Michigan is now at its peak when it comes to daily COVID-19 cases, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said during a press conference Wednesday.
She said the peak is higher than what the state saw in April. She urged Michiganders to double down on wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing.
Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said the case rate is 80 percent more than one month ago. The percentage of positive tests is 4.9%, which represents community spread across the state.
Dr. Khaldun said all regions of the state have seen an increase in hospitalizations over the past three weeks.
Deaths are also slowly increasing, she said. A month ago, the state had a seven-day average of nine deaths per day. As of Oct. 18, that number is now 15.
Local health departments are investigating 393 outbreaks across the state. A high number of outbreaks stems from care facilities, educational settings and social gatherings. Additionally, there are 18 new and ongoing outbreaks from religious gatherings.
"We have to remember that this virus is still very active," Dr. Khaldun said. "The more we can all come together and do the right thing, the easier this will be and the more lives that will be saved."
