(WXYZ) – Michigan could face another increase in the COVID-19 case, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical officer, told a news conference on Friday.
Dr. Khaldun said “very worrying data” shows the state is going in the wrong direction
“I haven’t left the forest yet,” she said.
Case rates in Michigan are now at 173 cases per million and have risen in the past four weeks. They increased by 77% in all age groups, but those aged 10 to 19 recorded the largest increase.
In addition, the percentage of positivity has increased in the last four weeks and is now at 6.2 percent. There has also been an increase in hospitalization rates in the last two weeks, with 4.9% of hospital beds used for patients with COVID-19.
Dr. Khaldun said many of the cases are related to outbreaks, which have risen to 645 statewide.
Last week, the number of cases in K-12 settings exceeded the number in long-term care facilities. Dr. Khaldun said there are risks related to activities related to children in this age group.
Many of the outbreaks are related to sports; Dr. Khaldun said 315 outbreaks are associated with various sports teams related to clubs, schools and recreational sports.
In addition, Dr. Khaldun said that although children are less likely to become seriously ill with COVID-19, they can still. The state is still monitoring cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, known as MIS-C, a syndrome associated with COVID-19 in children that can cause inflammation of several organs.
To date, 89 cases of MIS-C have been identified in children in Michigan.
“We still have to protect our children from this terrible virus,” said Dr. Khaldun.
The state also continues to pursue options. Currently, 736 cases of variant B117 have been identified in 31 counties in the state. Michigan has the second largest number of such cases in the United States, behind Florida.
Dr. Khaldun said that most cases with this variant are associated with outbreaks in congregation settings, but the variant also spreads in the community.
“I’m worried about our current numbers,” she said. “It is imperative to protect each other by wearing masks and socializing.”
“The way this is done depends on what we all do collectively to protect ourselves and our families.”
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