DETROIT (WWJ) -- As the holiday season arrives, Michigan continues to experience a "fourth surge" of COVID-19 and health officials say the state's hospitals are filling up.
Health officials on Monday reported 17,008 new confirmed cases of the virus over the last three days, for an average of just under 5,700 new cases per day. The daily positive case rate was slightly down compared to last week, when that number was just under 9,000 on Thursday and Friday.
The state also reported 83 new deaths related to the novel coronavirus, 32 of which came from a review of vital records.
Officials with metro Detroit hospitals and health systems have been sounding the alarm in recent weeks over a spike in COVID-19-related hospitalizations.
Between Friday, Nov. 12 and Friday, Nov. 19, the state reported more than 53,500 confirmed cases -- the most in a single week since last March, when the pandemic began.
Hospitals are also approaching the highest number of COVID-19 patients since the start of the pandemic, according to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
As of Sunday evening, there were 3,785 confirmed COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the state, with 784 of them in intensive care units.
Officials say the spike in patients, along with patients dealing with other medical conditions has led to a strain on emergency departments and hospitals.
Health officials are asking the public to help lessen the burden on the state's healthcare system by getting the vaccine -- including booster shots -- and getting tested if you are experiencing symptoms of the virus or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also reported 140 new COVID-19 outbreaks at schools across the state, with the most cases in Detroit Public Schools.
Health officials say there were 44 infections at Detroit Renaissance and 38 Cass Tech, with a handful of other schools experiencing smaller outbreaks.
Over the past week there were 10 reported outbreaks in Wayne County schools and three each in Macomb and Oakland Counties.
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