GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Here is the latest information on the coronavirus in Michigan, including the number of cases state officials report and other updates affecting West Michigan.
Wednesday's cases
In the Wednesday afternoon update state officials announced 1,376 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total to 20,346. The state is also reporting 114 new deaths from the virus and 959 total deaths.
State will now report people who have recovered
In an effort to provide more information about the virus the state announced it is now recording patients who have recovered from the virus.
“We continue to improve the information we are providing as our goal is to share timely and accurate data during this pandemic,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health “We appreciate the assistance of Michigan Medical Advantage Group in helping us offer additional statistics about testing.”
According to the state website there is now 56 people that have recovered form the virus.
The state says going forward, this information will be updated weekly and includes the number of people with a laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases who are 30 days out from their onset of illness. Recovered is defined as the number of persons with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis who are alive 30 days post-onset
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.
"I will say it's been less than a month... since we identified the first cases. It takes time for someone to have recovered, so we have to go back 30 days see who is doing well and not in the hospital," Khaldun said. "But, we believe we will be able to start posting that data very soon."
Deaths must be reported by health care providers, medical examiners/coroners, and recorded by local health departments in order to be counted.
Ottawa County reports its first death
Ottawa County reported its first death from COVID-19 Wedensday on the county health department's website.
According to the site, there are 56 postive cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa County.
The department also gave an update on their Facebook earlier in the afternoon.
Whitmer to give update on state's response Thursday
Governor Grethen Whitmer is expected to give an update Thursday at 3 p.m. on the state’s response efforts to COVID-19.
The press conference comes just two days after the state senate and state house voted to extended the coronavirus emergency declaration by 23 days, through April.
Whitmer issued a stay home, stay safe executive order starting at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24 until April 13 at 11:59 p.m.
US to buy 30,000 ventilators from General Motors
The federal government will buy 30,000 ventilators from General Motors by the end of August for $489.4 million.
GM says it will cover its costs but won’t make a profit on the devices, which will cost the Department of Health and Human Services just over $16,300 each.
Tuesday's cases
In the 3 p.m. update, state officials reported 1,749 new cases, bringing the total to 18,970. It's been four weeks since the first COVID-19 cases were reported in Michigan.
The death toll has reached 845, with the highest daily death count of 118 being reported on Tuesday.
The Michigan Department of Corrections reports a total of 262 inmates and 107 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. There are cases at 10 of the state's 29 prisons. Here is a full breakdown of where those cases are.
An additional 166 cases were not attributed to certain counties and 118 were out of state cases.
State recommendations for COVID-19
Patients with confirmed infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
The best prevention for viruses, such as influenza, the common cold or COVID-19 is to:
- If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, call your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call the nearest hospital.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- If you are sick, stay home, and avoid contact with others.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others when in a public setting.
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MORE COVID-19 NEWS:
- Michigan lawmakers extend emergency declaration in pandemic
- Whitmer responds to VP talk: 'My sole focus is being the best governor that I can be'
- CDC looks at changing guidelines to get asymptomatic people back to work
- COVID-19 hitting certain Michigan communities harder than others
- Don't litter your masks, gloves or wipes after using them
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