9/23/20: 705 new COVID cases, 12 deaths

State health officials reported 705 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The seven day moving average is now 679 new cases per day. The average of new cases has been relatively stable over the past two months, but the state’s top epidemiologist still says it’s too high.

The state reported 12 new deaths from the virus as well. The state’s average death rate has also been fairly stable at about 10 new deaths per day.

Parts of the state’s upper penninsula are experiencing a surge in new infections. Houghton, Iron, Menominee, and Delta counties on the western side of the U.P. have all seen sharp increases in new infections. The Harvard Global Health Initiative has moved all four counties into the “red” zone meaning they’re experiencing more than 25 new infections per day per 100,000 people.

Kalamazoo County health officials reported 27 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday with another 28 probable cases coming from antibody testing. The county is averaging 32 new cases per day. One new person has died from the virus.