LANSING (WWJ) -- Michigan hit a COVID-19 milestone on Friday, surpassing 2 million confirmed cases across the state since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
As of Friday afternoon, cases topped out at 2,009,221, but reports from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services continued to show a drop in the number of hospitalizations, which fell below 3,000 for the first time since mid-November.
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Health officials offered even more good news -- positivity rates have continued to decrease along with the amount of COVID cases reported since the last viral surge at the end of December.
Officials believe these downward trends mean the Omicron variant -- which surged across Michigan in the last couple of months -- may be near or at its peak infection rate.
U.S. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan told WWJ the improving numbers may lead to mask requirements being dropped as the pandemic eases.
"It's obviously up to people," Peters said. "If they feel more comfortable wearing a mask they should certainly do that."
The Senator added: "But I think as we continue to move forward and look at the impact that COVID is having, that we'll be able to get back to normal that I want to get back to as quickly as possible and I know everyone else does."
This comes as the health department reports Michigan saw just under 200 COVID-19 deaths over the last two days as the total amount of fatalities from the virus surpassed 30,379.
The state is averaging apporximently 4,900 new COVID cases per day, with 9,800 positive cases reported on Thursday and Friday.
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For more information about COVID-19 across the state, please visit michigan.gov.
Individuals interested in the COVID-19 vaccine may visit michigan.gov/coronavirus or call the COVID Hotline at 888-535-6136 and press option 1 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.