Where Michigan stands with COVID-19 heading into Thanksgiving

Staying safe while enjoying the holidays - amid the pandemic

FOX 2 asked several people about who they’ll spend the holidays with - and the answers ranged from just immediate family to possibly visiting friends in East Lansing.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - COVID-19 cases in Michigan are surging heading into Thanksgiving week.

This spike in cases and an increase in hospitalizations is leading to concerns among health officials with holiday celebrations just days away.

This led Detroit's Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo to issue guidance for safely gathering during the holiday season.

Here's the latest COVID updates in Michigan:

Masks recommended regardless of vaccination status

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued an advisory Friday recommending all people wear face masks at indoor gatherings.

The advisory includes all people older than 2 regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

It also recommends that businesses have policies requiring employees and customers to wear masks.

State leads nation in COVID cases

CDC data released Tuesday shows that Michigan has the most COVID-19 cases in the United States.

That data showed that Michigan had more than 50,311 new COVID-19 cases in the past week, which is 503.8 cases per 100,000. On Friday, that number was 589 cases per 100,000.

Michigan last led the nation in cases in April.

As of Thursday, Michigan has had 220 deaths in the past seven days.

Michigan once again faces highest COVID-19 case rate in the nation

The state of Michigan has the highest COVID-19 case rate in the nation but state leaders say a shutdown is not likely.

Many states, including Michigan, are classified as having a high level of community transmission.

California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, and Washington D.C. are classified as having substantial levels of community transmission.

Two states, Florida and Hawaii, have moderate levels of community transmission.

Hospitalizations increase

Hospitals across the state are seeing a spike in hospitalizations.

In the past three weeks, Henry Ford says its hospital system has seen a 60% rise in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID.

"We have 330 patients with COVID hospitalized across our five hospitals. We have another 35 patients with COVID or suspected Covid," said the Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for the Henry Ford Health System, Dr. Adnan Munkarah. "Our highest number of COVID patients are in Henry Ford Macomb Hospital. That has 81 patients with COVID."

Those Henry Ford numbers were as of Tuesday.

Henry Ford faces difficult choices as hospitals fill up again

Once again, Michigan is leading the nation in COVID-19 cases and Henry Ford Health System said they've had to make some cuts on some procedures as Covid cases are putting the hospital at capacity.

Earlier this month Traverse City-based Munson Healthcare moved its pandemic response to "red."

"It’s the first time in Munson Healthcare history that we made that decision," Chief Medical Officer Christine Nefcy. "Of course, this is the first pandemic we’ve all dealt with in 100 years as well."

Beaumont Health also reported an influx in COVID-19 patients. Last week, Chief Medical officer Dr. Nicholas Gilpin said the current surge could last 4-5 months.

West Michigan's Spectrum Health reported a 40% increase in COVID-19 patients since Nov. 1.

Dr. Anthony Fauci said he is concerned about the number of vaccinated people being hospitalized in the U.S., noting that they have not gotten booster shots.

"What we’re starting to see now is an uptick in hospitalizations among people who’ve been vaccinated but not boosted," he said Tuesday. "It’s a significant proportion, but not the majority by any means."

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FDA approves booster for all adults

On Friday, the FDA approved COVID-19 booster shots for all people 18 and older.

This would allow for adults to choose to have the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine six months after their last dose. Boosters can be mixed or matched with the original vaccine received.

Before this can happen, though, the CDC needs to agree to expand the boosters to healthy young adults.

CDC scientific advisers are set to debate alter Friday.

Doctors say COVID-19 booster shot is best way for the most vulnerable among us, to be protected

The Covid booster shot is available to people 65 and older, people with chronic medical conditions and those who work in situations where there’s high-risk Covid exposure.

COVID outbreaks in schools

Michigan reports new COVID outbreaks in school each Monday.

The state defines a COVID school outbreak as a school that has "multiple cases comprising at least 10% of students, teachers, or staff, within a specified core group" or at least three cases within 14 days of each other that did not have contact outside of school.

This week, the state reported nearly 90 new outbreaks.

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During the walk-out, students spoke up about Principal Damian Perry and what they consider a lack of sanitizing, safety protocols and transparency at the school.