan is lifting mask requirements for most indoor and outdoor settings for fully vaccinated residents, matching newly issued guidance from the CDC.

The new order will take effect on Saturday, May 15 at 9 a.m.

Under the updated MDHHS Gatherings and Mask Order, Michiganders who are outdoors will no longer need to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.

While indoors, fully vaccinated Michiganders will no longer need to wear a mask, but residents who are not vaccinated, or have not completed their vaccinations, must continue to wear a mask or face covering to protect themselves and others.

After July 1, the broad indoor mask mandate will expire.

Michigan has reached the first of four vaccine milestones that will trigger the easing of COVID-19 restrictions across the state. Here’s what you should know about the situation.

If you missed the announcement at the end of April, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer revealed the state will ease COVID-19 restrictions based on the percentage of Michiganders who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

In short, certain restrictions will be softened or removed after the state reaches 55%, 60%, 65% and 70% of people with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Click here to read details about all four thresholds and which restrictions will be eased at each step.

For each milestone, the restriction changes will go into effect two weeks later to allow for the vaccines to take effect.

Though the numbers are still high throughout Michigan, the state’s COVID-19 surge is finally slowing down after a months-long spike.

But Michigan’s count of daily new virus cases is still leading the nation by a slight margin, and vaccinations — which experts say are the most important tool to control the virus — have been slowing across the state.

While the data is starting to trend in the right direction, the state still has a ways to go before “normalcy” can be restored.

Just two weeks ago, Michigan was identified as the only state in the country at “severe” risk for COVID-19 spread by research group Covid Act Now.

Read here.

Michigan is outlining four specific vaccination goals that, once they are reached, will directly trigger the loosening of certain COVID-19 restrictions across the state, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer revealed.

Here’s how the plan works:

Step 1: Two weeks after 55% of Michiganders have gotten at least one shot, the state will allow in-person work for all sectors of business.
Step 2: Two weeks after 60% of Michiganders have gotten at least one shot, the state will increase indoor capacity and sports stadiums and indoor capacity at conference centers, banquet halls and funeral homes to 25%. It will also increase capacity at exercise facilities and gyms to 50% and lift the curfew on restaurants and bars.
Step 3: Two weeks after 65% of Michiganders have gotten at least one shot, the state will lift all indoor capacity limits and require only social distancing between parties, as well as further relax limits on residential social gatherings.
Step 4: Two weeks after 70% of Michiganders have gotten at least one shot, the state will lift the gatherings and face masks order so MDHSS won’t broadly mitigate it unless there are unanticipated circumstances (variants that resist the vaccine, etc.).

The “MI Vacc To Normal” plan will use data for Michiganders ages 16 years and older who have received their first dose. It’s designed to get Michigan to its original goal of vaccinating 70% of the population age 16 and older.