Michigan hospitals are feeling the pressure again as COVID-19 cases continue to climb in the state ahead of the holiday season.
Michigan is nearing its original goal of getting 70% of residents 16 and older vaccinated. As of Nov. 9, that number was at 69.8%.
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Overall, only 53.8% of the Michigan population is fully vaccinated. This includes 85% of residents 65 and older.
While vaccination rates continue to tick up, slowly but surely, new cases are growing across the state, and now hospitalizations are on the rise again. Michigan case rates are currently higher than U.S. rate, and all regions of the state are showing case increases, according to MDHHS analysis.
Related: Major Northern Michigan health system goes ‘red’ to care for COVID-19 patients
As of Nov. 10, MDHHS reported 2,728 inpatients in hospitals across the state for COVID-19. 635 were in critical condition, and 347 were on ventilators. This is an increase from 1,667 inpatients in total on Oct. 1.
More data: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 hospitalization data trends
MDHHS’s weekly data analysis shows hospital admissions increasing for most age groups, but the largest in groups 40 and older. More than 50 daily hospital admissions was seen for those aged 60-69, 70-79, and 80 and older.
As of Nov. 2, fully vaccinated Michigan residents accounted for 11.0% of cases between January and October, 12.0% of hospitalizations and 11.1% of deaths. But in the last 30 days, fully vaccinated residents accounted for 27% of new cases, 31% of hospitalizations and 26% of deaths. (Note: These stats originally stated the % of vaccinated cases, hospitalizations and deaths vs. the population)
The proportion of breakthrough cases and deaths among all cases and deaths has shown some increases as more people become fully vaccinated. Out of 793 fully vaccinated deaths in Michigan, 699 were 65 or older. In total, more than 22,000 have died in Michigan from COVID-19.
Related: 7 takeaways from expert’s Metro Detroit COVID update: ‘I consider this our 4th surge’
More data takeaways from the latest MDHHS update:
- 5.8% of ED visits are for COVID diagnosis (up from 5.1% last week).
- School districts with complete or partial mask requirements have seen lower case rates with slower increases.
- In counties without school mask requirements, case rates more than tripled after back-to-school for school-aged individuals, and doubled for non-school-aged individuals.
- Overall, volume of COVID-19 patients in intensive care has increased 4% (vs. plateau last week).
- Death rate has decreased to 4.4 daily deaths/million residents (down from 4.7 deaths/million last week).
- Case rate is highest in Jackson Region, followed by Upper Peninsula, Lansing, Saginaw, and Traverse City.
- Positivity in seven regions is above 15% and two regions are at or above 20%.
- Michigan has 7th highest inpatient bed utilization (14th highest last week) and 11th highest adult ICU bed utilization (14th highest last week)
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