For the third day in a row, the seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in Michigan increased slightly.
The seven-day average of new daily cases in Michigan is now 966 new cases per day, an increase of 7% compared to an average of 901 the previous week.
The statewide seven-day average positivity rate in coronavirus diagnostic tests is now 3.5%. slightly above 3.4% a week ago today.
These increases are occurring three weeks after restaurants reopened in Michigan for indoor dining, along with the reopening of many schools and the resumption of high school sports in recent weeks.
However, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said at a news conference on Wednesday that the numbers remain relatively low and the state may soon reverse some of its restrictions.
“We hope to make more announcements about additional re-engagements in the coming days,” said Whitmer. “Our public health case numbers and metrics are trending in the right direction. I am very happy to see that. I am feeling very optimistic. “
Whitmer suggests relaxing some COVID-19 restrictions in the ‘coming days’
Below is a more detailed look at the county-level data, based on two of the metrics used by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
First, take a look at the average seven-day positivity rates by municipality, grouped by the state’s metric.
- Level E (more than 20%): None.
- Level D (15-20%): None.
- Level C (10-15%): Keweenaw.
- Level B (7-10%): Six counties, from largest to smallest – Kalkaska, Cheboygan, Missaukee, Gogebic, Lapeer and Huron.
- Level A (3-7%): 44 counties, from largest to smallest – 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, from largest to smallest – 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.
The chart below allows you to search for any county by name to see the average seven-day positivity rate for February 17-23. The graph compares the average of the last seven days with the average of the previous week.
The interactive map below shows the average test rate of seven days per municipality. You can place your cursor over a county to see the underlying data.
New cases per capita
New daily cases per capita is another metric used by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to assess coronavirus risk.
This metric calculates the average number of new cases per 1 million residents.
The levels for each municipality:
- Level E (more than 150 cases per million): Eight counties, from largest to smallest – Keweenaw, Missaukee, Cheboygan, Sanilac, Lapeer, Gogebic, Houghton and Lenawee.
- Level 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.
- Level 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 (below 7 boxes 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 that fits 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 18 to 24 February. 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 the cursor over a county to see the underlying data. (Hint: you can drag the map with the cursor to see the entire UP)
Below are online databases that allow readers to query county-level data for each of the past 30 days.
Overall score
Six of Michigan’s eight MI Start regions are now at the lowest risk level after three months at the highest level the state uses to assess coronavirus risk.
Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Traverse City and Upper Peninsula regions were downgraded from Level E to Level D last week. This leaves the Lansing and Jackson regions still at Level E.
In assigning risk scores, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services analyzes factors such as new cases and deaths per capita, test positivity rates, number of tests administered, and visits to the emergency department for COVID-19 symptoms.
The scale used by the MDHHS has six levels – “low” plus Levels AE. As of November 4, all eight MI Start regions in Michigan were at Level E.
(MI Start Districts in the state: 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.)
Cases per day was reported to the state
The first is a graph showing new cases reported to the state each day for the past 30 days. This is based on when a confirmed coronavirus test is reported to the state, which means that the patient first became ill days before.
You can call a chart for any county and place your cursor over a bar to see the date and number of cases.
(In some cases, a county reported a negative number (decline) in new daily cases, after a retroactive reclassification by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. In those cases, we subtract cases from the previous date and put 0 on the reported date.)
The next graph below shows new cases in the last 30 days based on the onset of symptoms. In this graph, the numbers for the most recent days are incomplete due to the time lag between people getting sick and getting a result of the confirmed coronavirus test, which can take up to a week or more.
You can access a chart for any county and place your cursor over a bar to see the date and number of cases.
More localized maps
Below are two maps created by the EpiBayes research group at the University of Michigan’s Department of Epidemiology, which has access to sub-county data collected by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Interactive maps divide the state into 10-kilometer hexogons to provide a more localized view of where coronavirus cases are occurring. You can click here to access the research project website.
The first map examines confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus in the past week. You can click on a hexagon to see the underlying data.
You can use the triangle button in the upper right corner of the map to switch to the second map, which shows the total confirmed cases of coronavirus and deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Last daily report
On Wednesday, February 24, the state registered 1,245 new cases of coronavirus and nine deaths.
The map below shows the total confirmed cases of coronavirus and deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. You can place your cursor over a county to see the underlying numbers.
For more state data, visit the MLive coronavirus data page, here. To find a test site near you, check your state’s online test finder here, send an email to [email protected] or call 888-535-6136 between 8 am and 5 pm on weekdays.
For more data on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/.
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