DETROIT (FOX 2) - On Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, the state of Michigan reported 1,601 cases of COVID-19 and 221 deaths linked to the virus. The deaths announced today includes 205 deaths identified during a Vital Records review.
That brings Michigan's total to 548,060 cases and 14,070 deaths.
As evidence piles up about the U.S. lacking a sufficient number of vaccines, Michigan released its own preliminary plan for distributing doses around the state. It also confirmed it would be receiving an extra 60,000 doses from CVS and Walgreen's as a stopgap so local health departments can continue inoculating elderly residents and essential workers.
On Monday, Jan. 11, the state began rolling out more vaccines to people over the age of 65, teachers, police, and more essential workers. In Michigan, every county is in charge of setting up appointments and distributing the vaccine as the supply from Pfizer and Moderna grows.
Most counties have said they don't have the supply necessary but both pharmaceutical companies are working to create and ship more of the doses to every state.
RESTAURANTS TO REOPEN ON FEB. 1
On Friday, Jan. 22, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced it was loosening some restrictions on COVID-19 orders to allow restaurants to resume indoor dining on Feb. 1 at 25% capacity and with a 10 p.m. curfew.
Additionally, the new order allows movie theaters to reopen concessions
After declines in several metrics, including a 70% reduction in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per million, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and MDHHS Director Robert Gordon said it was time to reopen restaurants.
"The pause has worked. The efforts we have made together to protect our families, frontline workers and hospitals have dramatically reduced cases and we have saved lives," said Whitmer in a press release.
The health department's order also continues a temporary ban on contact sports indoors. It also allows stadiums to seat 500 people in venues with a capacity of 10,000 people. Stadiums that seat less than 10,000 are allowed to be at 20% or up to 250 people.
GOV. WHITMER CALLS FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING OPTION BY MARCH 1
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the state health department announced Friday they are strongly encouraging school districts to offer in-person learning to pre-k12 students by March 1.
The state said its goal is to have all districts in the state offering learning in the classroom by no later than the beginning of March.
The governor's encouragement comes after she announced plans to move Michigan into phase 2 of its vaccine administration, which makes educators like teachers eligible for inoculation.
MICHIGAN ENTERS NEXT PHASE OF VACCINATIONS
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday that the state is moving on to its next phase of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine. This means Michiganders over 65, frontline workers, essential first responders, and teachers will be eligible to get the shot beginning Jan. 11, 2021.
All counties may begin vaccinating residents over age 65 and seniors are urged to visit Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine to find local health departments and other local vaccine clinics near them that are ready to book appointments.
Eligible essential workers, teachers and childcare workers will be notified by their employers about vaccine clinic dates and locations. Eligible individuals should not go to any of the clinics without an appointment.
Phases are as follows:
Phase 1A: Paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home as well as residents in long term care facilities.
Phase 1B: Persons 75 years of age or older and frontline essential workers in critical infrastructure.
Phase 1C: Individuals 16 years of age or older at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 infection and some other essential workers whose position impacts life, safety and protection during the COVID-19 response.
Phase 2: Individuals 16 years of age or older.
CONTACT TRACING
Michigan officials are also urging people to download the MI COVID Alert app to help notify of possible exposure and with 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.
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.
SCHOOL 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.
PREVIOUS DAILY COVID-19 CASE COUNTS AND DEATHS
- Friday, Jan. 22 - 2,157 cases, 17 deaths
- Thursday, Jan. 21 - 2,165 cases, 148 deaths (128 from a review of vital records)
- Wednesday, Jan. 20 - 2,031 cases, 40 deaths
- Tuesday, Jan. 19 - 1,738 cases, 41 deaths
- Monday, Jan. 18 - 2,843 cases, 20 deaths over two days as the state no longer reports data on Sundays
- Saturday, Jan. 16 - 1,932 cases, 103 (90 from vital records review)
- Friday, Jan. 15- 2,598 cases, 29 deaths
- Wednesday, Jan. 13 - 2,694 cases, 32 deaths
- Tuesday, Jan. 12 - 1,994 cases, 100 deaths (50 from vital records review)
- Monday, Jan. 11 - 4,536 cases, 47 deaths over two days
- Saturday, Jan. 9 - 2,706 cases, 222 deaths (206 from vital records review)
- Friday, Jan. 8 - 3,625 cases, 38 deaths
- Thursday, Jan. 7 - 4,015 cases, 176 more deaths (138 from vital records review)
- Wednesday, Jan. 6 - 4,326 cases, 51 deaths
- Tuesday, Jan. 5 - 2,291 cases, 189 more deaths on Tuesday (117 from vital records review)
- Monday, Jan. 4 - 4,992 cases, 80 deaths over two days as the state no longer reports data on Sundays
- Saturday, Jan. 2 - 8,983 cases, 265 deaths (includes data over three days)
- Saturday, Dec. 19 (2020) - 3,896 cases, 187 deaths (155 from vital records review)
- Friday, Dec. 18 (2020) - 4,180 cases, 66 deaths
- Thursday, Dec. 17 (2020) - 4,024 cases, 190 deaths (125 from vital record review)
- Wednesday, Dec. 16 (2020) - 4,037 cases, 83 deaths
- Tuesday, Dec. 15 (2020) - 4,730 cases, 183 deaths (71 from vital records review)
- Monday, Dec. 14 (2020) - 7,205 cases, 90 deaths over two days as the state no longer reposts data on Sundays
- Saturday, Dec. 12 (2020) - 4,486 cases, 206 deaths (176 from vital records review)
- Friday, Dec. 11 (2020) - 5,157 cases, 61 deaths
- Thursday, Dec. 10 (2020) - 5,937 cases, 182 deaths (132 from vital records review)
- Wednesday, Dec. 9 (2020) - 4,905 cases, 75 deaths
- Tuesday, Dec. 8 (2020) - 5,909 cases, 191 deaths (79 from vital records review)
- Monday, Dec. 7 (2020) - 9,350 cases, 93 deaths over two days as the state no longer reports cases on Sundays
- Thursday, Dec. 3 (2020) - 7,146 new cases, 175 deaths (112 from vital records review)
- Wednesday, Dec. 2 (2020) - 6,955 new cases, 81 deaths