LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — As the fall and flu seasons begin, the number of positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Michigan have recently trended upward, prompting a call from public health officials to increase vigilance and preventative measures.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), hospitals and local health officials are calling on all residents to take simple steps to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases that could overwhelm the hospital systems.
“Michiganders did a great job of bringing our cases down after a surge in the spring,” chief medical executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun MDHHS said in a statement. “Basic things like wearing masks, maintaining a physical distance from others and washing hands worked. Yet as the colder months and flu season have arrived, we now see a concerning jump in our cases – a trend we can reverse if we all take this seriously and follow best practices to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
The recent increase in cases, along with people gathering indoors more frequently due to cooler weather, creates a risk of greater community spread.
To protect against the risk of a devastating surge in cases and its impact on Michiganders, MDHHS has issued additional Emergency Orders to clarify gathering definitions, capacity restrictions, mask requirements and worker protections.
The MDHHS Director has the ability, under state law, to issue emergency orders if it is deemed necessary for public health protection. The orders largely retain the precautions issued through Executive Orders by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, which were recently struck down by the Michigan Supreme Court.
“State and local public health officials have been concerned about the risk of a surge in cases in the fall, and this recent increase should remind us all to refocus on preventing the spread of COVID-19,” president of the Michigan Association for Local Public Health Nick Derusha said in a statement. “Wearing masks, practicing social distancing, washing our hands, and participating in contact tracing with public health officials are proven, effective ways to slow the spread of this virus.”
In addition to rising cases across the state, more tests are coming back positive and more residents are being hospitalized compared to previous weeks.
Currently, Michigan has 89 daily cases per million people, 3.6 percent of tests are positive and there are 698 COVID-19 hospitalizations. This is compared to the same point last week when 81.6 daily cases per million people, 3.4 percent positivity and 586 hospitalizations for COVID-19 were reported.
“At the height of the COVID-19 response in Michigan, our frontline hospital workers were working around the clock to treat COVID-19 patients,” chief executive officer of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association Brian Peters said in a statement. “As we see cases on the rise again and more hospital beds with patients than we have in weeks, we must remember what mask wearing and social distancing does: it prevents cases, it prevents hospitalizations, and it prevents deaths.”
Officials add that it is important to remember that does not mean that the virus is gone, or the risk of infection is less. Officials say scientists and doctors agree masks and face coverings can help to reduce the spread by about 70 percent.
In a related matter, not feeling ill is not a sign that you are not infected – about 40 percent of people who have COVID-19 may be asymptomatic and capable of spreading the virus to others.
Although many people getting infected with COVID-19 this fall are not needing to be hospitalized, officials say it is still important to wear masks and socially distance to prevent people from getting infected.
The latest information for COVID-19 is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
