Daily COVID Numbers Continue to Decline in Michigan

According to the State of Michigan, the total number of COVID cases in Michigan rose to 56,014 on May 28, an increase of 406 cases from the previous day. This total was equivalent to 561 cases per 100,000 people (Chart 4). Of those 406 cases 128 were documented in Southeastern Michigan. This means that of the new daily COVID cases, Southeastern Michigan accounted for 32 percent of them. These numbers again show that majority of the new cases being reported in Michigan are coming from outside of Southeastern Michigan. In Chart 1 we show that the State total for number of COVID cases on May 26 was 55,257. The five-day rolling average for the total number of COVID cases (Chart 1) reflects a smoother curve and adjusts for fluctuations in testing and/or the quality of reporting or failure to report.

Chart 2 shows that, based on the five-day rolling averages, the growth of new COVID cases in Southeastern Michigan continued to level off for the counties in the region. On May 26 the number of cases in Detroit reached 10,804, the highest in the region, and Wayne County reported the second highest number of cases at 9,110. On May 26, the five-day rolling average for the number of COVID cases in Oakland County was 8,244, and Macomb County reported 6,537.

The City of Detroit had 1,621 COVID cases per 100,000 people on May 28, an increase from 1,616 the day before (Chart 3). This is based upon a reported increase of 31 new COVID cases, bringing the total number of COVID cases in Detroit to 10,903. Wayne County reported 850 cases per 100,000 people, and Oakland County had 658 cases per 100,000 people. These per capita rates were based upon 9,156 total cases for Wayne and for 8,281 Oakland. Macomb County reported 754 cases per 100,000 people, which is based upon 6,586 cases.

The daily data highlighted in these posts is from Michigan.gov/coronavirus, where data is updated daily at 3 p.m. Historical data were supplied from covidtracking.com, which republishes COVID data from the State. Additionally, the case totals do not reflect the number of people who have recovered, just those who have been infected.

Chart 4 shows that Detroit, among the units covered here, reported the highest number of daily cases at 51 on May 26, a decrease of 6 from the day prior. Wayne County’s numbers have been decreasing since May 21, reaching its lowest daily count of 21.

On May 28 the per capita rate for the number of new daily COVID cases per 100,000 people was 4 for the State, which was equivalent to 406 new cases. The State’s May 28 per capita rate was a decline from the day prior. The City of Detroit’s rate also decreased. On May 28 Detroit reported a per capita rate of 8 new COVID cases per 100,000 people and on May 28 it reported a rate of 5. Detroit’s decreased rate was equivalent to 31 new cases. Wayne County reported 3 new COVID cases per 100,000 people, which was equivalent to 29 new cases. Oakland County reported a per capita rate of 2 new case per 100,000 people on May 28, which was equivalent to 21 new cases, and Macomb County reported a rate of 3, which was also equivalent to 28 new cases. Overall, 128 new COVID cases were reported in Southeastern Michigan on May 28. This is an increase of 1 from the day prior.

In Chart 6, the five-day rolling average for the number of deaths in Michigan shows a continuing slow increase (a lagged number of 5,288 deaths, an increase of 30 deaths). The actual reported COVID-19 on May 28 was 5,372, an increase of 38 deaths from the day prior. Of those 38 deaths 17 were identified by reviewing death certificates and the COVID database and then tacked onto the daily total. Furthermore, of those 38 deaths Southeastern Michigan accounted for 20 of them.

Chart 7 (a 5-day rolling average) portrays how the total number of COVID deaths in Southeastern Michigan continues to increase at a much slower rate, with Detroit reporting the highest cumulative number of deaths at 1,334 on May 26. Wayne County had the second highest total at 1,048 on May 26.

Chart 8 portrays the total number of COVID deaths per 100,000 people on May 28, and for the first time in several days most of the per capita rates in Southeastern Michigan increased, but only minimally. The cumulative total of COVID deaths per 100,000 people in Detroit was 201 (representing 1,351 deaths). In Wayne County there were 98 COVID deaths per 100,000 people (1,059 total deaths). In Oakland County there were 77 deaths per 100,000 people (971 total deaths) and in Macomb County there were 90 COVID deaths per 100,000 people (787 total). Oakland County had the highest single day death count in Southeastern Michigan on May 28; 10 COVID deaths were reported. Wayne County did not report any new deaths. The State of Michigan had 53  COVID deaths per 100,000 people, which was equal to 5,372 total deaths.

Chart 9, the five day rolling average of deaths,  shows the number of new statewide deaths decreased by 5 from the day prior. On May 26 the State reported 30 COVID deaths. Chart 10 shows how the number of deaths in Southeastern Michigan are overall continuing to decrease. Detroit reported 5 daily COVID deaths, which was a decrease of 5 from the day prior. This was also the highest number of new daily deaths reported in the region. On May 26, of the 30 new statewide deaths reported, 16 were reported out of Southeastern Michigan (based on the 5 day rolling averages).


On May 28 Detroit reported a fatality rate of 12.4 percent, which was the same as the day prior. The fatality rate in Macomb County again decreased to 11.9 percent from 12 percent, and the State continued to report a fatality rate of 9.6 percent for 10 days in a row.

One reason we may be seeing such high fatality rates in Michigan is due to the low testing rates. When only having-presumably-a lower of number confirmed COVID cases than is actually likely due to the limited availability of tests, the fatality rate appears higher because the base comparison is smaller than it might be.

The State’s Chief Medical Executive said cases continue to decline in all regions of the State. This is something we have witnessed in Southeastern Michigan for the last seven weeks. Despite the decrease, Michigan continues to have the fourth highest number of cases in the Country, according to the New York Times.

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