11/2/20: 6,709 new COVID infections on Sunday and Monday

State health officials reported 6,709 new cases of COVID-19 over the course of Sunday and Monday. The average of 3,355 new cases per day puts the past two days in line with recent high infection levels. The seven day moving average continues to climb to 3,283 new coronavirus infections per day.

The state also reported 17 new deaths from the coronavirus on Sunday and Monday. The state is averaging almost 21 new deaths per day.

Michigan’s health officials have reclassified the Kalamazoo region as Risk Level E, according to the state’s MI Start Map. That indicates dangerous levels of coronavirus transmission. The state’s Upper Peninsula and the Grand Rapids region are also classified as Level E.

Kalamazoo County reported 260 new cases of COVID-19 from Saturday to Monday. The county is averaging nearly 93 new cases per day. The county also reported two coronavirus-related deaths over the same time period. The county is averaging nearly two deaths per day over the past seven days.

Hospitalizations have increased again in Michigan. As of Monday, 1,966 people were being treated for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases in Michigan hospitals. That’s nearly 500 more than a week ago. Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo reported 37 COVID-19 patients on Monday – a record for the hospital.

The state’s positivity rate is also continuing to rise. On Sunday, nearly 60,000 COVID-19 tests were conducted in Michigan. Of those, 7.16% came back positive. The state is averaging a 7.54% positivity rate. At the beginning of October, Michigan had an average positivity rate of 3.26%.