The number of people diagnosed with coronavirus COVID-19 in Michigan climbed by 1,719 cases Wednesday, April 1, bringing the state’s total confirmed cases to 9,334.
With 78 new deaths reported since Tuesday, Michigan saw a 30 percent increase in fatalities in 24 hours. The number of deaths has reached 337.
One week ago today, the state had 2,295 cases and 43 deaths. Confirmed cases have increased significantly each day since the state began reporting numbers in early March.
Sixty-seven of Michigan’s 83 counties are home to confirmed coronavirus cases. Mackinac County joined the list Wednesday with its first confirmed case.
The majority of cases remain in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties with about 80 percent of the cases and almost 88 percent of the state’s deaths from COVID-19. The trio of counties are home to 39 percent of Michigan residents.
The disproportionate number of cases in the metro Detroit area is a result of multiple factors, including the large population, more aggressive testing in those counties and community spread of coronavirus, according to experts.
In 24 hours, Detroit’s total climbed from 2,080 to 2,472 cases with eight new deaths.
There are 1,910 cases in Oakland County, up from 1,591 the day before, and 1,088 cases in Macomb County, up from 853 on Tuesday. The two counties reported 29 and 13 new deaths, respectively.
Emmet, Ingham and Sanilac counties have each reported their first death from the virus.
Wednesday marked the state’s largest increase in positive tests in one day and marked the second consecutive day with an increase of more than 1,000 cases.
Health officials expected the number of confirmed cases to increase dramatically as more testing has become available.
Of the 24,934 total specimens tests in Michigan as of Tuesday, March 31, 5,861 tests were positive (23.5 percent) and 18,963 tests were negative for COVID-19.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency on March 10 after the first cases were identified. Since then, she has closed schools, bars, restaurants and other establishments to prevent further spread of the virus.
On Monday, March 23, she issued a “stay-at-home” order, requiring Michigan residents to stay at home except for essential business.
Earlier this week, Whitmer said it’s important to pause and reflect on the seriousness of this health crisis.
“I think we have a tendency to look at the numbers, the number of people who test positive, the death count," she said. “I think we have to pause and remember that every one of those is a person. It’s a Michigander whose life was cut short, who leaves loved ones and friends and a story behind.”
Read all of MLive’s coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.
To read more on MLive:
Wednesday, April 1: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan
Three weeks into Michigan’s coronavirus crisis, the numbers are rising exponentially