Michigan’s COVID-19 hospitalizations in recent weeks follow a surge of new cases, which has led all other states in the rate of used hospital and ICU beds for coronavirus patients.
Across the state, 11.9% of hospital beds are used for patients to treat COVID-19 patients. This is an increase of 203% since 28 February and is number 1 in the country.
As of Wednesday, April 7, Michigan hospitals treat 3,595 patients with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. This is a significant jump from the 2424 such patients a week before and less than a month ago.
In fact, the latest week-to-week increase is the largest of its kind since the initial spring boom in 2020.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday asked what it would take to tighten restrictions across the state again. Her government is closely monitoring hospital numbers.
“You know, we talk to our hospitals every day just to go in, to see what the rates are, to see if they get worried,” Whitmer said. “At this point … we do have hospitalizations that have increased, but it’s nothing like what we saw last spring, when we were so worried about the collapse of our health care system.
“It’s not even what we saw in the fall.”
The governor was right – the current count of 3,595 COVID-19 patients in hospital beds is still less than the 3941 patients of the fall, or the 4,365 patients of the first surge in April last year.
Recent estimates by Michigan Medicine, however, expect the state to set a new record for hospitalizations as early as Monday, April 12th. The latest model of the health system, presented by MDHHS during a virtual media discussion on Wednesday, projects by next week 4,522 Michiganders admitted to the hospital.
Another projection estimates that COVID-19 patients could climb into the ICU beds from 488 a week ago and 668 Wednesday to 888 by Monday. It would surpass the fall peak (814) but would not hit the April 2020 peak of more than 1600.
Elizabeth Hertel, director of MDHHS, said hospitals are once again starting to implement their training plans.
‘We know our hospitals are well equipped to deal with these congestion. “Unfortunately we have seen them do this a few times, and we will stay here to support them in everything they need,” Hertel said. ‘As we move forward in the spring, we continue to ensure that people use the mitigation measures, stay masked, keep social distance, keep us together and that we really focus on how we can ensure that our children are kept safe in school. These are the steps we continue to take. ”
Related: Coronavirus data in Michigan for Wednesday, April 7: Hospitalizations rose 1,000 last week
Hospital admissions have increased for all age groups, led by residents aged 50 to 59 since 28 February. In the past week, however, 40-49-year-olds have seen the largest increase in daily hospitalizations.
Below you can see the daily average hospital admissions for each age group and the percentage change during the past week:
- Pediatrics – 8.7 admissions per day, with 165% higher.
- 18-19 – 2.1 per day, with 0% higher.
- 20-29 – 2.1 per day, by 38% higher.
- 30-39 – 42.6 per day, with 41% higher.
- 40-49 – 62 per day, with 60% higher.
- 50-59 – 97.9 per day, with 48% higher.
- 60-69 – 90.3 per day, with 45% higher.
- 70-79 – 63.7 per day, 23% higher.
- 80+ – 48 per day, with 38% higher.
In the hospital admissions for COVID-18 during the current surge (March 4 to April 3) with the fall surge (October 18 to November 17), age groups 0 to 59 reported more admissions this time. Residents 60-69 have approximately the same admissions per day, while the age groups of 70 to 79 and 80 to 89 years have decreased in hospitalizations.
Health officials believe the vaccination rates, which are higher among the priority groups for older groups, may have contributed to the reduced admission for the 65+ people. The three vaccinations available in the US have been shown to effectively reduce the chance of severe COVID-19 and hence hospitalization.
All regions of Michigan report increases in hospitalizations. The regions of Detroit and Traverse City reported increases over five weeks, while the Kalamazoo region reported increases over four weeks, the Jackson region over three weeks, and the Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Lansing and Upper Peninsula regions over fortnight.
In addition, daily cases and test positivity increased in all eight regions and nationwide.
The regions in Detroit have the lowest hospitalization rates and report more than 400 per million residents. Looking at the latest adjustments from week to week, the Grand Rapids region saw the largest increase (101%), followed by the Upper Peninsula region (80%).
Both regions increased hospitalization by at least 19%. The Upper Peninsula region alone has fewer than 160 hospitalizations per one million inhabitants.
Michigan added 8,015 new cases and another 30 deaths Wednesday, as the seven-day average climbed to 6,174 cases and 34 deaths a day.
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