Numbing pandemic statistics, delivered daily from Lansing, can't be ignored -- even in a season when we'd rather focus on comfort and joy.
The latest figures add 8,689 confirmed Covid cases since Thursday and 81 deaths -- pushing the cumulative impact since March to 389,032 cases and 9,661 deaths. (More than 165,200 patients, 42.5% of the total, were classified as "recovered" as of last Friday. That category gets updated Saturday.)
Here's why hospitals and the state health department say a worrisome surge is under way:
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Confirmed cases rose 91.5% (185,894 people) in the past five weeks -- from 203,138 cumulatively on Nov. 1 to 389,032.
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Deaths rose 29.3% (2,190 victims) in that span -- from 7,464 at last month's start to 9,654.
County-level statistics and demographic breakdowns are displayed here by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Plague trend lines for the past five weeks. (Graphic: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services)
