Michigan Reports Highest New Daily Cases Since May

Michigan reported 1,121 new COVID cases on Aug. 13, 2020-the highest number of new daily cases reported since May 14. The number of new daily cases reported on Aug. 13 is more than double the amount of daily cases reported the day before, which was 515. In total, Michigan reported 90,392 cases on Aug. 13. In Chart 1 we show that the State total for the number of COVID cases on Aug. 11 was 88,756–a five-day rolling average. 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 continues to increase. However, the chart also shows that the growth of COVID cases in Detroit has somewhat stabilized compared to the growth of cases in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. On Aug. 11, Wayne County reported the highest cumulative number of cases in the region at 13,845. Oakland County reported 12,541 cases and Macomb County reported 10,435. Detroit reported 13,049 cumulative COVID cases on Aug. 11.

In addition to having the highest number of total COVID cases Wayne County in the region, Charts 4 and 4.1 (which is just a closer look at the data) shows that it also had the highest number of new daily cases on Aug. 11. Wayne County reported 62 new cases on Aug. 11. Oakland County reported 51 new daily cases, Macomb County reported 46 and Detroit reported 21 new cases, according to the five-day rolling averages.

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. In early June the State changed how it reports its data on the website, making data more accurate in the long-term but more complicated to track as well. The State regularly updates older data and as we continue to publish regular updates on COVID the State’s changes to past data many not always be reflected in our posts. The data published in new posts is accurate for the day we received it on though.

In Chart 5, the five-day rolling average for the number of deaths in Michigan, shows the number of deaths in the State of Michigan reached 6,266 on Aug. 11. The actual cumulative COVID-19 deaths on Aug. 13 was 6,289, an increase of 16 deaths from the prior day.  However, of those 16 deaths, 9 were added to the daily total after death certificates were compared to the COVID database. Furthermore, of those 16 deaths 8 occurred in Southeastern Michigan.

Chart 6 (a 5-day rolling average) shows that the numbers of COVID related deaths has significantly flattened out in Southeastern Michigan. On Aug. 11, the City of Detroit reported 1,491 deaths. Wayne County had the second highest total at 1,205 deaths on Aug. 11.

Charts 7 and Chart 7.1 shows how, on Aug. 11 Detroit, Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties each reported 1 death.

While Michigan reported the highest number of new daily cases on Aug. 13 the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also reported that the State didn’t see a large increase in its positive case rate and that it had the highest number of tests reported back on Wednesday since the pandemic began. Furthermore, a recent Mlive article highlights how Michigan recently ranked 40th in the seven-day average of new coronavirus cases per capita, and 40th in percent testing positive on coronavirus diagnostic tests. 

The number of new daily cases reported on Aug. 13 remains concerning and a tell-tale sign that we must remain committed to health and safety recommendations set by the State of Michigan and the Centers of Disease Control. By following these guidelines we can continue to control the spread. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today further plans to help slow the spread by providing 4 million free masks to the State’s most vulnerable population.

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