(WWJ) New cases of the omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in metro Detroit, while Michigan hospitals are already packed with COVID-19 patients.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Friday reported one confirmed case of the new variant in Oakland County, and another case in Wayne County. No information about the people who tested positive has been released, including their cities of residence.
Also Friday, officials at the University of Michigan said one case of the omicron variant has been confirmed on the Ann Arbor campus.
The school is working with the Washtenaw County Health Department to get the word out and work on ways to limit the spread, U-M officials said.
The university also announced Friday that all students, faculty and staff will have until February fourth to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster. Administrators say the booster is a way to help reduce the spread of the virus on the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses, when in-person classes for the winter term are scheduled to resume next month.
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This update comes after Michigan's first omicron cases were recorded by health officials in Genesee and Kent counties, adding up to six cases total so far in the state since Dec. 9.
As for the fast-spreading delta variant, MDHHS said there have been nearly 24,000 cases in the state.
This comes as the health department says Michigan’s health care systems continue to be overburdened with COVID-19 patients, a majority of which are unvaccinated. From Jan. 15 – Dec. 3, 85.1% of COVID-19 cases, 88.1% of hospitalizations and 85.5% of deaths were among individuals who were not fully vaccinated, according to MDHHS.
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive, stressed Friday that hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to be mostly preventable by receiving one of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.
“We all need to do our part to get vaccinated and boosted to keep ourselves, our families and our neighbors safe,” said Bagdasarian, in a statement.
In order to relieve the burden on our state’s health care systems, Bagdasarian is asking Michiganders to try to choose their right place of care for their medical needs.
“In addition to getting vaccinated, it is important to maintain your routine medical care so that any potential illness gets detected early and can be much more manageable," she said. "We urge Michiganders to continue seeking medical care but avoid emergency departments unless they have a life-threatening condition. If you don’t have a primary care provider, now is a great time to find one through contact with your local health care system.”
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MDHH says you should call your doctor with a virtual or in-person appointment or visit an urgent care provider if you need a COVID-19 test, or if you have the following: Cold or flu, sprains, rashes or minor burns, ear pain, animal or insect bites, or allergies.
Call 911 or visit an emergency department for: Heart attack or stroke, choking, head injuries, severe burns, severe chest pain or pressure, broken bones, uncontrolled bleeding, severe respiratory distress, or any life-threatening medical condition or emergency.
If you have minor symptoms like sniffles or a cough, MDHHS says you should get tested for COVID-19. To receive a flu or COVID-19 vaccine, visit a pharmacy or immunization clinic or VaccineFinder.org to find a location near you.
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