COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Driven by the omicron variant, statistics from the State of Michigan show the COVID-19 numbers in Branch County have gone up over the last couple of weeks.
Statistics show that since Christmas, the seven day positive test rate in Branch County has risen from 14-point-9 percent to 33-point-3 percent as of this past Sunday.
In addition, weekly cases per 100,000 people have go up from 223 on Christmas to 811 for the week between January 3 and 9.
In the latest report posted by the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, there were 56 new cases in Branch County last Friday which brought the total number of residents testing positive for the virus up to 7,923 since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March of 2020. Of those who tested positive for the virus, the Community Health Agency says 137 Branch County residents have passed away.
Many hospitals around Michigan are at or near capacity as the state has set another record for the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19.
Nearly 4,900 COVID-19 patients were in Michigan hospitals as of Monday with 848 in intensive care. Hospital capacity around the state was at 82 percent.
ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital was still at 100 percent capacity as of Monday with 17 COVID-19 patients. One was in intersive care. ProMedica’s CV Hickman Hospital in Adrian was at 93 percent capacity while the capacity at Promedica Monroe Regional Hospital was at 95 percent.
Hillsdale Hospital’s capacity was a relatively low 31 percent while Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall was at 72 percent.
Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo was at 96 percent while Bronson Battle Creek was at 95 percent.
According to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, 88 percent of those hospitalized in Michigan were not vaccinated and 85 percent of the deaths involved people who have not had their shots.
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