A majority of Michigan counties are still showing declines in their seven-day average of new coronavirus cases.
But -- and it’s a major caveat -- positivity rates on coronavirus diagnostic tests are much more mixed.
There are still 32 counties with seven-day average positivity rates above 15%, based on numbers released Friday, Nov. 27. Those counties include Macomb, Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Saginaw, Bay, Livingston, Berrien, Van Buren, Allegan and Barry.
50,436
Statewide, Michigan reported 46,764 new coronavirus cases between Nov. 21-27, down 7% compared to 50,436 the previous seven days.
The state’s current seven-day average positivity rate is 12.8%, down from 13.4% a week ago today.
Below is a closer look at the county-level data, based on the metrics used by the Michigan Department of Heath and Human Services in assessing coronavirus risk levels. The scale used by MDHHS has six levels -- “low” plus Levels A-E.
First, a look at the seven-day average positivity rates by county, grouped by the state’s metric. The numbers are for testing results reported to the state between Nov. 20-26.
- Level E (over 20%): Three counties, highest to lowest -- Hillsdale, Muskegon and Missaukee
- Level D (15-20%): 29 counties, highest to lowest -- Berrien, Monroe, Barry, Dickinson, Cass, Oceana, Arenac, Van Buren, Lapeer, Lake, Branch, Roscommon, Macomb, Baraga, Gogebic, Allegan, Alcona, Tuscola, Wexford, Bay, Ontonagon, Osceola, Sanilac, Saginaw, Benzie, Livingston, Newaygo, Ottawa and Kent.
- Level C (10-15%): 30 counties, highest to lowest -- Kalkaska, Lenawee, Menominee, Ogemaw, St. Clair, Ionia, Genesee, Iosco, Mecosta, Jackson, Montcalm, Oakland, Huron, Oscoda, Crawford, St. Joseph, Montmorency, Shiawassee, Wayne, Eaton, Calhoun, Delta, Cheboygan, Grand Traverse, Gladwin, Kalamazoo, Clinton, Presque Isle, Manistee and Isabella.
- Level B (7-10%): 13 counties, highest to lowest -- Ingham, Midland, Marquette, Antrim, Otsego, Charlevoix, Chippewa, Clare, Leelanau, Mason, Alpena, Houghton and Iron.
- Level A (3-7%): Six counties -- Washtenaw, Emmet, Mackinac, Keweenaw, Gratiot and Luce.
- Low (under 3%): Alger and Schoolcraft.
The interactive map below shows the seven-day average testing rate by county as of Nov. 24. If you can’t see the map, click here. You can put your cursor over a county to see the underlying data.
New cases per capita
New daily cases per capita is another metric used by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to access coronavirus risk.
In this metric -- which calculates the average number of new cases per 1 million residents -- 81 counties are at Level E, the highest risk level on the MDHHS scale. The cutoff for Level E is 150 cases per day per million residents. Alger and Schoolcraft counties are at Level D.
Here is an online database that allows readers to see the number of new coronavirus cases in the past seven days compared to the previous week, as well as the per capita number that adjusts for population.
Can’t see the chart? Click here.
MDHHS overall score by region
MDHHS has assigned an overall score to each of the state’s MI Start regions, looking at factors such as new cases and deaths per capita, test positivity rates, number of tests administered and emergency department visits for COVID-19 symptoms.
Since Nov. 4, all eight of Michigan’s MI Start regions have been at the highest level the state uses to assess coronavirus risk.
This interactive map shows those eight regions and their current scores. You can put your cursor over a county to see the underlying data.
(The state’s MI Start districts: Region 1 is the Detroit region; Region 2 is Grand Rapids; Region 3, Kalamazoo; Region 4, Saginaw; Region 5, Lansing; Region 6, Traverse City; Region 7, Lansing, and Region 8, the Upper Peninsula.)
Read more on MLive:
Girl at center of Grand Rapids police controversy dies of coronavirus, family says
Exhausted in a ‘nightmare’: A look inside a Michigan hospital COVID unit
CDC removes guidelines encouraging in-person learning amid COVID-19 pandemic
Coronavirus on campus: How Michigan colleges handled it and what the winter semester holds