COVID-19 SPREAD

Nearly one month since our last report, Michigan has maintained its “medium” risk level for a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, according to data from Covid Act Now. A screenshot of Covid Act Now's map of the United States and colored according to their "Covid Risk Level." Michigan is still labeled at "medium risk" for virus spread, according to data from Covid Act Now. Experts recommend that at least 90 percent of new COVID-19 cases are traced within 48 hours to contain the virus. According to the data, Michigan’s contact tracing did fall to as low as 25 percent at the beginning of August.

LANSING, Mich. Michigans top health official is calling on superintendents to require students to wear face masks this fall amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Gretchen Whitmer released guidelines for schools to reopen this fall, which do require face masks to be worn by most students during most occasions. Under Whitmers MI Safe School Roadmap, schools whose regions are in phase four of the pandemic must require students in grades 6-12 to wear face masks in classrooms. The MI Safe Schools Roadmap does require all school staff members to wear face coverings at all times, except during mealtimes. Whitmer signed an executive order requiring children and workers to wear face masks at Michigan childcare centers and camps.

LANSING, Mich. Ingham County health officials are asking people who have recently traveled to states with a high-risk for coronavirus (COVID-19) spread to self-quarantine for 14 days. The recommendation comes as COVID-19 cases spike throughout Ingham County -- which officials say may be largely attributed to recent travel. Approximately one-third of positive cases in Ingham County have recent travel in their history, said Ingham County Health Officer Linda S. Vail. Ingham County health officials are urging people to use this data to influence their travel plans, avoiding regions that are high risk for COVID-19 spread. Recent travelers should monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms, which can develop up to 14 days after exposure.

DETROIT – A website that tracks the risk of COVID-19 spreading in each state has changed Michigan’s status from being in control of the spread to “at risk” of an active outbreak. The group of technologists, epidemiologists, health experts and public policy leaders at Covid Act Now used a number of different factors to calculate a risk for COVID-19 worsening in any given state. By their calculations, Michigan is currently only able to trace 48% of new coronavirus infections within two days. As of the calculations done on July 4, the risk level for every region has gone up. Grand Rapids and Lansing are both listed as high risk, while Metro Detroit was increased to medium-high risk.

Michigan has now been labeled at “high risk” for a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as cases increase across the state, according to data from Covid Act Now. A screenshot of Covid Act Now's map of the United States and colored according to their "Covid Risk Level." A map of Michigan counties and their assigned COVID-19 risk levels from research led by Covid Act Now. (Covid Act Now)A number of Michigan counties have moved backward into “high” or “critical” risk levels for a COVID-19 outbreak since last week. Michigan is one of 24 states at high risk for a COVID-19 outbreak.

A new tool is making it easier to identify the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) spread at the county level for each individual state. Regions risk levels dont necessarily change each day, but rather are based on the daily changes in data. A map of counties across the United States and their labeled COVID-19 "risk level" from a new research initiative by Harvard Global Health Institute. July 1, 2020: Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases up to 64,132, Death toll now at 5,951Oscoda and St. Joseph counties are both experiencing an orange COVID-19 risk level. A map of Michigan counties and their labeled COVID-19 "risk levels" based on their daily increase in COVID-19 cases.

According to their model Michigan is now “on track to contain Covid” and has a low “Covid Risk Level,” according to a tweet shared Tuesday. #Michigan has moved to green on our COVID Warning Dashboard, indicating that they are on track to contain COVID. pic.twitter.com/7ZPBuETI4x — Covid Act Now (@CovidActNow) June 16, 2020“Cases are steadily decreasing and Michigan’s COVID preparedness meets or exceeds international standards across our key metrics,” Covid Act Now said in the tweet. A screenshot of Covid Act Now's map of the United States and colored according to their "Covid Risk Level." READ: COVID-19 in the US: Tracking states with the most cases, deaths on June 17Click here to see Covid Act Now’s assessment of the U.S. and individual states’ COVID-19 risk levels.