11/19/20: 7,592 new COVID cases, 134 deaths

Michigan: State health officials reported 7,592 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. That caused the seven day moving average to rise to 7,025 new cases per day.

The state also reported 134 deaths from the virus with 61 of the them coming from a review of previous death records. The remaining deaths – 73 – marks the highest single-day death total since May 4. The state is averaging 73 deaths per day.

Kalamazoo County: Kalamazoo County reported its highest one-day total of new cases during the pandemic on Thursday – 221. That brings the county’s moving average to 144 new cases per day.

The county also reported one new death from the virus. The county is averaging almost three deaths per day.

Hospitalizations: Kalamazoo County’s two hospitals are approaching their capacities. Bronson Methodist Hospital reported 55 COVID-19 patients on Thursday putting them at 93% capacity. Ascension Borgess reported 37 COVID-19 patients bringing them to 91% capacity.

Statewide, hospitalizations are continuing to increase, albeit at a slower rate than recent weeks. On Thursday, 3,824 COVID-19 patients were being cared for in the state’s hospitals. That’s only 32 more than Wednesday, while daily increases have been in the triple digits for most of November.

Positivity Rate: The state’s positivity rate seems to be leveling out. On Thursday, 12.49% of COVID-19 tests conducted in the state came back positive. The state’s positivity rate has been between 10% and 14% for most of the month. It’s important to note that rate is still considered dangerously high by medical experts.

Kalamazoo County’s positivity rate was 13.6% on Thursday. The county’s positivity rate seems to be similarly leveling out.