11/6/20: 14,693 new COVID cases Friday and Saturday, 274 deaths

Michigan: State health officials reported 6,004 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 8,689 on Saturday. That led to the state’s seven day moving average decreasing slightly over the weekend with 6,431 new cases per day.

Meanwhile, the state’s COVID-19 death toll is climbing. The state reported 81 new coronavirus deaths on Friday and 193 on Saturday. Saturday’s new death count is the third highest the state has experienced since the beginning of the pandemic. However, 145 of Saturday’s death count came as a result of a review of previous death records and did not happen during the previous 24-hour period. The state is averaging 117 deaths per day.

Kalamazoo County: The county reported 92 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday bringing its average to 139 new cases per day – eight fewer than the previous day. There were also two new deaths from the virus reported on Friday. The county is averaging nearly two deaths per day.

Hospitalizations: The state’s COVID-19 hospitalization numbers declined Friday for the fourth day in a row. On Friday, 4,141 people were being treated for the coronavirus in Michigan hospitals – 34 fewer than the previous day. The number is still higher than at any point during the spring as the virus tears through more rural areas of the state.

In Kalamazoo, Bronson Methodist Hospital reported 36 COVID-19 patients on Friday – six patients fewer than the previous day. The hospital reported it was at 78% capacity, down from 91% capacity on Thursday. Kalamazoo’s other hospital doesn’t publicly report patient numbers.