Coronavirus in Michigan: Heres what to know April 18, 2021 – WDIV ClickOnDetroit

DETROIT The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 785,307 as of Saturday, including 16,840 deaths, state officials report.

Saturdays update includes a total of 5,530 new cases and 69 additional deaths -- 60 of those deaths were identified from a Vital Records review.

Fridays update included a total of 8,955 new cases and 40 additional deaths. It was the second highest single-day case total in Michigan since the start of the pandemic. On Nov. 20, 2020 the state reported a total of 9,779 cases, its highest case total to date.

On Saturday, the state reported a total of 603,094 recoveries from COVID-19.

New: Michigan governor to appear on Meet the Press Sunday, April 18 with Dr. Anthony Fauci as states COVID cases continue surging

Latest: Worldwide COVID-19 death toll tops a staggering 3 million

Testing has been steady around 35,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate above 14% as of Friday, lower than one week ago. Hospitalizations have increased over the last several weeks, now at the highest point of the pandemic.

Michigan continues to lead the nation in new COVID-19 cases. The states 7-day moving average for daily cases was 6,949 on Friday -- the highest since November. The 7-day death average was 47 on Friday, slightly higher than the last two weeks. The states fatality rate is 2.2%. The state also reports active cases, which were listed at 175,000 on Friday.

Michigan has reported more than 5.7 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Thursday, with 44% of residents having received at least one dose.

According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 31.5 million cases have been reported in the U.S., with more than 566,000 deaths reported from the virus.

Worldwide, more than 140 million people have been confirmed infected and more than 3 million have died. More than 79 million have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, because of limited testing, different ways nations count the dead and deliberate under-reporting by some governments.

Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phases

Coronavirus headlines:

VIEW: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 vaccine doses

VIEW: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schools

Michigan has extended the COVID-19 order that implemented restrictions on gatherings, restaurants, entertainment venues and more.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services extended the epidemic order through May 24. It also expanded mask requirements to include children ages 2-4 years old.

Michigan continues to implement smart health policies and mitigation measures to fight the spread of COVID-19, MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said. This includes the requirement to wear a mask while in public and at gatherings, limits on indoor residential social gatherings larger than 15 people with no more than three households, and expanded testing requirements for youth sports.

Read the latest on the restrictions here.

The director of the CDC said the answer to Michigans alarming rise in COVID-19 cases isnt to vaccinate our way out of it, but to shut things down like the state did last spring and summer.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, spoke Monday about the COVID-19 situation in Michigan.

On Friday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called Michigan a COVID hotspot and called on the federal government to surge additional vaccines here in response to rising case numbers.