Isabella County has introduced the highest risk level for the spread of coronavirus, based on a metric developed by the Harvard Global Health Initiative.
Mid-Michigan County, home to Central Michigan University, is averaging 18.9 new cases per day, or 27 new cases per day per 100,000 residents, according to August 20-26 data.
Isabella County moved into the red zone on Wednesday as the Central Michigan Department of Health reported that it had identified 106 COVID-19 cases, including 98 confirmed and eight probable. Students have been back in class on campus since August 17th.
Earlier this week, CMU President Bob Davies sent an email to students in which he said the university was prepared for an increase in cases and acted quickly with the help of the health care department to identify and instruct those individuals to quarantine to give.
“We must all take steps to protect ourselves and others,” Davies wrote. “Avoid large gatherings, wash our hands often, wear masks and practice social distance.”
The university does not have a specific threshold as to the number of cases that would trigger a shift to remote instruction, according to its website. CMU remains open to face-to-face instruction “as long as we can manage and limit the risks associated with COVID-19.”
Of the rest of the state’s 83 provinces, six are in the orange zone, meaning they had an average of 10-25 new cases per day per head last week. This includes the counties of Menominee, Saginaw, Tuscola, Macomb, Monroe and Branch.
Sixty-seven counties are in the yellow zone (1-10 new cases) and the remaining nine are in the green (less than one new case per day).
On the map below, readers can place their cursor over a province to see the underlying data. If you do not see the map, click here.
Latest on coronavirus testing
Macomb and Saginaw counties continue to report over the last two weeks the highest percentage of coronavirus tests returning with 7.3% and 5.2%, respectively.
Counties Ontonagon, Monroe, Oakland, Cass, Bay and Menominee continue to report a positive rate at 4% or higher, but less than the 5% benchmark set by the World Health Organization to determine if it is safe to reopen schools.
As a state, Michigan recently averaged about 3.3% positive test rate. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the chief medical officer, said she would like to see that number drop below 3%.
Meanwhile, three counties – Alcona, Alpena and Keweenaw – have not reported a single positive test in the last two weeks. They have processed a total of 549 tests since August 12th.
The map below shows the average test system of 14 days per province. Once again, readers can put their cursor over a province to see the underlying data. If you do not see the map, click here.
More localized maps
Below are two maps created by the EpiBayes research group at the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan, which has access to data from subsoil collected by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The interactive maps break the state up into 10-kilometer hexagons to give a more localized look at where cases of coronavirus occur. You can click here to go to the website for research project.
The first map looks at confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus in the past week. You can click on a hexagon to see the underlying data.
You can use the triangle button at the top right of the map to switch to the second map, which shows totally confirmed cases and deaths of coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic.
As of Wednesday, August 26, Michigan has reported 99,200 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6,242 known deaths. The state averages 703 new cases and 11 new deaths per day, according to a moving average of seven days.
For more state-of-the-art data, visit MLive’s coronavirus data page, here. To find a test site near you, visit the state’s online test finder, email [email protected], or call on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 888-535- 6136.
TIPS PREVENTING COVID-19:
In addition to washing your hands regularly and not touching your face, officials advise to practice social distance, assuming that anyone can carry the virus.
Social officials say you should stay at least 6 feet away from others and work from home if possible.
Use disinfectant wipes or disinfectant spray cleaners on surfaces that are often touched in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand disinfectant with you when you go to places like shops.
Gov.Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face masks over their mouths and nostrils in public indoor and outdoor areas. See here an explanation of what that means.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/.
Read more about MLive:
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Michigan reports 761 new coronavirus cases, 7 new deaths
