Michigan saw 460 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus announced on Friday, the second-highest number of new cases since June 1, according to analysis from BridgeMI.
The number follows Thursday’s 543 new cases, the highest number since June 1. The two-day total breaks the 1,000 confirmed cases mark.
Michigan currently has 64,675 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with an additional 7,003 possible cases, according to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The death toll for the state is currently 5,966.
The areas hit the hardest include the City of Detroit, followed by Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Kent counties, in that order. Detroit currently has more than 11,600 confirmed cases and 1,445 deaths. Wayne County, which is counted separately from Detroit, has more than 10,400 confirmed cases and 1,163 deaths. Oakland County — the third hardest hit area — has a little more than 9,000 confirmed cases and 1,049 deaths.
They were followed by Macomb County with more than 7,000 confirmed cases and 882 deaths and Kent County with more than 4,700 confirmed cases and 133 deaths.
Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are also battling the virus, with more than 7,000 confirmed cases among residents. Of these, 5,523 have recovered or are currently recovering, while 1,980 have died.
Whitmer moved Michigan to Phase 4 of her MI Safe Start plan at the beginning of June. Under the plan, Phase 4 reopens retail, restaurants and bars, among others. She also announced that schools would be reopening in the fall.
The increase in cases follows the eased lockdown restrictions and reopened bars, restaurants and retail. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer closed bars again on Wednesday but said that restaurants and bar are now allowed to deliver alcohol directly to customers.
“We owe it to our front line heroes who have sacrificed so much during this crisis to do everything we can to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the chance of a resurgence like we are seeing in other states,” Whitmer said in a statement announcing the bar closures. “Following recent outbreaks tied to bars, I am taking this action today to slow the spread of the virus and keep people safe. If we want to be in a strong position to reopen schools for in-person classroom instruction this fall, then we need to take aggressive action right now to ensure we don’t wipe out all the progress we have made.”
More than 51,000 people have recovered from the coronavirus in Michigan, according to the MDHHS.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected].
