1/18/21: New case numbers hit three month low

Michigan: The state on Monday reported its lowest number of new infections since mid-October. State health officials reported 2,843 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and Monday, averaging out to about 1,422 new infections each day. About three months ago the state reported new infections just less than that. The state’s seven day moving average was 2,108 new cases per day over the past week.

The state also reported just 20 new deaths from the coronavirus across Sunday and Monday – the lowest single day total since early November. Despite Monday’s low death total, the state is still reporting an average of a little over 60 deaths per day over the past week.

Hospitalizations continued to decline over the weekend. On Monday, the state reported 2,140 people being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals in Michigan. That’s 82 fewer than on Friday.

Kalamazoo County: County health officials haven’t reported any new coronavirus stats since Friday due to Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.

The state did report hospitalization numbers for the county, though. Those seem to be declining.

Bronson Methodist Hospital reported is was treating 28 people for COVID-19 on Monday, putting it at 89% capacity. Ascension Borgess Hospital reported 29 COVID-19 patients, putting it at 87% capacity. It’s the first time since December 28 both hospitals have been below 90% capacity.

Vaccines: A new shipment of vaccines were delivered to facilities in Michigan over the weekend. The state now reports it has received over a million doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines since vaccinations began in December.

Of those, nearly half a million doses have been administered to people – mostly frontline medical workers and nursing home staff and residents. State and Kalamazoo County officials have initiated a major push to get more people vaccinated, opening up eligibility to people age 65 and older, as well as essential workers such as teachers and police officers.

As of Sunday, 16,332 doses of vaccine have been administered to people in Kalamazoo County. Nearly 3,000 people have received both doses of the vaccine. The county has given out nearly half its supply of the vaccine as of Sunday.