(WWJ) Nursing homes and social gatherings are the primary places where the coronavirus is spreading in Michigan.
That's according to Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, who says there were 78 new outbreaks identified by local health departments last week, with a number of them tied to nursing homes.
Here is the breakdown, according to the state:
- 31% of the outbreaks were associated with nursing homes or other adult care facilities
- 22% were traced to social gatherings
- 10% were traced to workplaces
- 9% were traced to restaurants
- The remaining percentage was spilt between child care, agriculture settings, bars, personal care services and gyms
This update comes as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer continues to be criticized by her political opponents for her handling of nursing homes during the pandemic.
According to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, a total of 7,514 residents of nursing home residents have been infected by the coronavirus, with 5,854 of them now considered recovered or recovering. A total of 2,017 Michigan nursing home residents have died of COVID-19, along with 22 nursing home staffers, throughout the pandemic. (See a full breakdown of the nursing home numbers HERE.)
Looking at the latest overall numbers, there were 669 new COVID-19 cases reported in the state on Tuesday, bringing the total to 79,176. There were also 16 additional deaths linked to the virus, including 11 deaths identified during a Vital Records review, health officials said. That brings the total to 6,170 deaths in Michigan since mid-March.
Something positive to report: Khaldun said at a news conference Tuesday that cases in the state have plateaued.
"The rate of new cases, however, continues to vary by region," she said. "The Detroit, Grand Rapids and Saginaw regions all have a little over 40 cases per million people, per day. The good news is that the Grand Rapids region has seen a two-week steady decline in the rate of new cases, and today we'll be able to move them out of the high-risk category."
Khaldun said one lingering concern is the positivity rate.
"We continue to see the percent of tests done that are positive slowly creeping up," she said. "And last week that was about 3.7% up from 3.6% the previous week. As I've said before, 3% is the cutoff that many experts say you want to be under to know that you're not having community spread of disease."
Khladun is urging people with symptoms to get tested right away, so that others they have been in contact with can be alerted.
It's also imperative, Khladun said, that Michiganders answer the phone if they are contacted by the heath department, and that everyone wear a mask and practice physical distancing while in public.
Also a focus at Tuesday's news conference: federal funding.
Gov. Whitmer expressed her support for the latest coronavirus aid package put forth by the Democrat-controlled U.S. House, and urged the Republican-led Senate to approve the plan.
Whitmer, a Democrat, said the competing plant the Republicans put forward "does not accomplish the goal of helping states."
Repeating her earlier statements that the coronavirus is a health crisis and should not be politicized.
"I implore everyone in Washington D.C. to stop the partisanship and get something done," Whimer said, "What we need is the U.S. Senate to come to the table ready to negotiate with the House."
Whitmer urged President Donald Trump to follow the lead of Michigan and multiple other states — including those with GOP governors — and enact a federal mask mandate.
"Wearing a mask has been proven to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by 70%," the governor said. "Modeling from the University of Washington indicates that more than 40,000 lives, 40,000 American lives wold be spared if 95% of us wore a mask."
Whitmer praised a recent tweet by Trump that declared wearing a mask "patriotic."
