Michigan saw its typical Sunday dip in reported COVID-19 cases and deaths July 12.
The number of new coronavirus cases dropped below 400 for the first time in nearly a week.
Daily figures provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services show 390 new confirmed coronavirus cases, as well as one additional confirmed death. It’s the lowest number of new cases since 297 were reported July 6.
Figures on weekends, particularly Sundays, have typically been lower since the Michigan outbreak began, as not all county health departments provide an update on those days to MDHHS.
Michigan reports fewer than 400 new coronavirus cases for first time in six days
Michigan has seen a total of 69,338 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6,068 confirmed deaths since March. MDHHS also reports a total of 7,438 probable cases and an additional 246 probable deaths.
While recent COVID-19 numbers have seen an upward trend -- with a seven-day average of 494, up from 373 the prior week -- the fatality rate has fallen to 8.8 percent, down from 9.1 percent last Sunday. Health officials, however, say trends in death numbers typically lag behind rises in case counts.
Here are the latest stories on coronavirus in Michigan.
Betsy DeVos says CDC school guidelines for coronavirus ‘meant to be flexible’
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday morning that the CDC guidelines in place for schools to reopen this fall are meant to be flexible.
“The CDC guidelines are just that, meant to be flexible and meant to be applied as appropriate for the situation,” DeVos, who was speaking from Grand Rapids, told CNN’s Dana Bash in a more than 20-minute interview.
DeVos said repeatedly the key is for kids to return to school full-time.
“We know there are going to be hot spots and those are going to need to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis,” she said.
The secretary said what full-time learning looks like this fall will vary, depending upon the district, but the bottom line is schools need to be open.
She said she is OK with schools closing for a short time if there is a prevalence of coronavirus cases, but schools need to be making plans to deal with those situations when they arise, and not preparing to begin the school year remotely.
When asked whether the U.S. Department of Education had guidelines in place for districts to follow if those situations did arise, DeVos said districts should have individual plans in place as every situation is different.
“Schools should do what’s right on the ground at the time for their students and for their situation,” DeVos said. “There is no uniform approach that we can take or should take nationwide.”
The secretary was asked if she was concerned about a record number of new COVID-19 cases on Friday, July 10 and the fact that 45 of 50 states are seeing higher daily averages of new cases now as compared to when schools closed in March.
DeVos pointed to children being a low-risk demographic and said: “There is nothing in the data that would suggest that it is dangerous to them and it’s more for a matter of their health and well-being they be back in school.”
“We want to see every school district in every state doing the same thing to say not what we can’t do, but what we can do and what we’re going to do,” she said.
To see the full interview click here.
Trump, Biden take different approaches to campaigning, amid coronavirus concerns in Michigan
While President Donald Trump’s reelection campaigners are knocking on doors in Michigan, organizers for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden are worried that resuming normal campaign activities could contribute to the spread of COVID-19.
Holding large events where people have the potential to come into close contact runs counter to the recommendations of public health experts, but Michigan remains an important presidential battleground with 16 electoral votes coveted by both candidates.
Trump and Biden held major rallies and events across the country as the first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, though only Trump has returned to the campaign trail since the pandemic caused mass shutdowns of businesses and public spaces.
New cases of the virus continue to be counted at a rapid clip in battleground states like Arizona, Florida, Texas and Oklahoma, while Michigan has been experiencing a spike in confirmed cases in July.
“I think both presidential campaigns, if they had their druthers, would be doing some kind of in-person events,” said John Sellek, a veteran campaign strategist and owner of Harbor Strategic Public Affairs. “The Trump campaign clearly has done far more of those kind of events. Based on the turnout in Tulsa, I have to assume that his campaign will reevaluate how useful it is to put on or to attempt to put on large scale events.”
Mid-Michigan Walmart store listed as possible coronavirus exposure site
A mid-Michigan Walmart store has been listed as a potential COVID-19 exposure site.
The Shiawassee County Health Department issued a statement Friday, July 10 after being notified of an employee at the Owosso Walmart Supercenter, 1621 East M-21, tested positive for the upper respiratory virus.
“This employee wore a mask during their shifts,” the statement reads. “Walmart Supercenter is working with the Shiawassee County Health Department during this time.”
The health department said it would release information on public exposure sites -- including large gatherings and high-traffic establishments -- when close contacts cannot be identified.
Anyone who visited the store from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, July 6 or 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, July 8 have been asked by the county health department to self-monitor for symptoms due to the possible exposure.
Health officials in Lapeer County are advising anyone who recently traveled to an Imlay City restaurant to self-monitor for symptoms after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
Kathy Haskins, director of the Lapeer County Health Department, issued a statement Friday, July 10 after officials learned the test result of an employee at the Lucky’s Steakhouse in Imlay City.
The business voluntarily closed Friday evening “to ensure that a thorough cleaning of the facility can be accomplished, and employees who worked closely with the positive case will be quarantined,” Haskins said.
The restaurant has since reopened for business.
Anyone who went to the restaurant at the intersection of M-53 and Newark Road on Thursday, July 9 or Friday, July 10 is asked by the health department to closely monitor themselves for the next 14 days and consider taking a COVID-19 test.
“You should also take extra precautions to ensure that you do not transmit the virus to others. Remember that you may be able to spread the disease for up to 48 hours prior to symptoms, and a number of individuals will be asymptomatic,” said Haskins. “The virus spreads through respiratory droplets between people who are in close contact with one another. This generally occurs when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.”
Kalamazoo plasma center a possible coronavirus exposure site
The Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department is suggesting those who donated plasma June 27-29 or July 3, 6 or 8-9 at Grifols BioMat USA get tested for the novel coronavirus.
The plasma center, located at 167 E. Kalamazoo Ave., reportedly has had one symptomatic employee who was at the center on those dates test positive for COVID-19, a news release from the county states.
The medical/clinical employee with COVID-19 was wearing a face covering and shield while working; however, transmission is still possible due to the prolonged close contact that may occur during the process of plasma donation, the release states.
PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.