Michigan reports 1,791 new COVID-19 cases, 23 deaths on Saturday

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (FOX 2) - On Saturday, October 17, 2020, the state of Michigan announced 1,791 new cases of COVID-19 and 23 more deaths. The deaths announced today includes 15 deaths identified during a Vital Records review.

However, on Thursday Michigan said the increase in cases was due to a "slowdown in the reporting of electronic laboratory results." It's unclear yet if the state is attributing Friday's high case total to that slowdown as well. No such memo was given on the state's website as of 3 p.m.

The totals in the state are now at 144,897 cases and 7,010 deaths. You can see case rates and deaths from weeks prior below.

On Thursday, Michigan said it receives tens of thousands of test results every day which are processed through commercial software designed and integrated into the state health systems.

"The evening of Oct. 14, a slowdown in the processing of messages from COVID-19 testing laboratories to the Michigan Disease Surveillance System was noted. The issue has been resolved. No information was lost due to the slowdown. The processing of confirmed cases is again fully operational," the state said in a press release.

At 2,030 cases, Thursday's report was the highest single-day case report, eclipsing the previous high of 1,953 set in early April. In the graph above, you may other peaks since the start of September that appear higher than Wednesday's totals. Those numbers are Monday reported cases and are reflective of cases over two days, Sunday and Monday.

The new cases and deaths comes after Tuesday's ominous warning from Dr. Joneigh Khaldun that Michigan could be in the beginning of a second wave of coronavirus cases.

The state’s seven-day average for coronavirus cases was just over 1,000 on Monday, Oct. 12 - the highest since April.

"It is very possible this is the beginning of a second wave," said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan chief medical executive. "The virus has not changed. It is an opportunist. If people are not wearing masks, if people are gathering, if people are not washing their hands, it will spread." The number of new cases reported statewide Tuesday was 1,237.

Following the warning, the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate approved bills extending unemployment benefits, increasing liability protection for health care providers offering services, and reversing a nursing home policy that allowed elderly patients infected with the virus to be placed in facilities where non-infected patients were located.

Michigan updated its list of coronavirus outbreaks, cases in schools and universities with more than 5,000 cases in educational institutions on Monday.

In the latest coronavirus news in Michigan, Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon issued an emergency order on Friday to restrict gathering sizes, requiring face coverings in public spaces and childcare facilities, placing capacity limitations on stores, bars, and other public venues, and providing for safer workplaces, all in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The orders essentially replace orders that Governor Gretchen Whitmer had issued via emergency orders which were struck down by the Supreme Court a week earlier. The ruling said she illegally drew authority from a 1945 law that doesn't apply. You can read more about that here.

OUTBREAKS

On Monday, Sept. 14, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services started tracking outbreaks in schools across the entire state.

Using data from 45 health departments, the updates will be released every Monday at 3 p.m. and will include K-12, college and universities, number of cases, and if the cases involved staff, students, or both. It does not include cases where the virus was contracted from outside of the school.

You can read about the latest outbreak data in schools here.

CONTACT TRACING

Authorities are still urging everyone to answer their phones if you get a call from the health department. Text messages are also now being sent in advance of the incoming call.

Talking with the health department helps track where others may have been exposed to the virus.

Meanwhile, everyone is also still reminded to keep doing the basics to stay healthy - wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your distance from other people.

PREVIOUS DAILY COVID-19 CASE COUNTS AND DEATHS

Friday, October 16 - 2,015 cases, 14 deaths
Thursday, October 15 - 2,030 cases in largest single-day report ever, later attributed to a "system slowdown"; 32 deaths (21 identified through vital records review)
Wednesday, October 14 - 1,359 cases, 13 deaths
Tuesday, October 13 - 1,237 cases, 30 deaths (10 identified during a Vital Records review)
Monday, October 12 - 1,809 cases, 7 deaths announced over two days as the state no longer reports cases on Sundays
Saturday, October 10 - 1,522 cases, 15 deaths (10 deaths identified during a Vital Records review)
Friday, October 9 - 1,095 cases, 7 deaths
Thursday, October 8 - 1,197 cases, 22 deaths (20 identified through vital records review)
Wednesday, October 7 - 1,016 cases, 9 deaths
Tuesday, October 6 - 908 cases, 22 deaths (7 identified through vital records review)
Monday, October 5 - 1,407 cases, 15 deaths
Saturday, October 3 - 1,158 cases, 13 deaths
Friday, October 2 - 780 cases, 7 deaths
Wednesday, September 30 - 1,054 cases, 11 deaths
Tuesday, September 29 - 898 cases, 20 deaths (4 identified through vital records review)
Monday, September 28 - 1,308 cases, 8 deaths announced over two days as the state no longer reports cases on Sundays
Saturday, September 26 - 901 cases, 15 deaths (includes 11 identified during a Vital Records review)
Friday, September 25 - 929 cases, 8 deaths
Thursday, September 24 - 982 cases, 8 deaths (includes 6 deaths identified during a Vital Records review)
Wednesday, September 23 - 705 cases, 12 deaths
Tuesday, September 22 - 504 cases, 15 deaths (includes 3 deaths identified during a Vital Records review)
Monday, September 21 - 1,536 cases, 12 deaths announced in the past two days as the state no longer reports cases on Sundays
Saturday, September 19 - 483 cases, 15 deaths (includes 12 deaths identified during a Vital Records review)
Friday, September 18 - 695 cases, 6 deaths
Thursday, September 17 - 829 cases, 9 deaths (including 5 from vital review)
Wednesday, September 16 - 680 cases, 11 deaths (including 5 from vital records review)
Tuesday, September 15 - 571 cases, 11 deaths (including 5 from vital records review)
Monday, September 14 - 1,088 cases, 10 deaths announced in the past two days as the state no longer reports cases on Sundays
Saturday, September 12 - 692 cases, 13 deaths (all identified during a vital records review)