12/8/20: State passes 10K COVID deaths

Michigan: COVID-19 deaths surpassed 10,000 in Michigan on Tuesday. The state reported 191 new deaths from the virus, bringing the cumulative total to 10,182 since the pandemic began in March. Michigan is the ninth state in the nation to pass 10,000 deaths from the virus.

Of the new death count, 79 came from a review of previous death records. The state is averaging 116 new deaths per day.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered flags across the state be flown at half staff for ten days to mark the grim milestone.

State health officials reported 5,909 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the seven day moving average to 6,293 new cases per day – slightly more than on Monday, but similar to average new case totals from the past week.

Kalamazoo County: County health officials reported 98 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, bringing the county’s average to 108 new cases per day. The county also reported one new death from the virus. The county is still averaging nearly two deaths per day.

Hospitalizations: The number of people being treated for COVID-19 in state hospitals declined again for the seventh day in a row. On Tuesday, there were 4,091 people with confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections in Michigan hospitals.

In Kalamazoo County, Bronson Methodist Hospital reported 36 COVID-19 patients on Tuesday, which puts it at 92% capacity for the second day in a row.