11/12/20: 6,940 new cases of COVID in Michigan, 45 deaths

Michigan: State health officials reported a record 6,940 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. That raises the seven day moving average 5,488 new cases per day.

The state reported 45 deaths from the coronavirus on Thursday. Michigan is averaging just under 49 deaths per day. However, health experts predict death rates will continue to rise, especially in a couple weeks when we see the impacts of the current surge in new cases.

Kalamazoo County: The county reported 233 new cases spanning Wednesday and Thursday. That averages out to about 116 new cases per day. The county’s seven day moving average is 134 new cases per day.

Hospitalizations: The rise in hospitalizations related to COVID-19 is a worrying trend for health experts. The state reported 3,209 people were being treated in Michigan hospitals for the coronavirus on Thursday. That’s nearly 1,000 more than were reported a week ago. Nearly one-in-five intensive care patients in the state are being treated for COVID-19.

Kalamazoo’s Bronson Methodist Hospital reported 58 COVID patients on Thursday. That’s a new high for the hospital. According to state data, Bronson’s four-hospital system in southwest Michigan is operating at 83.3% capacity.

Kalamazoo’s other hospital, Ascension Borgess, won’t publicly release its patient numbers, but the state reports their 15-hospital network is operating at 84.4% capacity.

Positivity Rate: The state’s positivity rate dipped slightly on Thursday to 12.29%. The state reported a record number of COVID-19 tests were conducted on Thursday – 67,354.

Kalamazoo County is averaging 13.77% positivity as of Wednesday. The county has been averaging about 1,500 tests per day as its positivity rate has climbed from 8.5% two weeks ago.