For the third consecutive day, the seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in Michigan has risen slightly.
The seven-day average of new daily cases in Michigan is now 966 new cases a day, up 7% from an average of 901 a week ago.
The seven-day mean statewide positivity rate on diagnostic tests for coronavirus is now 3.5%. slightly more than 3.4% from a week ago today.
Those increases are taking place three weeks after Michigan restaurants reopened for indoor dining, along with the reopening of many schools and the resumption of high school sports in recent weeks.
However, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said at a press conference on Wednesday that the numbers remain relatively low and that the state may soon reverse some of its restrictions.
“We expect to make more announcements about new engagements in the coming days,” said Whitmer. “Our case numbers and public health statistics are heading in the right direction. I am very happy to see that. I feel very optimistic. “
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Below is a closer look at the data at the county level, based on two of the metrics used by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
First, we look at the seven-day average positivity percentages per province, grouped by statistics.
- Level E (more than 20%): none.
- Level D (15-20%): none.
- Level C (10-15%): Keweenaw.
- Level B (7-10%): six counties, from highest to lowest – Kalkaska, Cheboygan, Missaukee, Gogebic, Lapeer and Huron.
- Level A (3-7%): 44 counties, top to bottom – Presque Isle, Wexford, Ingham, Van Buren, Tuscola, St Joseph, Eaton, Mecosta, Calhoun, Cass, Mackinac, Newaygo, Jackson, Lenawee, Kalamazoo, Luce, Berrien, Roscommon, Hillsdale, Shiawassee, Houghton, Livingston, Macomb, St Clair, Allegan, Wayne, Crawford, Ontonagon, Sanilac, Genesee, Barry, Saginaw, Bay, Ottawa, Kent, Otsego, Clinton, Oakland, Ionia, Arenac , Grand Traverse, Montmorency, Alpena and Monroe.
- Low (less than 3%): 32 counties, top to bottom – Dickinson, Emmet, Gladwin, Mason, Clare, Muskegon, Osceola, Oceana, Branch, Isabella, Midland, Menominee, Lake, Washtenaw, Montcalm, Charlevoix, Benzie, Antrim, Leelanau, Iosco, Delta, Ogemaw, Chippewa, Gratiot, Manistee, Marquette, Iron, Alcona, Alger, Baraga, Oscoda and Schoolcraft.
In the table below, you can look up each province by name to see the seven-day average positivity rate for February 17-23. The graph compares the average of the past seven days with the average of the previous week.
The interactive map below shows the average test frequency over seven days per province. You can place your cursor on a province to see the underlying data.
New cases per capita
New daily cases per capita is another measure used by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to access coronavirus risk.
This statistic calculates the average number of new cases per 1 million inhabitants.
The levels for each province:
- Tier E (more than 150 cases per million): eight counties, top to bottom – Keweenaw, Missaukee, Cheboygan, Sanilac, Lapeer, Gogebic, Houghton, and Lenawee.
- Tier D (70 to 149 cases per million): 42 counties – Washtenaw, Cass, Jackson, Kalkaska, Mackinac, Newaygo, Hillsdale, Barry, Leelanau, Calhoun, Eaton, Ionia, Kent, St. Joseph, Ingham, Roscommon, Bay, Mecosta, Berrien, Presque Isle, Grand Traverse, Shiawassee, Macomb, Ottawa, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Van Buren, Tuscola, Huron, Osceola, Livingston, Wayne, Oakland, Clinton, Allegan, St. Clair, Ontonagon, Antrim, Genesee, Branch , Monroe and Alpena.
- Tier C (40 to 69 cases per million): 16 counties – Baraga, Dickinson, Gladwin, Midland, Benzie, Emmet, Gratiot, Mason, Otsego, Arenac, Oceana, Isabella, Clare, Lake, Montcalm, and Crawford.
- Level B (20 to 40 cases per million), 11 counties: Menominee, Muskegon, Montmorency, Iosco, Alcona, Chippewa, Iron, Wexford, Manistee, Charlevoix and Ogemaw.
- Level A (7 to 20 cases per million), four counties: Delta, Oscoda, Marquette and Alger.
- Low (less than 7 cases per million): Luce and Schoolcraft.
Here is an online database that allows readers to see the number of new coronavirus cases in the past seven days compared to the previous week, as well as the number per capita adjusting to the population. The arrows indicate whether the total number of new cases reported in the past seven days has increased or decreased compared to the previous seven days.
Current scores are based on new cases reported from February 18-24. The map below is shaded based on the six levels of the state. The arrows indicate whether the total number of new cases reported in the past seven days has increased or decreased compared to February 11-17.
Readers can place their cursor on a province to see the underlying data. (Hint: you can drag the map with your cursor to see the whole UP)
Below are online databases that allow readers to look up county-level data for each of the past 30 days.
Total score
Six of Michigan’s eight MI Start regions now have a lower risk level after three months at the highest level the state uses to assess coronavirus risk.
The Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Traverse City and Upper Peninsula regions were downgraded from level E to level D last week. That leaves Lansing and Jackson regions still at level E.
When assigning the risk scores, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services looks at factors such as new cases and deaths per capita, test positivity rates, number of tests administered, and emergency department visits for COVID-19 symptoms.
The scale used by MDHHS has six levels – “low” plus levels AE. As of Nov. 4, all eight MI Start regions in Michigan were at level E.
(The state’s MI Start Districts: Region 1 is the Detroit Region; Region 2 is Grand Rapids; Region 3, Kalamazoo; Region 4, Saginaw; Region 5, Lansing; Region 6, Traverse City; Region 7, Jackson, and Region 8, the Upper Peninsula.)
During the day it was reported to the state
The first is a graph of the new cases reported to the state every day for the past 30 days. This is based on when a confirmed coronavirus test is reported to the state, meaning the patient got sick days earlier.
You can bring up a graph for each province and you can place your cursor on a bar to see the date and number of cases.
(In a few cases, a county reported a negative number (decrease) in daily new cases, after a retroactive reclassification by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. In those cases, we subtracted cases from the previous date and 0 in the reported date.)
The next chart below shows new cases from the past 30 days based on the onset of symptoms. In this chart, the numbers for the most recent days are incomplete due to the delay between people getting sick and getting a confirmed coronavirus test result, which can take up to a week or more.
You can bring up a graph for each province and you can place your cursor on a bar to see the date and number of cases.
More localized maps
Below are two maps created by the EpiBayes research group of the University of Michigan Department of Epidemiology, which has access to sub-county data collected by Michigan’s Department of Public Health and Human Services.
The interactive maps split the state into 10-kilometer hexagons to provide a more localized view of where coronavirus cases occur. You can click here to go to the research project website.
The first map looks at confirmed and likely cases of coronavirus in the past week. You can click on a hexagon to see the underlying data.
You can use the triangular button in the top right corner of the map to go to the second map, which displays the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Latest daily report
On Wednesday, February 24, the state reported 1,245 new cases of coronavirus and nine deaths.
The map below shows the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths since the start of the pandemic. You can place your cursor on a province to see the underlying numbers.
For more statewide data, visit MLive’s data page on the coronavirus, here. To find a test site near you, check out the state’s online test finder, here, email [email protected] or call 888-535-6136 between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM on weekdays.
For more information on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/.
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