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 an additional 1,503 cases and 110 deaths on Monday. The state total is now 17,221 and 727 deaths. The average age of patients dying from the virus is 71.8 years old.
The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) is reporting 241 inmate cases. Click here to view a breakdown of the MDOC's inmate cases.
An additional 86 MDOC employees have also tested positive for the virus. A breakdown of the MDOC employee cases is as follows: 32 at Parnall Correctional Facility; 10 at Woodland Center Correctional Facility; nine at FOA Metro, nine at Lakeland Correctional Facility; seven at Detroit Reentry Center; six at Macomb Correctional Facility; five at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility; two at Detroit Detention Center; two at Saginaw Correctional Facility; two at Thumb Correctional Facility; one at Cooper Street Correctional Facility; and one at Jackson Probation.
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.
At this point, the state has not started reporting the number of recovered cases yet. However, the state's chief medical executive, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun says the state intends to begin reporting recovered numbers as soon as later this week.
"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."
Due to the novelty of the virus, Dr. Khaldun said it's not clear yet if having the virus once will prevent you from contracting it again whether it's this year or next.
Michigan looking for election workers
The state is looking for workers to help with next month's election. Even though many ballots will be absentee, people are needed to staff clerks' offices.
Workers are also needed to process and count the ballots.
Novi convention center to be turned into state's 2nd field hospital
Michigan officials selected the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi as the site for a second field hospital during the coronavirus pandemic.
The TCF Center in Detroit is being converted by FEMA to be the state's first alternate care facility to handle an influx of COVID-19 patients. The Suburban Collection Showplace is about 250,000 square feet and it will provide bed space for about 1,000 patients.
Oceana County reports its first coronavirus death
An Oceana County resident who had been hospitalized since March 26 has died from COVID-19. The man was in his 70s, according to a press release from the county. He was treated at Muskegon Mercy Hospital.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the family who lost their loved one,” said Kevin Hughes, DHD#10 Health Officer. “We urge everyone to continue taking this public health crisis very seriously by following all executive orders and stay home unless absolutely necessary.”
Meijer reports Cedar Springs employee tested positive
Meijer confirmed Monday that one of its Cedar Springs team members tested positive for COVID-19. The store's other employees have been notified and the store has been deep cleaned, a Meijer representative said. The store remains open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Meijer said the affected team member and any other employee at high risk will continue to be paid.
Two new Kent County deaths reported
The Kent County Health Dept. is reporting two additional deaths, bringing the county total to 5. The most recent deaths were two men in their 80s and 90s, who also had underlying health conditions.
Gov. Whitmer and Dr. Joneigh Khaldun encourage residents to wear cloth masks in public
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asks everyone to wear a homemade mask, bandana or scarf if they must leave their homes. Dr. Khaldun asked that residents reserve surgical and N95 masks for first responders.
Whitmer said wearing masks should be viewed as an added protection not a reason to resume normal life.
"Wearing a mask does not mean you are immune and that you do not need to observe all of the other CDC guidelines," Whitmer said during a Monday press conference.
Whitmer has asked people to share their use of homemade masks with #DoingMIPart.
Whitmer says she plans to extend stay at home order
The current stay at home order is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on April 13. The governor said Monday the apex is still weeks off.
"We have not hit that and until we do I think it is absolutely essential that we are continuing to be aggressive," Whitmer said during a press conference. "I would anticipate an additional order in the next week."
The governor said it will still take time to see the full impact of the stay at home order.
How the state is responding to current equipment shortages
The governor said on Monday that the state is running 'dangerously low' on personal protective equipment. At Beaumont Health System, Henry Ford Health System and the Detroit Medical Center supplies will be depleted within a matter of days. Whitmer said these numbers do not include private donations.
The governor said the state is doing everything it can to attain more equipment. FEMA will be sending Michigan 300 ventilators, 1.1 million surgical masks, 232,000 face shields and 2 million gloves. In addition, FEMA is shipping 1 million N95 masks to Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties this week. Nearly 80% of COVID-19 cases are in those three counties as of Monday morning.
The state is also purchasing 1 million face shields from Ford over the next three weeks.
Dr. Khaldun also said the state is working with FEMA to have the TCF Center in Detroit up and running by the end of this week, to provide relief to area hospitals.
Watch Whitmer's COVID-19 update
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan's Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun provided an update to the state's response to COVID-19.
Watch below:
Sunday's cases
State total: 15,718; Death total: 617
State health officials reported 1,493 new cases in Sunday's 3 p.m. update. This about how many were recorded on Saturday as well.
The total number of cases has reached 15,718. The city of Detroit has over 4,400 cases, with the three-county metro Detroit region reporting about 80% of the state's total.
The death toll rose by 77, bringing the total to 617.
The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting 238 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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