Coronavirus in Michigan: Here’s what to know Nov. 5, 2020

5,710 new COVID cases reported Thursday; 51 deaths reported

Michigan COVID-19 data through Nov. 5, 2020 (WDIV)

DETROIT – The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 197,806 as of Thursday, including 7,470 deaths, state officials report.

Thursday’s update represents 5,710 new cases and 51 additional deaths, including 26 from a Vital Records review. On Wednesday, the state reported 192,096 total cases and 7,419 deaths.

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The case total is much higher than Michigan’s previous record for single-day cases, which was 4,101 on Wednesday (Nov. 4). Thursday’s daily death report of 51 is the highest single-day death count the state has reported since May 30 (57 deaths).

New COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Michigan. Testing has increased in recent weeks, with more than 40,000 diagnostic tests reported per day, but the positive rate has increased to above 8% over the last week. Hospitalizations have increased steadily for the last four weeks, including upticks in critical care and ventilator use.

Michigan’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 3,507 on Wednesday, the highest it has ever been. The state’s fatality rate is 4.0%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 63,900 on Wednesday, its highest mark on record. More than 121,000 have recovered in Michigan.

Read more: Michigan COVID testing is up. But so is the positivity rate


Michigan coronavirus headlines:


VIEW: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 testing data

VIEW: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schools


Whitmer signs 6 COVID-19 bills into law

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed six bills from the state’s new COVID-19 legislation into law. View the list and what the laws are here.

Michigan now at risk for ‘active or imminent’ COVID outbreak, data shows

A research group is now labelling Michigan at “critical” risk for a coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19 cases once again rise rapidly in the state.

A screenshot of Covid Act Now's map of the United States and colored according to their "Covid Risk Level." Michigan is now labeled as experiencing an "active or imminent" COVID outbreak, according to data from Covid Act Now. Most of the country is at "high" risk for a COVID-19 outbreak (orange), or is currently experiencing or facing an imminent outbreak like Michigan (red). Photo courtesy of Covid Act Now's website. -- Oct. 30, 2020. (Covid Act Now)

The group of technologists, epidemiologists, health experts and public policy leaders at Covid Act Now are identifying each state’s risk level for the spread of COVID-19 -- which are worsening in most parts of the U.S.

On Thursday, Michigan’s risk level for a coronavirus outbreak increased from “high risk” to experiencing an “active or imminent outbreak." The state’s new risk level is largely due to an increased infection rate and rapid increase of daily new COVID-19 cases, according to the data.

Michigan issues new COVID-19 emergency order with stricter rules for restaurants, gatherings

Michigan health officials have issued a new COVID-19 emergency order that includes stricter regulations on restaurants and gathering limits.

Director Robert Gordon and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, both with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, announced the new order Thursday. MDHHS’s previous COVID-19 order was set to expire Friday.

Under the new order, no more than 50 people can gather indoors unless there is fixed seating. Facilities with fixed seating -- such as sports arenas -- are not affected by the new order. Also, restaurants, bars and other indoor non-residential locations cannot allow more than six people at a table.

Learn more here.

How ‘incredibly concerning’ COVID-19 cases are trending in each of Michigan’s 8 regions

As the number of COVID-19 cases spikes dramatically, Michigan’s top medical official broke down the “incredibly disturbing” trends in each of the state’s eight regions.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the chief medical executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said during a news briefing Thursday that the state’s number of positive COVID-19 cases per million people per day has been increasing for six weeks, with a seven-day average that’s twice as high as a month ago.

The state as a whole is reporting 172 positive cases per million people per day. Officials said 4,000 tests are being administered per million people each day.

The Upper Peninsula has the highest cases per million people, at 428, and positivity rate, at 7.9%. Michigan’s Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids regions are not far behind.

Learn more here.

Whitmer announces grants for teachers, support staff who were impacted by COVID-19

On Tuesday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state treasurer Rachael Eubanks announced a new grant program for Michigan teachers and support staff.

Those who worked additional time and incurred additional costs during the 2019-2020 school year due to COVID-19 can receive grant money through two new grant programs.

Under both the Teacher COVID-19 Grant and the Support Staff COVID-19 Grant programs, eligible teachers can receive up to $500 and eligible support staff can receive up to $250. The state of Michigan’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget provides $53 million for eligible K-12 classroom teachers and $20 million for eligible support staff.

Learn more here.

Could the record-breaking COVID-19 numbers lead to a second shutdown for Michigan?

"I think that there are circumstances under which the governor could make the case that there is a new emergency because of an increased spike, " said Attorney General Dana Nessel.

That’s a possibility -- said Attorney General Dana Nessel -- when it comes to another state shutdown.

Michigan’s Health Department reported Saturday the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan is now 158,026, including more than 7,000 deaths.

Saturday’s update alone – 3,338 new cases and 35 additional deaths.

Nessel said Saturday’s numbers are alarming and she’s afraid things will get worse because this time since the Governor’s powers are somewhat limited.

“But what concerns me is what I hear over and over and over from the Republicans that are in power at our state legislature is that they don’t believe in shutting things down,” Nessel said. “They are big proponents of keeping everything open and there’s no reason to shut anything down.”

Read more here.

Group calls for unified response from Michigan’s political leadership to mitigate spread of COVID-19

A group of healthcare, public health, university, labor and business leaders called on Michigan’s political leadership to demonstrate a “complete unity of purpose” to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

The group stated support for mandatory standards for mask usage, workplace practices and public gatherings. They said the recent orders by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration should be deployed across the state with “discipline.”

Michigan will allow indoor nursing home visits depending on regional risk level

Michigan will allow indoor visitation to long term care facilities for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic started in the state.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon today issued an Emergency Order under MCL 333.2253 that updates and further expands requirements for residential care facilities, while also permitting indoor visitation in residential care facilities in certain circumstances.

The state had previously allowed outdoor visits and visits for terminally ill patients.

Under the order, visitation rules are linked to the risk level of the county. A list of county risk levels is available on the MI Safe Start Map.

Indoor visitation is now allowed in areas where the current risk level is A, B, C, or D, so long as the facilities have had no new cases, including those involving residents or staff, originating within the prior 14 days. Indoor visitation is not allowed when the county is at risk level E, which means there is an elevated incidence growth rate with average daily cases/million greater than 150 or a positivity rate greater than 20%.

Emergency stay-in-place order issued for University of Michigan students to stop COVID-19 spread

An emergency stay-in-place order has been issued for University of Michigan students, requiring them to stay at their residences with few exceptions due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

The order is effective immediately and will continue through 7 a.m. Nov. 3, according to the Washtenaw County Health Department.

More: University of Michigan officials say spike in COVID-19 cases come from parties, not in-person classes

Under the order, undergraduate students must stay in their residence unless they’re attending class, accessing dining services or carrying out approved work that can’t be done remotely.

Students who wish to return to their primary residence can do so only if they have completed the university’s procedures for leaving campus safely, health officials said.


Coronavirus headlines:


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

  • Oct. 1 -- 891 new cases
  • Oct. 2 -- 780 new cases
  • Oct. 3 -- 1,158 new cases
  • Oct. 4 -- 703 new cases
  • Oct. 5 -- 703 new cases
  • Oct. 6 -- 903 new cases
  • Oct. 7 -- 1,016 new cases
  • Oct. 8 -- 1,197 new cases
  • Oct. 9 -- 1,095 new cases
  • Oct. 10 -- 1,522 new cases
  • Oct. 11 -- 904 new cases
  • Oct. 12 -- 904 new cases
  • Oct. 13 -- 1,237 new cases
  • Oct. 14 -- 1,359 new cases
  • Oct. 15 -- 2,030 new cases
  • Oct. 16 -- 2,015 new cases
  • Oct. 17 -- 1,791 new cases
  • Oct. 18 -- 1,454 new cases
  • Oct. 19 -- 1,455 new cases
  • Oct. 20 -- 1,586 new cases
  • Oct. 21 -- 1,597 new cases
  • Oct. 22 -- 1,873 new cases
  • Oct. 23 -- 1,826 new cases
  • Oct. 24 -- 3,338 new cases (new single day record)
  • Oct. 25 -- 1,940 new cases
  • Oct. 26 -- 1,941 new cases
  • Oct. 27 -- 2,367 new cases
  • Oct. 28 -- 3,271 new cases
  • Oct. 29 -- 3,675 new cases (new single day record)
  • Oct. 30 -- 3,168 new cases
  • Oct. 31 -- 3,792 new cases
  • Nov. 1 -- 3,354 new cases
  • Nov. 2 -- 3,355 new cases
  • Nov. 3 -- 3,106 new cases
  • Nov. 4 -- 4,101 new cases (new single day record)
  • Nov. 5 -- 5,710 new cases (new single day record)

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

  • Oct. 1 -- 19 new deaths (11 from vital records)
  • Oct. 2 -- 7 new deaths
  • Oct. 3 -- 13 new deaths (11 from vital records)
  • Oct. 4 -- 8 new deaths
  • Oct. 5 -- 7 new deaths
  • Oct. 6 -- 22 new deaths (7 from vital records)
  • Oct. 7 -- 9 new deaths
  • Oct. 8 -- 22 new deaths (20 from vital records)
  • Oct. 9 -- 7 new deaths
  • Oct. 10 -- 15 new deaths
  • Oct. 11 -- 4 new deaths
  • Oct. 12 -- 3 new deaths
  • Oct. 13 -- 30 new deaths (10 from vital records)
  • Oct. 14 -- 13 new deaths
  • Oct. 15 -- 32 new deaths (21 from vital records)
  • Oct. 16 -- 14 new deaths
  • Oct. 17 -- 23 new deaths (15 from vital records)
  • Oct. 18 -- 11 new deaths
  • Oct. 19 -- 10 new deaths
  • Oct. 20 -- 22 new deaths (1 from vital records)
  • Oct. 21 -- 33 new deaths
  • Oct. 22 -- 43 new deaths (31 from vital records)
  • Oct. 23 -- 18 new deaths
  • Oct. 24 -- 35 new deaths
  • Oct. 25 -- 14 new deaths
  • Oct. 26 -- 15 new deaths
  • Oct. 27 -- 28 new deaths (8 from vital records)
  • Oct. 28 -- 18 new deaths
  • Oct. 29 -- 41 new deaths (22 from vital records)
  • Oct. 30 -- 11 new deaths
  • Oct. 31 -- 31 new deaths (20 from vital records)
  • Nov. 1 -- 8 new deaths
  • Nov. 2 -- 9 new deaths
  • Nov. 3 -- 43 new deaths (17 from vital records)
  • Nov. 4 -- 19 new deaths
  • Nov. 5 -- 51 new deaths (26 from vital records)

Coronavirus resources:


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