(WWJ) Health officials are reporting more than two dozen new coronavirus outbreaks linked to schools in Michigan, along with more than 1,300 new cases statewide.
Releasing updated counts on Monday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said 27 new outbreaks have been linked to schools, including University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Macomb Intermediate in Clinton Township, Carlson High and Chapman Elementary in Rockwood and Shumate Middle School in Gibraltar.
The number of cases connected to universities in Michigan is growing, with 1,300 at Michigan State University, 800 at Grand Valley State, and 300 at both Central Michigan and the University of Michigan, according to the health department.
The public can find a full list of new and ongoing school outbreaks HERE. The page is updated once a week, on Mondays at 3 p.m.
Along with schools, outbreaks in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities remain a concern. COVID-19 outbreaks are generally defined as two or more cases with a link by place and time indicating a shared exposure outside of a household.
Find more data about where outbreaks are happening in Michigan HERE.
Looking at the statewide picture, the health department says a total 122,735 COVID-19 cases have now been confirmed in Michigan since March, including 1,308 added since Saturday. Over the two days, the average number of new confirmed cases is 654 per day, health officials said.
Sunday and Monday combined, officials said 8 more people died, bringing Michigan's official coronavirus death toll to 6,731.
On a positive note, MDHHS said 95,051 people who tested positive for COVID-19 since March are considered officially recovered. Recovered is defined as the number of persons with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis who are alive 30 days post-onset, or referral date if the onset date is not available.
These latest numbers comes as more type of businesses are preparing to reopen statewide.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last Friday signed Executive Orders 2020-183, which allows movie theaters, bowling alleys, arcades, bingo halls, performance venues. and more to open statewide on Friday, Oct. 9.
In making that announcement, the governor cautioned: "We are not out of the woods yet, and we will continue to monitor the effects of these incremental changes. Right now, the federal government and all 50 states have been under some form of state of emergency. We must stay the course and continue fighting this virus on behalf of our families, frontline workers, and our small businesses."
Currently, Whitmer's emergency and disaster declaration for Michigan due to COVID-19 is set to end this Thursday, Oct. 1. It's not yet clear if the governor plans to extend to extend the State of Emergency, or finally let it expire.
Note: If you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 or you are experiencing symptoms, free testing is available. All residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties are welcome to get tested at Joseph Walker Williams Community Center at 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd., beginning this Tuesday, Sept. 29. Get more information about that HERE. Or, visit THIS LINK to find another testing site near you.
