Health

Over 4,100 Covid patients spend Thanksgiving in Michigan hospitals; 843 are in ICUs

November 24, 2021, 6:07 PM

Holiday week hospitalizations for Covid total 4,080 adults and 58 pediatric patients statewide Wednesday, up nearly 200 since Monday.

Those health department figures are for confirmed and suspected pandemic cases. Among the adults, 843 need intensive care unit monitoring. Almost 500 are on ventilators for breating assistance.

The number of virus patients in Michigan approaches the record of 4,640 in April 2020, the U.S. pandemic's second month.

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Statewide, 493 Covid patients are on ventilators Wednesday. (Photo: DepositPhotos)

Hospitals in six Southeast Michigan counties currently have 1,945 adults with Covid diagnoses or symptoms, plus 32 children and adolescents -- 65 more adults and four more pediatric cases than at the start of this week.

Statewide, over 20% of hospital inpatients are Covid-positive, the Department of Health and Human Services says in a media release Wednesday.

There are regional differences, with some facilities reporting that nearly 50% of inpatients are Covid-positive.

In response to a steadily rising caseload amid Michigan's fourth pandemic surge, the federal government is sending medical teams to Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn and Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Registered nurses, doctors and respiratory therapists arrive next week, adding 22 professionals at each site.

The Dearborn facility had 100 Covid patients Monday. Spectrum's main facillity, Butterworth Hospital, began this week with 147 pandemic cases, including 37 in intensive care. Each site had a 92-percent occupancy rate.

"I'm grateful that the federal government has granted our request to provide much-needed relief," the release quotes Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as saying. The statement also has this from John Fox, chief executive of the eight-hospital Beaumont network:

"We deeply appreciate receiving this much-needed support from Gov. Whitmer, MDHHS and the federal government to help our courageous staff battle a fourth Covid surge. The virus has exhausted our teams and resulted in unprecedented staffing challenges at Beaumont Health and health systems across the state."

Here's a breakdown of suspected and confirmed Covid patients Wednesday by local hospital regions:

Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair: 948 adults, including 146 in ICU | 11 pediatric cases

Wayne, Monroe, Washtenaw: 997 adults, including 187 in ICU | 21 pediatric cases

From Lansing, the governor and her top health official reinforce a familiar protect-yourself appeal.

"We are working hard to give [hospitals] support," says Elizabeth Hertel, health department director, "but they also need every Michigander to do their part by getting vaccinated, wearing a mask in public indoor settings regardless of vaccination status, social distancing and staying home and getting tested if they have symptoms."

Whitmer adds: "Our doctors and nurses are reporting the vast majority of their patients are unvaccinated or have not yet received a booster dose. We can all do our part to help reduce the strain on our hospital systems by getting vaccinated, making an appointment to get a booster dose, and continuing to take precautions."

Realted today:

Michigan reports 17,003 new Covid cases and 280 deaths over two days



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