Michigan reports 18,945 new COVID-19 cases, 62 new deaths over past week
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Michigan reported 18,945 new COVID-19 cases, an average of 2,706 per day, and 62 new deaths over the last week, according to data released Wednesday by the state health department.
New cases increased by 30% compared with the previous week, and new deaths represent a 7% decrease from the last report.
The state has had 2,444,891 cases and 36,064 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
Over the last week, the positivity rate for diagnostic tests is 12.52%, with 17,922 of 144,335 tests positive.
Beginning April 6, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services includes both confirmed cases and deaths. MDHSS definitions for each are:
Confirmed cases only include individuals who have had a positive diagnostic laboratory test for COVID-19.
Probable cases include individuals who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and an epidemiologic link to a confirmed case or a positive serology (antibody) test, but do not have a positive diagnostic laboratory test for COVID-19 and individuals with a positive serology (antibody) test for COVID-19 and an epidemiologic link to a confirmed case.
Confirmed deaths include individuals who meet one or more of the following conditions: 1) Have been identified as a confirmed case and classified as deceased as a result of a case investigation in the Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS). MDSS is the database used by state and local health department to monitor reportable diseases like COVID-19; 2) have been identified as a confirmed case in MDSS had have a death certificate with COVID-19 listed as a cause of death; 3) have been identified as a confirmed case in MDSS and die within 30 days of onset of COVID-19 infection and have a death certificate which classifies their manner death as 'natural'.
Probable deaths include individuals who have COVID indicated as a cause of death on their death certificate but have not had a positive diagnostic laboratory test.
Also beginning April 6, the state has changed the data release schedule for cases and deaths to once a week on Wednesdays.
Michigan coronavirus cases: Tracking the pandemic
Vaccinating Michigan: Tracking the progress of the state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Lauren Wethington is a breaking news reporter. You can email her at LGilpin@freepress.com or find her on Twitter at @laurenelizw1.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan reports 18,945 new COVID-19 cases, 62 new deaths over 7 days
