Last updated Tuesday, April 30, at 2:31 p.m. Because hospital reporting data is now voluntary, Bridge Michigan stopped its weekly updates of COVID numbers on April 30, 2024.

Michigan reported 1,440 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases for the week ending Tuesday, up from the 854 reported last week.

However, records show that over 500 of those occurred before April, including 458 from late 2023 through February, the result of late results from laboratories.

The state reported 18 additional deaths for the week ending Tuesday, a 22% drop from the 23 reported April 2.

The number of confirmed COVID-19-positive hospital patients fell Monday to 137, down 7% from the 147 reported a week earlier.

Monday marked the last time the state plans to report COVID-19-positive hospitalizations because an expiration of a federal mandate now makes it voluntary for hospitals to report that data. That makes the data incomplete and limits its value as an indicator of COVID-19 trends. 

Because of that, Bridge Michigan will cease publishing its weekly COVID-19 Tracker this week. However, the state will continue to report case and deaths data.

Since mid-January, case numbers and hospitalizations have fallen dramatically, with the latter near historic lows during a pandemic that started in March 2020. COVID-19 has been a suspected cause of more than 44,900 deaths in Michigan, 1.18 million in the U.S. and over 7 million worldwide.— Mike Wilkinson

April 23, 2024

Cases down 20%

Michigan reported 854 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases for the week ending Tuesday, down 20% from the 1,066 reported last week.

The state reported 23 additional deaths for the week ending Tuesday, a 44% jump from the 16 reported April 2.

The number of confirmed COVID-19-positive hospital patients fell Monday to 147, down 27% from the 186 reported a week earlier.

Experts say that state-reported cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, April 16

Cases drop 27% 

Michigan public health officials reported 1,066 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases for the week ending Tuesday, down 27% from the 1,458 reported last week.

The state reported 16 additional deaths for the week ending Tuesday, a 48% drop from the 30 reported April 2.

The number of confirmed COVID-19-positive hospital patients fell Monday to 186, down 20% from the 233 reported a week earlier. It marks the first time hospitalizations have been below 200 since Aug. 11, when the state reported 175 COVID-19-positive hospital patients.

Related: Whitmer under fire for ‘intentional attack’ on Michigan government watchdog

Experts say that state-reported cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, April 9

COVID cases stable, deaths fall

Michigan public health officials reported 1,458 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases for the week ending Tuesday, down slightly from the 1,463 reported last week.

The state reported 30 additional deaths for the week ending Tuesday, down from the 36 reported April 2.

The number of confirmed COVID-19-positive hospital patients fell Monday to 233, down from 247 a week earlier.

Related: Whitmer book spurs president talk, joins list of Michigan political reads

Experts say that state-reported cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, April 2

COVID cases stable, deaths fall

Michigan on Tuesday reported 1,463 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases for the week ending Tuesday, down 18% from the 1,785 reported last week.

The state reported 36 additional deaths for the week ending Tuesday, up from the 34 reported March 26.

The number of confirmed COVID-19-positive hospital patients fell Monday to 247, down from 307 a week earlier. The last time it was lower was on Aug. 23 when there were 207 reported COVID-19-positive patients.

Experts say that state-reported cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, March 26

COVID cases up 30%

Michigan reported 1,785 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases for the week ending Tuesday, up 30% from the 1,369 reported last week.

The state reported 34 additional deaths, down from 35 deaths reported March 19.

The number of confirmed COVID-19-positive hospital patients fell Monday to 307, down from 331 a week earlier.

Experts say that state-reported cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, March 19

Cases fall fall as state changes COVID-19 reporting

Michigan reported 1,369 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases Tuesday, down from the 1,848 confirmed cases reported last week.

The state reported 35 additional deaths.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services this week discontinued reporting confirmed and probable cases, instead reporting an aggregate of the two. 

Bridge Michigan had only used confirmed cases since the pandemic began in March 2020.

In making the change, the state’s reported case total is now 3.3 million since the pandemic began, including 521,000 probable cases and 2.7 million confirmed cases. There have been a 44,763 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths; of those, 40,170 were confirmed cases, according to last week’s data.

COVID-19 reporting has changed across the country, both by states and the media, few of which report weekly cases and deaths. Many stopped last May when the federal COVID-19 health emergency ended May 11, 2023.

The number of confirmed COVID-19-positive hospital patients fell Monday to 331, the lowest since 289 were reported Sept. 1, 2023.

Experts say that state reported cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, March 12

Cases fall 24%

Michigan reported 1,848 weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases Tuesday, down 24% from 2,434 last week.

The decline comes as the number of confirmed COVID-19-positive hospital patients fell Monday to 410, the lowest since 396 were reported Sept. 11, 2023. Hospitalizations peaked this year at 1,275 on Jan. 3.

The state also reported 66 additional COVID-19-positive deaths, a 10% increase from the 60 reported last week. Of the new deaths, 31 occurred in March, 34 in February and 3 in January.

Related: Michigan bottle returns fall after COVID, prompting get-tough push on grocers

So far, there have been 493 COVID-19 deaths in 2024. 

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, March 5

Cases fall 21%

Michigan reported 2,434 weekly confirmed COVID-19 cases Tuesday, down 21% from last week when 3,071 were reported.

The decline comes as the number of confirmed COVID-19-positive hospital patients fell Monday below 500 to 496. It’s the first time the state’s 164 hospitals have had fewer than 500 since Nov. 8, when there were 476.

Hospitalizations peaked at 1,275 on Jan. 3.

Related: CDC drops most COVID-19 isolation guidelines. What it means in Michigan

The state also reported 60 additional COVID-19-positive deaths. Of those, 48 occurred in February, eight in January and three in March. So far, there have been 427 COVID-19 deaths in 2024. 

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Feb. 28

Michigan surpasses 40K COVID deaths

Michigan has surpassed 40,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, according to the latest state data released Tuesday, climbing to 40,044 since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The tally includes 45 deaths reported Tuesday. Of the latest, 17 occurred in January and 27 in February. There have now been 368 in 2024. There were 2,323 in 2023.

The state also reported 3,071 new confirmed COVID-19 cases Tuesday, down 7% from the 3,316 reported last week.

Related: After high-profile feud, Ottawa County health leader to stay put

The state’s 164 hospitals reported 542 confirmed COVID-19 patients on Monday, down from the 566 reported a week earlier.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Feb. 20

Daily cases decline 9%

Michigan is approaching a grim milestone, with the state tally of confirmed COVID-19 deaths at 39,999 since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The number includes another 14 confirmed deaths during weekly reporting Tuesday. Last week, daily cases fell 9% to an average of 474 per day from 521 the preceding week.

Of the deaths, seven occurred in January and seven in February. So far in 2024, there have been 324 deaths.

Related: COVID-positive? Five-day isolation still recommended in Michigan

The state’s 164 hospitals reported 566 confirmed COVID-19 patients on Monday, down from the 601 reported a week earlier.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Feb. 13

Cases climb 7%

Confirmed COVID-19 cases last week climbed 7% to an average of 521 this week, up from 489 the week before, Michigan public health officials reported on Tuesday.

It is the second consecutive week of increases after four weeks of declines. 

The state also reported 19 additional COVID-19-positive deaths Tuesday, down from 227 a week ago. The vast majority of the deaths reported last week, 195, were in January and were reported later than usual.

Of the 19 reported Tuesday, 12 occurred in January, six in February and one in December. There have now been 310 confirmed deaths in 2024; there were 2,320 in all of 2023.

Related: Homeschool parents mobilize to fight Michigan efforts to add oversight

Seniors, and especially those over 80, are increasingly the most susceptible to COVID-19 fatalities, statistics show. Since the first week of December, 53% COVID-19 deaths in Michigan were those 80 or older, compared to 41% of the 39,173 deaths before then.

Those under 60 make up 14% of all deaths since the pandemic began in 2020 — but just under 8% of all deaths since December, a Bridge Michigan analysis of demographic data shows.

The state’s 164 hospitals reported 601 confirmed COVID-19 patients on Monday, up from the 569 reported a week earlier.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Feb. 6

Cases climb after weeks of declines

Confirmed COVID-19 cases last week climbed to an average of 489 per day, up from an average of 445 the week before, Michigan public health officials reported on Tuesday.

The uptick followed four straight weeks of declining cases. 

The state’s 164 hospitals reported 569 confirmed COVID-19 patients on Monday, down from a high so far this year of 1,275 on Jan. 3.

Data released Tuesday also added another 227 deaths to Michigan’s tally, bringing the pandemic total to 39,996. Most of the deaths were in mid-December, and the jump is likely “due to holiday backfill” and a technical glitch, according to Lynn Sutfin, a state health department spokesperson.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends. — Robin Erb

Tuesday, Jan. 30

Cases fall to 445 per day

Confirmed COVID-19 cases dropped 15% to an average of 445 cases per day, down from 523 the week before, Michigan public health officials reported on Tuesday.

The state also reported 57 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down nearly 30 percent from the 82 reported the previous week.

Of the deaths, 15 occurred in December, bringing that month’s total to 294. There were 621 in December 2022. Another 42 of the deaths occurred this month, bringing the January total to 92.

It’s the fourth consecutive week of declining cases.

Related: Michigan mom sues for disability in latest U.S. legal battle over long COVID

The state’s 164 hospitals reported 675 confirmed COVID-19 patients on Monday, down from 788 a week earlier.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday,  Jan. 23

Cases drop again

Confirmed COVID-19 cases dropped 24 percent to an average of 523 cases per day from 684 the week before, Michigan public health officials reported on Tuesday.

The state also reported 82 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, down nearly 50 percent from 156 reported the previous week.

Of the deaths, 51 occurred in December, bringing that month’s total to 279. There were 621 in December 2022. Another 24 of the deaths occurred this month.

The decline in cases comes as the number of confirmed COVID-19 hospital patients has fallen. The state’s 164 hospitals reported 788 confirmed COVID-19 patients on Monday, down from 999 a week earlier and 1,275 on Jan. 3, the peak of this winter’s surge. In past years, there have been as many as 5,000 COVID-19-positive hospital patients.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Jan. 16

Deaths increase

Michigan public health officials reported an additional 156 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, the most reported in a single week since November 2022.

Of those, 92 occurred in December, bringing the monthly total to 228 — the most in a month since 273 in February 2023. 

Even so, the total was the lowest for the month of December since the pandemic began:  There were 621 that month in 2022, compared to 3,394 in December 2021 and 3,316 in December 2020.

While more deaths could be reported in coming weeks, 2,222 COVID-19 deaths were reported in 2023, by far the lowest of the pandemic. There were 9,325 deaths in 2022, 15,004 in 2021 and 13,019 in 2020.

Related: Michigan businesses ask court to make state pay for COVID-19 losses

The increase in reported deaths followed a weeks-long increase in confirmed cases and hospitalizations that now appears to be in decline.

Confirmed cases fell 36 percent this past week to 4,785. That was the second straight week of decline. Hospitalizations, which hit 1,275 on Jan. 3, fell to 999 on Monday, the lowest since it was 962 on Dec. 20.

Of the deaths, 22 were in November and 25 in January.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends.— Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Jan. 7

Cases fall 3 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases fell 3 percent to 7,414 this week, down from 7,607 the week before, according to new state health data released Tuesday.

That ended nine straight weeks of increases. Confirmed COVID-19 deaths, which typically occur weeks after an initial infection, rose 16 percent this week to 65 from 56.

The number of reported deaths has increased five consecutive weeks, from 26 in the week ending Dec. 19.

Related: Flu, respiratory illnesses, other crud make this misery season in Michigan

Of the deaths, 58 were in December and four in January. The state has now recorded 136 COVID-19 deaths in December 2023, up from 129 in November.

There were 621 COVID-19 deaths in December 2022; 3,394 in December 2021 and 3,316 in December 2020.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 fell to 1,200 on Monday, a drop from 1,260 the week before. The most recent peak was the 1,275 on Jan. 3, which was the highest since 1,294 on Jan. 4, 2022.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Jan. 2

Cases jump 10 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 10 percent to 7,607, up from 6,903 the week before, according to new state health data released Tuesday.

It’s the ninth straight week of increased counts, dating to the first week of November. The current daily average of 1,087 is the highest since the first week of January 2023, when it was 1,133.

The state also reported 56 additional COVID-19 deaths, up 22 percent from 46 the week before and more than triple the 17 reported the week of Dec. 19.

Of the deaths, 36 occurred in December and 17 in November. 

For 2023, the state has now reported 2,025 COVID-19 deaths. There were 9,325 in 2022, 15,004 in 2021 and 13,019 in 2020, the first year of the pandemic.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have risen markedly, with 1,149 COVID-19-postive patients as of Dec. 27, the last day the state has reported a total. That’s up from 1,067 on Dec. 26 and from 962 on Dec. 20. 

The state reports COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Dec. 29 and Jan. 1 were state holidays.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Dec. 19

Cases jump 12 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 12 percent to 6,879 from 6,133 the week before, according to new state health data released Tuesday.

The state also reported 26 additional COVID-19 deaths, up 53 percent from 17 the week before. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 were 941 on Monday, up slightly from 944 the week before.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends.

Of the deaths, 13 were in December and 12 in November. For the year, 1,926 have died, by far the fewest since the pandemic began in 2020. There were 9,325 COVID-19 deaths in 2022. — Mike Wilkinson

Tuesday, Dec. 12

Cases jump 5 percent

Confirmed weekly COVID-19 cases rose 5 percent to 6,133 from 5,823 the week before, according to new state health data released Tuesday.

The state also reported 17 additional COVID-19 deaths, down from 22 the week before, a 23 percent decline.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 increased 2 percent to 944 on Monday from 922. However, hospitalizations hit 991 last Wednesday, the highest since early January.

Experts say that state-confirmed cases are likely a vast undercount because many people either no longer test for the virus when they have symptoms or rely on home tests. Still, case counts are an indication of overall trends.

Of the deaths, 16 occurred in December and nine in November. For the year, 1,899 have died, by far the fewest since the pandemic began in 2020. There were 9,326 COVID-19 deaths in 2022.

Amid the upswing in cases, the Biden administration and state health officials continue to make testing free to the public. Residents can log onto COVID.gov/tests to order up to eight at-home tests per household. Free home tests are available at some Michigan libraries, although supplies are limited and some libraries may no longer participate.

The state also provides a list of free testing sites, including MDHHS community sites. Michiganders can also call the state’s COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136. The CDC also provides a searchable list of free testing sites across the country.— Mike Wilkinson