CORONAVIRUS
Cases reached 32,000 and the death toll is now 2,468.
Here is the latest information on the coronavirus in Michigan, including the number of cases state officials report and other updates affecting West Michigan.
Monday’s cases
The state reported 576 new cases and 77 new deaths on April 20, which brings the statewide total to 32,000 cases and 2,468 deaths. This is the fourth day in a row that the daily case count was below 1,000.
The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting 561 cases and 19 deaths. The Federal Correctional Institute is reporting 55 cases.
The youngest person to die from COVID-19 complications in Michigan is now a 5-year-old Detroit girl. Skylar Herbert developed a rare form of meningitis and brain swelling while battling the virus.
Health officials have clarified two spikes in the death toll, on April 10 included 30 additional deaths and on April 16 included 65 additional deaths from past death certificate data. The state will review death certificates weekly. If a patient who dies is matched to a confirmed COVID-19 case, this will count towards the state’s death toll.
The state emphasizes that the report of cumulative data is “provisional and subject to change. As public health investigations of individual cases continue, there will be corrections to the status and details of referred cases that result in changes to this report.” The state is also no longer reporting new cases by county.
Kalamazoo nursing home, homeless shelter report COVID-19 cases
A Kalamazoo nursing home and a homeless shelter are both reporting COVID-19 cases at their facilities.
The Medilodge of of Kalamazoo said 17 patients tested positive for COVID-19. They are all being isolated in their rooms within a certain unit of the nursing home. Three employees have also tested positive for the virus.
The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission also reported one resident has tested positive. Four additional residents were exposed to this person, and they are being quarantined and monitored at this time.
►Read the full story here.
State will start requiring nursing homes to report COVID-19 cases
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will start requiring skilled nursing facilities to report COVID-19 cases.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said 243 congregate care facilities in the state are reporting outbreaks of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19. “That’s very concerning,” she said.
The state says they plan to add more reporting requirements for all long term care facilities.
Whitmer and her senior executive staff to take pay cuts amid economic shutdown
“I know that times are tough, and that we as a state are going to be confronting a tough budget,” Whitmer said during a Monday afternoon press conference. “I am going to be taking a 10% pay cut.”
Whitmer said she has asked her senior executive staff to take a 5% pay cut.
Whitmer says the state is seeing a reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations
The governor said there has been a 15% reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the last 10 days. The announcement came during a Monday afternoon press conference where Whitmer gave an update about the state’s response to the virus.
According to state data, there are 3,374 patients hospitalized and 1,102 patients on ventilators statewide.
60 cases confirmed at Allegan County beef production plant
Sixty employees of JBS Plainwell have tested positive for COVID-19 from March 24 to April 19, according to the county health department.
►Read the full story here.
5-year-old dies from coronavirus
A 5-year-old from the Detroit area has died from COVID-19.
According to WXYZ, the ABC affiliate in Detroit, Skylar Herbert developed a rare form of meningitis and brain swelling while battling the virus.
She died at Beaumont Royal Oak Sunday after being on a ventilator for two weeks.
►Read the full story here.
Sunday’s cases
In Sunday’s update, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 633 new cases of COVID-19, making the total 31,424. This is the third day in a row that the daily case count was below 1,000.
State officials also recorded 83 daily deaths; the death toll is now 2,391. The state’s fatality rate rose to 8%, but health officials say that number will likely drop as more people with mild illness are tested for the virus.
►See cumulative data here.
As of Saturday, every county in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is reporting cases of COVID-19.
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