10/26/20: 3,881 new COVID cases counted on Sunday and Monday

State health officials reported 3,881 new cases of COVID-19 coming from Sunday and Monday. The seven day moving average continues to break records as it hit 2,014 new cases per day.

The state reported 29 new deaths from the coronavirus on Sunday and Monday. The death rate, while still much lower than during the peak in April, continues to climb. As of Monday the state is averaging nearly 26 deaths per day. That’s up from 19 a week earlier.

The total number of people being hospitalized for coronavirus infections is still increasing. As of Monday, 1,489 people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases were being cared for in Michigan’s hospitals. That’s 237 more than on Friday.

Some hospitals are approaching capacity. Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids announced Monday that it was treating a record number of COVID-19 patients. Bronson Health and Ascension, which owns Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, both reported high occupancy numbers.

Kalamazoo County reported 210 new COVID-19 infections over the course of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. That averages out to 70 new cases per day across the three days. The county’s seven day moving average is 76 new cases per day.

The state has classified Kalamazoo County as being at high risk for spread of the coronavirus. According to the state’s MI Safe Start Map, Kalamazoo County is in Level E. That means the county has more than 150 new cases per day per million residents.