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Positive Covid tests climb since Nov. 1. (Graphics: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services)
Fresh coronavirus data reinforces the urgency behind a three-week statewide epidemic order that kicks in Wednesday.
Another 12,763 Michiganians have confirmed Covid diagnoses and 55 more have died from the infection since Saturday, the latest Lansing figures for two days show.
The steep three-month spike in Covid diagnoses statewide.
The death toll passes a ghastly milestone of 8,049 over the past eight months. Another 382 deaths are classified as having a "probable" Covid connection.
"Right now, the numbers are as bad as they've been at any given time," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said earlier Monday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program.
Hopsitals across Michigan have 3,558 adult Covid patients, including suspected cases, and 22 in pediatric care. Among the adults, 749 are in intensive care.
A science journalist, Ed Yong of The Atlantic, provides context for "an unprecedented surge of hospitalizations across the country:"
There is a roughly 12-day lag between rising cases rising hospitalizations. So the 1.5 million confirmed cases from the last two weeks have not yet factored into stories about packed emergency rooms. ...
Iowa is already out of staffed beds. ICUs are at capacity. ... The near-term future is already baked in, which is why you have to act ahead of the virus.
A state epidemic order sets these rules from Nov. 18-Dec. 9.
In the Detroit area, Beaumont Health reports 484 confirmed and suspected Covid in-patients as of Sunday, up 57 percent from 208 five weeks earlier on Oct. 17.
Henry Ford Health System's five hospitals were caring for 291 Covid patients as of last Thursday morning.
Related:
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Covid Deaths in Metro Detroit Since Spring Are 70% of Michigan Total, Nov. 16
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Duggan defends Michigan shutdowns, calls Trump adviser a 'moron,' Nov. 16
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Michigan Sets New Limits on Education, Bars, Dining, Casinos, Theaters, Bowling, Nov. 15
Four weeks of rising cases since Oct. 19.
