22 more die of COVID-19 in Muskegon County, but theres reason for optimism – mlive.com

December 4, 2020

MUSKEGON, MI More than 20 people died of COVID-19 in Muskegon County over the past week, though the growth in new cases has started trending downward, state and local data show.

Deaths due to COVID-19 increased from 159 on Nov. 24 to 181 on Dec. 3, most of which occurred among people in their 70s, according to Public Health-Muskegon County. The state put the total number of deaths at 185 as of Dec. 2.

The good news is that new cases seem to be dropping as is the number of people admitted to Mercy Health for treatment.

The number of new cases dropped by 27.4% between the periods of Nov. 12-25 and Nov. 26-Dec. 2, according to state figures. However, that reduction may be impacted by testing site shutdowns and a drop in testing demand due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Kathy Moore, director of the health department, told MLive.

Our epidemiologist told us there were fewer tests, so we would get fewer positives, Moore said.

Muskegon Countys total cases stood at 7,570 as of Thursday, Dec. 3, up 944 cases since Wednesday, Nov. 25, according to county statistics.

Related: Michigan reports 7,146 new coronavirus cases, 175 new deaths

The number of COVID-19 patients at Mercy Healths Mercy and Hackley campuses also is dropping.

Were seeing a very significant reduction in our COVID numbers from a hospitalization perspective, which is really, really good news, Mercy Health Muskegon President Gary Allore said in a recorded Community Covid-19 Update on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

There were with 100 COVID-19 patients at Mercy Healths Sherman Campus the morning of Thursday, Dec. 3, Moore said. Of those, 24 were in intensive care and 15 were on ventilators, she said.

Allore, citing a census of 92 on Dec. 2, said that 10 days earlier, the number of hospitalized patients was in the low 140s.

So far were seeing really great results, Allore said, later adding, Weve got a long way to go.

The ages of the 22 people who died of COVID-19 since Nov. 24 included one person in their 40s, two in their 50s, four in their 60s, 12 in their 70s and three in their 80s, according to county health department statistics.

Two more inmates from the Muskegon Correctional Facility died of COVID-19, bringing the prisons total to nine deaths, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections. The latest deaths were reported on Nov. 25 and Nov. 28.

Following a dreadful November in Muskegon County, when 93 COVID-19 deaths were reported, Moore is cautiously optimistic about what the latest numbers could signal.

The countys test positivity rate averaged 18.8% between Nov. 25-Dec. 1, which is down slightly from the 22.1% positivity rate that was the highest in the state, recorded between Nov. 17-23.

Moore said she needs a few more days of data to determine whether the latest state order shutting down restaurants, bars and high schools is the reason for the downward trend.

Related: Michigan health director talks limits to his authority in COVID-19 oversight hearing

About half of the countys recent severe cases can be attributed to people who were out and about and likely exposed at a social event, Moore said. The other half were really responsible residents, who tended to be older, stayed home and frequently washed their hands, she said.

We just dont know how they were exposed, Moore said.

Ottawa County reported a total of 14,386 cases on Dec. 2, up 1,919 from a week earlier. Deaths grew by 30, to a total of 159.

Oceana County had 1,203 cases as of Dec. 2, up 139 from a week earlier, according to the District Health Department No. 10. Deaths there grew by six, to a total of 22.

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