COVID is climbing in the U.S. What about Michigan? – MLive.com

Coronavirus is back in the headlines as the calendar flips to July.

Federal officials estimate COVID-19 infections are on the rise in 43 states, including Michigan, though viral tracking isnt as efficient as it was during the height of the pandemic.

An estimated 23 states have growing infection rates, based on daily emergency department visits for COVID-19. Another 20 states have rates that are probably growing, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The viral infection that took the world by storm in 2020 accounted for less than 1% of emergency department visits in the U.S. for Jun 16 to June 22. Those visits were up 23% from the previous week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Focusing on Michigan, data from the state health department indicates little change week-over-week.

Michigans reported infections have remained consistent for at least two months. The week ending June 22 included 807 reported COVID-19 cases, which wasnt far from the 813 cases reported the week ending April 20.

Trips to the emergency room and urgent care centers for COVID account for less than 1% of visits, which has been the case since mid-March. The 12 COVID deaths from the week ending June 15 fell into the typical range (4 to 20) since late March.

Related: CDC ends 5-day isolation time for those who test positive for COVID-19

In recent weeks, infections have generally been higher in the south and out west. Summer upticks have been common in recent years as hot temperatures push residents back indoors where viral transmission is more likely.

The highest rates of tests coming back positive for COVID belong to Region 9 (California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii) and Region 10 (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska).

Hawaii had the highest percentage of emergency department visits with COVID last week (5%), followed by Florida (1.8%), Washington (1.6%), Arizona (1.6%), New Mexico (1.6%), and Alaska (1.5%).

The CDC is recommending everyone ages 6 months and older receive a yet-to-be-released COVID-19 vaccine this fall to protect against severe illness. The new shot will ideally target the KP.2 strain of omicron, which accounted for about 21% of cases as of June 22.

Our top recommendation for protecting yourself and your loved ones from respiratory illness is to get vaccinated, said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen in a prepared statement. Make a plan now for you and your family to get both updated flu and COVID vaccines this fall, ahead of the respiratory virus season.

More than 6.3 million Michigan residents have gotten at least one does of a COVID-19 vaccine, accounting for about 63% of the population. About 12.5% of residents got the latest booster, which was made available fall 2023.

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COVID is climbing in the U.S. What about Michigan? - MLive.com