Michigan reports 5,909 new COVID-19 cases, 191 new deaths on Tuesday

On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, the state of Michigan reported 5,909 new COVID-19 cases and 191 more deaths linked to the virus, 79 of which came from a review of vital records.

The totals in the state since the start of the pandemic are now at 410,295 cases and 10,138 deaths. 

You can see case rates and deaths from the weeks prior below. 

EXTENDING THE PAUSE

On Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the pause would be extended another 12 days to Dec. 20. She extended the pause for another 12 days Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Dr. Robert Gordon explained what it would take to reopen businesses at the end of those 12 days. 

The state's medical director, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, said any increase in cases from Thanksgiving travel and gatherings isn't expected to be reflective in the daily case rates until 2-3 weeks later. 

If you did travel, Dr. Khaldun says to try and make sure you're staying away from others as much as possible for 14 days, and to keep in touch with anyone you interacted with on your travels so you know if they start showing symptoms. If you believe you've been exposed, begin isolating immediately.

CHRISTMAS AT HOME

Gov. Whitmer urged Michigan residents to stay home this Christmas, saying that if we want to gather in 2021, as we did in 2019, we should spend 2020 at home.

"No matter what we show in the next 12 days, I am discouraging people from gathering for Christmas. It doesn't mean we cancel Christmas, it means we celebrate in a responsible way and we make our plan, now," Whitmer said. "If our numbers come down a good amount, it still doesn't mean COVID is gone by Christmas."

Whitmer said people should find ways to be together in spirit.

Beginning Nov. 18 at 12:01 a.m., indoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people, and small outdoor gatherings will be limited to 25 people. The order will last until Dec. 9. Among Michigan's record-increase in new cases, health officials like Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said crowds of small and medium sizes were among the primary factors driving the spike.

RELATED: What's open and what's closed over the next three weeks

Dr. Khaldun said we can all take steps to make the case rate in the state better.

"The thing is, this is preventable," Khaldun said. "That is what gives me hope. There are concrete things we can do it."

Both urged that holiday plans should look different this year and urged Michiganders not to gather for Thanksgiving with people outside of their own households. If it must be done, masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing while indoors is strongly recommended. 

CASE RATES AND PERCENT POSITIVE 

In Michigan, an average of 45,000 diagnostic tests are being done daily. Dr. Khaldun said that's the fifth largest number of total tests per state in the country. 

On December 1, Dr. Khaldun said the entire state is seeing a decline in daily case rates over the past 7-15 days. However, case rates remain above 500 cases per million people per day in all regions except the Traverse City region. The average daily case rate statewide is 608 cases per million people per day. 

The percent positive rate is also slightly declining. It is now at an average of 13% positive, down from 14% the week prior. Dr. Khaldun has said a percent positive rate below 3% indicates community spread isn't happening. 

CONTACT TRACING

Dr. Khaldun said on Dec. 1 that contact tracing is at the highest it's been during the pandemic. Healthcare workers are able to do outreach to about 3,000 positive new cases a day - but with several straight weeks of more than 5,000 new cases per day, the system still cannot keep up. 

Michigan officials also recently rolled out the MI COVID Alert app to help notify of possible exposure and with contact tracing. 

Authorities are still urging everyone to answer their phones if you get a call from the health department. Text messages are also now being sent in advance of the incoming call. 

Meanwhile, everyone is also still reminded to keep doing the basics to stay healthy - wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your distance from other people.

SCHOOL OUTBREAKS

On Monday, Sept. 14, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services started tracking outbreaks in schools across the entire state.

Using data from 45 health departments, the updates will be released every Monday at 3 p.m. and will include K-12, college and universities, number of cases, and if the cases involved staff, students, or both. It does not include cases where the virus was contracted from outside of the school.

You can read about the latest outbreak data in schools here

PREVIOUS DAILY COVID-19 CASE COUNTS AND DEATHS

  • Monday, Dec. 7 - 9,350 cases, 93 deaths over two days as the state no longer reports cases on Sundays
  • Thursday, Dec. 3 - 7,146 new cases, 175 deaths (112 from vital records review) 
  • Wednesday, Dec. 2 - 6,955 new cases, 81 deaths
  • Tuesday, Dec. 1 - 5,793 cases, 190 deaths (30 deaths from vital records review) 
  • Monday, Nov. 30 - 10,428 cases, 98 deaths over two days as the state no longer reports cases on Sundays
  • Saturday, Nov. 28 - 8,080 cases, 103 deaths (70 deaths from a vital records review)
  • Thursday & Friday Nov. 26-27 - 17,162 172 deaths
  • Wednesday, Nov. 25 - 4,273 cases, 73 deaths 
  • Tuesday, Nov. 24 - 6,290 cases, 145 deaths (51 from vital records review)
  • Monday, Nov. 23 - 11,511 cases, 65 deaths over two days as the state no longer reports cases on Sundays
  • Saturday, Nov. 21 - 7,528 cases, 101 deaths (59 from vital records review) 
  • Friday, Nov. 20 - 9,779 cases, 53 deaths
  • Thursday, Nov. 19 -  7,592 cases, 134 deaths (61 from a review of vital records)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 18 - 5,772 cases and 62 deaths
  • Tuesday, Nov. 17 - 7,458 cases, 79 deaths (24 from a review of vital records)
  • Monday, Nov. 16 - 12,763, 55 deaths over two days as the state no longer reports cases on Sundays
  • Saturday, Nov. 14 -  7,072 cases, 65 deaths (36 from a review of vital records)
  • Friday, Nov. 13 - 8,516 cases, 118 deaths (83 from a review of vital records)
  • Thursday, Nov. 12 - 6,940 cases, 45 deaths
  • Wednesday, Nov. 11 - 6,008 cases, 42 deaths 
  • Tuesday, November 10 - 6,473 cases, 84 deaths (25 from vital records review) 
  • Monday, November 9 - 9,010 cases, 62 deaths over two days as the state no longer reports cases on Sundays
  • Saturday, November 7 - 6,225 cases, 65 deaths 
  • Friday, November 6 - 3,763 cases, 43 deaths
  • Thursday, November 5 - 5,710 cases, 51 deaths (26 from vital records review)
  • Wednesday, November 4 - 4,101 cases, 19 deaths
  • Tuesday, November 3 - 3,106 cases, 43 deaths (17 from vital records review) 
  • Monday, November 2 - 6,709 cases, 17 deaths over two days as the state no longer reports cases on Sundays