While deaths from existing cases are up, the curve of new cases continues to show signs of flattening in Michigan.
MICHIGAN — The newest day-over-day numbers for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic show 1,058 new confirmed cases and 319 deaths in Michigan over the past 24 hours. The new totals are 28,059 cases and 1,921 deaths.
Compared to Tuesday’s numbers, Wednesday represents almost double the daily death totals and a slowing in the rate of new cases. Tuesday’s report was reported by The ‘Gander as 184 deaths and 1,366 new confirmed diagnoses.
RELATED: Michigan Coronavirus Deaths Steadily Rising Again This Week
The reduction in new daily cases might be an indication that Michgian’s efforts to flatten the curve have been effective, but as The ‘Gander reported the state has cautioned against seeing any particular daily results as indicative of a trend, and indeed the overall number of cases had been rising day-over-day earlier this week.
The sharp uptick in deaths may further stress post-mortem operations at medical facilities throughout the hardest-hit areas of the state. The ‘Gander also reported on hospitals using outdoor refrigeration units to store bodies, and reports of bodies literally piling up at Detroit’s Sinai Grace Medical Center.
Meanwhile, The ‘Gander also reports conservative Michiganders flagrantly ignored social distancing in Lansing Wednesday as part of a protest of the expanded and extended “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer enacted to help slow the spread of the virus.
READ MORE: When Will Michigan’s Emergency Declaration End? Whitmer and GOP Leader Disagree
According to the latest update from Michigan.gov, the breakdown of cases by county is as follows:
- Alcona: 1
- Allegan: 25
- Alpena: 1
- Antrim: 9
- Arenac: 7
- Barry: 148(1 death)
- Bay: 64 (2 deaths)
- Berrien: 123 (7 deaths)
- Branch: 30 (2 deaths)
- Calhoun: 104 (3 deaths)
- Cass: 17 (1 death)
- Charlevoix: 11 (1 death)
- Cheboygan: 12 (1 death)
- Chippewa: 1 (1 death)
- Clare: 5 (1 death)
- Clinton: 100 (4 deaths)
- Crawford: 16 (1 death)
- Delta: 9 (1 death)
- Dickinson: 3 (2 deaths)
- Eaton: 77 (5 deaths)
- Emmet: 21 (2 deaths)
- Genesee: 1,084 (89 deaths)
- Gladwin: 6
- Gogebic: 4 (1 death)
- Grand Traverse: 17 (3 deaths)
- Gratiot: 7
- Hillsdale: 81 (9 deaths)
- Houghton: 2
- Huron: 7
- Ingham: 270 (5 deaths)
- Ionia: 18 (2 deaths)
- Iosco: 4 (1 death)
- Isabella: 43 (4 deaths)
- Jackson: 195 (8 deaths)
- Kalamazoo: 103 (8 deaths)
- Kalkaska: 16 (2 deaths)
- Kent: 354 (16 deaths)
- Lake: 2
- Lapeer: 125 (10 deaths)
- Leelanau: 5
- Lenawee: 56
- Livingston: 254 (7 deaths)
- Luce: 1
- Mackinac: 4
- Macomb: 3,792 (330 deaths)
- Manistee: 10 (1 death)
- Marquette: 27 (5 deaths)
- Mason: 3
- Mecosta: 11 (1 death)
- Midland: 36 (1 death)
- Missaukee: 2 (1 death)
- Monroe: 211 (9 deaths)
- Montcalm: 23 (1 death)
- Montmorency: 1
- Muskegon: 93 (5 deaths)
- Newaygo: 7
- Oakland: 5,576 (392 deaths)
- Oceana: 3 (1 death)
- Ogemaw: 4
- Osceola: 5
- Oscoda: 4
- Otsego: 35 (2 deaths)
- Ottawa: 74 (2 deaths)
- Presque Isle: 2
- Roscommon: 9
- Saginaw: 313 (19 deaths)
- Sanilac: 25 (2 deaths)
- Schoolcraft: 3
- Shiawassee: 63 (2 deaths)
- St. Clair: 221 (8 deaths)
- St. Joseph: 22 (1 death)
- Tuscola: 47 (9 deaths)
- Van Buren: 26 (2 deaths)
- Washtenaw: 798 (24 deaths)
- Wayne: 12,544 (with 409 deaths. Detroit alone has 7,136 cases and 475 deaths)
- Wexford: 7 (1 death)
- Michigan Department of Corrections: 472 (12 deaths)
- Federal Correctional Institutions: 36
- Out of state: 166
- Unknown: 76 (5 deaths)
Total: 28,059 cases, 1,921 deaths
Worldwide cases surpassed 2 million Wednesday, with a global death toll of more than 130,000 according to Washington Post reporting. As for America, the Post reports, the death toll sits at 26,950 with around 613,000 confirmed cases.
Michigan is no longer third in the nation, being overtaken by Massechutts, which surpassed Michigan by over 100 cases. And adjusted for population, Michigan ranks fifth in terms of deaths with 18 deaths per 100,000 residents. Wayne County remains one of the sickest counties in the nation.
President Trump made the decision to freeze funding to the World Health Organization during the heat of pandemic as a result of the United Nations’ agency’s praise of China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, reports the New York Times. This political decision will affect the ability of the WHO to handle the pandemic globally.
“We have deep concerns about whether America’s generosity has been put to the best use possible,” Trump said in a Rose Garden address.
SEE ALSO: Fauci Said a Quicker Response from U.S. Could Have Saved Lives. Trump Is Pissed About That.
This action has been sharply denounced by Democrats, and expert caution that the decision comes during a time where the WHO is needed more than it has ever been before according to USA Today.
“As he has since day one, the president is ignoring global health experts, disregarding science and undermining the heroes fighting on the frontline, at great risk to the lives and livelihoods of Americans and people around the world,” Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-California) said in a statement.
Katelyn Kivel is a politics, policy and law journalist from Kalamazoo, Michigan. She studied political science at Western Michigan University and has been published in multiple national and international outlets.
