Michigan COVID: Here’s what to know Jan. 21, 2022

33,551 new COVID cases reported over 2-day period

Michigan COVID data Jan. 21, 2022 (WDIV)

DETROIT – Michigan reported 33,551 new cases of COVID-19 and 210 virus-related deaths Friday -- an average of 16,775.5 cases over the past two days.

Friday’s update brings the total number of confirmed COVID cases in Michigan to 1,866,267, including 29,190 deaths. These numbers are up from 1,832,716 cases and 28,980 deaths, as of Wednesday.

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The deaths announced Friday include 79 identified during a Vital Records review.

Testing has increased to around 50,000 to 60,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate at 33.08% as of Jan. 19. Hospitalizations are still near record-high levels.

The state’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 17,080 on Jan. 21. The 7-day death average was 105 on Friday, Jan. 21. The state’s fatality rate is 1.7%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 466,200 on Jan. 19.

Michigan has reported more than 11.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Jan. 18, with 69.2% of 16+ residents having received at least one dose, while 63.4% of 16+ residents are considered fully vaccinated.

Across Michigan’s entire population, 64.8% have received at least one COVID vaccine dose.

According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 68 million cases have been reported in the U.S., with more than 858,100 deaths reported from the virus. Globally, more than 9.7 billion vaccine doses have been administered, including more than 527 million doses in the U.S. alone.

Worldwide, more than 338 million people have been confirmed infected and more than 5.5 million have died, 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.


Coronavirus headlines:



COVID cases and deaths trends by Michigan county


VIEW: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schools


Michigan hospital officials cite first signs of early progress since COVID omicron surge

Jan. 19, 2022: For the first time since the start of the COVID omicron surge in Michigan, hospital officials with the Henry Ford Health System said they’re starting to see some signs of early progress.

“These trends are aligning and pointing in the right direction,” said Bob Riney, president of health care operations and COO at Henry Ford Health.

Read here.

Michigan COVID hospitalizations rise above previous record

Jan. 10, 2022: Following a record-breaking week of new COVID-19 cases in Michigan, statewide hospitalizations are at a new record-high.

According to MDHHS data, 4,901 inpatients were in hospitals statewide as of Jan. 10 with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, breaking the previous record of 4,721, set on Dec. 12, 2021.

The number of pediatric hospitalizations dropped to 108 after reaching 130 last week.

The number of inpatients in critical care or on ventilators remained near the same levels from last week, but is a lagging indicator. As of Jan. 10, 857 inpatients were in critical care and 539 were on a ventilator.

Michigan will update COVID quarantine guidance to match CDC

Michigan’s health agency says it’s updating guidance for COVID-19 quarantine to match new CDC recommendations.

On Dec. 29, MDHHS said it would keep its previous guidelines in place while it reviewed the new CDC guidelines, which shortens isolation periods for most, even with a positive COVID test. On Dec. 31, officials said the state will be following the new CDC guidance.

The CDC is recommending a shortening of the quarantine and isolation duration for those who aren’t vaccinated or haven’t received their booster to five days followed by an additional five days of wearing a well-fitting mask around others. The updated guidance is specific to the general public.

Read more here.

11 takeaways from Whitmer’s first COVID briefing since June

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer held a COVID briefing Tuesday for the first time since June, answering questions about whether this surge warrants new mandates and delivering specific messages for both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents.

“We’re in for another tough 4-6 weeks, is what all the experts are projecting, with the omicron variant spreading rapidly across the country,” Whitmer said.

Whitmer spoke from the Hispanic Center in Grand Rapids. She was joined by Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Read here.

Many struggle to find at-home COVID tests in Michigan as demand skyrockets

Most stores and websites are sold out of at-home COVID-19 tests.

Local 4′s Consumer Investigator Hank Winchester went out with hidden cameras to search for tests.

When you walk the aisles of almost any pharmacy in Metro Detroit in search of an at-home COVID test, you’re likely to find a sign indicating they’re sold out.


Michigan COVID-19 daily reported cases since Dec. 1:

  • Dec. 1 -- 8,265 new cases
  • Dec. 2 -- 9,221 new cases
  • Dec. 3 -- 9,222 new cases
  • Dec. 4 -- 5,530 new cases
  • Dec. 5 -- 5,530 new cases
  • Dec. 6 -- 5,530 new cases
  • Dec. 7 -- 7,693 new cases
  • Dec. 8 -- 7,692 new cases
  • Dec. 9 -- 5,891 new cases
  • Dec. 10 -- 5,892 new cases
  • Dec. 11 -- 5,381 new cases
  • Dec. 12 -- 5,381 new cases
  • Dec. 13 -- 5,381 new cases
  • Dec. 14 -- 5,861 new cases
  • Dec. 15 -- 5,861 new cases
  • Dec. 16 -- 6,325 new cases
  • Dec. 17 -- 6,324 new cases
  • Dec. 18 -- 4,666 new cases
  • Dec. 19 -- 4,666 new cases
  • Dec. 20 -- 4,667 new cases
  • Dec. 21 -- 6,843 new cases
  • Dec. 22 -- 6,843 new cases
  • Dec. 23 -- 6,591 new cases
  • Dec. 24 -- 6,591 new cases
  • Dec. 25 -- 6,591 new cases
  • Dec. 26 -- 6,592 new cases
  • Dec. 27 -- 6,592 new cases
  • Dec. 28 -- 12,929 new cases
  • Dec. 29 -- 12,929 new cases
  • Dec. 30 -- 12,247 new cases
  • Dec. 31 -- 12,247 new cases
  • Jan. 1 -- 12,247 new cases
  • Jan. 2 -- 12,247 new cases
  • Jan. 3 -- 12,247 new cases
  • Jan. 4 -- 13,673 new cases
  • Jan. 5 -- 13,673 new cases
  • Jan. 6 -- 20,346 new cases
  • Jan. 7 -- 20,346 new cases
  • Jan. 8 -- 14,841 new cases
  • Jan. 9 -- 14,841 new cases
  • Jan. 10 -- 14,842 new cases
  • Jan. 11 -- 14,229 new cases
  • Jan. 12 -- 14,229 new cases
  • Jan. 13 -- 18,557 new cases
  • Jan. 14 -- 18,557 new cases
  • Jan. 15 -- 17,201 new cases
  • Jan. 16 -- 17,202 new cases
  • Jan. 17 -- 17,202 new cases
  • Jan. 18 -- 17,202 new cases
  • Jan. 19 -- 17,202 new cases
  • Jan. 20 -- 16,775 new cases
  • Jan. 21 -- 16,776 new cases

Michigan COVID-19 daily reported deaths since Dec. 1:

  • Dec. 1 -- 179 deaths (160 from past two days from vital records)
  • Dec. 2 -- 138 new deaths
  • Dec. 3 -- 139 new deaths (169 from past two days from vital records)
  • Dec. 4 -- 42 new deaths
  • Dec. 5 -- 42 new deaths
  • Dec. 6 -- 43 new deaths (47 from past three days from vital records)
  • Dec. 7 -- 175 new deaths
  • Dec. 8 -- 175 new deaths (185 from past two days from vital records)
  • Dec. 9 -- 117 new deaths
  • Dec. 10 -- 118 new deaths (151 from past two days from vital records)
  • Dec. 11 -- 53 new deaths
  • Dec. 12 -- 53 new deaths
  • Dec. 13 -- 54 new deaths (36 from past two days from vital records)
  • Dec. 14 -- 165 new deaths
  • Dec. 15 -- 165 new deaths ( 230 from past two days from vital records)
  • Dec. 16 -- 127 new deaths
  • Dec. 17 -- 127 new deaths (159 from past two days from vital records)
  • Dec. 18 -- 53 new deaths
  • Dec. 19 -- 53 new deaths
  • Dec. 20 -- 54 new deaths (63 from past three days from vital records)
  • Dec. 21 -- 196 new deaths
  • Dec. 22 -- 196 new deaths (250 from past two days from vital records)
  • Dec. 23 -- 54 new deaths (158 from past two five from vital records)
  • Dec. 24 -- 55 new deaths
  • Dec. 25 -- 55 new deaths
  • Dec. 26 -- 55 new deaths
  • Dec. 27 -- 55 new deaths
  • Dec. 28 -- 169 new deaths (232 from past five days from vital records)
  • Dec. 29 -- 169 new deaths
  • Dec. 30 -- 59 new deaths
  • Dec. 31 -- 59 new deaths
  • Jan. 1 -- 60 new deaths
  • Jan. 2 -- 60 new deaths
  • Jan. 3 -- 60 new deaths (172 from past five days from vital records)
  • Jan. 4 -- 138 new deaths
  • Jan. 5 -- 139 new deaths (165 from past two days from vital records)
  • Jan. 6 -- 129 new deaths
  • Jan. 7 -- 130 new deaths (136 from past two days from vital records)
  • Jan. 8 -- 18 new deaths
  • Jan. 9 -- 19 new deaths
  • Jan. 10 -- 19 new deaths
  • Jan. 11 -- 175 new deaths
  • Jan. 12 -- 175 new deaths (282 from past two days from vital records)
  • Jan. 13 -- 125 new deaths
  • Jan. 14 -- 126 new deaths (140 from past two days from vital records)
  • Jan. 15 -- 100 new deaths
  • Jan. 16 -- 100 new deaths
  • Jan. 17 -- 100 new deaths
  • Jan. 18 -- 100 new deaths
  • Jan. 19 -- 101 new deaths (346 from past two days from vital records)
  • Jan. 20 -- 105 new deaths
  • Jan. 21 -- 105 new deaths (79 from past two days from vital records)

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About the Authors

Cassidy Johncox is a senior digital news editor covering stories across the spectrum, with a special focus on politics and community issues.

Dave Bartkowiak Jr. is the digital managing editor for ClickOnDetroit.

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