The overall total of 2020 Covid cases in this state has more than doubled since Oct. 1. (Graphics: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services)
This holiday week begins with a stark sign of Covid's current surge: 11,511 new Covid cases just since Saturday.
The Sunday-Monday death toll is 65 people with illnesses connected to the coronavirus, the state health agency posts.
The new cases bring the total in Michigan to 314,216 diagnoses and 8,543 deaths. The cumulative number of cases over eight months has more than doubled since Oct. 1, when it was under 150,000. (See chart above.)
New cases increased by more than 13 percent over the last week, according to WDIV. Hospitalizations have increased steadily statewide for the last five weeks, including upticks in critical care and ventilator use.
Michigan’s hospitals are treating over 4,000 people for confirmed or suspected Covid, Bridge Michigan says.
State prisons are hard-hit, with 11,612 confirmed cases and 80 deaths among inmates and staff. The number of diagnoses are nearly 4 percent of the state total, and each of 29 prisons is affected.
There's also more bad news from Macomb schools, with another eight outbreaks during the past week, affecting 25 students and staff members -- including seven at a St. Clair Shores middle school. (The state defines an outbreak as at least two school-related cases.)
That news comes a week after Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services reported that 34 pupils and staff members at 13 schools in that suburban county tested positive for coronavirus during the week of Nov. 9. (Last week's list.)
Here are details on the latest clusters in six communities:
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Jefferson Middle School, St. Clair Shores: 7 students and staff
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Warren Woods Towers High: 4 students
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Richmond Middle School: 3 students and staff
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Ardmore Elementary, St. Clair Shores: 3 students and staff
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Immanuel Lutheran (elementary): Macomb Township: 2 pupils
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Eastand Middle School: Roseville: 2 staff members
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Fitzgerald High, Warren: 2 staff members
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Shelby Junior High: 2 staff members
