LANSING (AP) — Michigan on Saturday reported more than 3,000 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus — the highest yet during the pandemic — amid what a top health official called “alarming increases” in infections around the state.
The 3,338 new COVID-19 cases reported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services surpassed the state’s previous single-day record of 2,030 new cases set on Oct. 15. That earlier record had topped the previous record of 1,953 from early April.
The state agency also reported Saturday 35 more deaths from COVID-19, raising Michigan’s pandemic toll to 7,182 deaths.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said in a statement the data shows that “we are continuing to see alarming increases in the incidence of COVID-19 infections in Michigan.“
She said it's “now more important than ever that people take this seriously” and urged Michigan residents to wear a face mask every time they are around someone outside of their own household, to practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings.
“If rates continue like this, we risk overwhelming our hospitals and having many more Michiganders die,” Khaldun said.
She noted that the data reported Saturday doesn’t reflect the pandemic’s most current trends in Michigan. Khaldun said more than 96 percent of the new test results originated from specimens collected from individuals over the past five days.
She said Michigan is continuing to see coronavirus infection clusters associated with facilities, programs and schools that, along with a large number of community-acquired cases, have helped fuel the increase in COVID-19 infections.
