Michigan reports more than 1,000 coronavirus cases in day for first time in 2 weeks

Meredith Spelbring
Detroit Free Press

Michigan coronavirus case counts now near the mark 50,000 mark. 

State officials reported an additional 1,191 cases Thursday, with 73 new deaths. Total case count in Michigan is now 49,582, with 4,787 deaths. 

The 1,191 new cases reported Thursday make it the first day more than 1,000 new cases have been reported since April 29. Michigan has reported fewer than 500 new coronavirus cases the previous five days. 

The increase in reported cases is due to a backlog of test results as well as an increase in testing at correctional facilities statewide, according to health officials. 

Almost half of the deaths reported Thursday — 35 of 73 — were from a health officials' reviewed death certificates and were not in the 24-hour reporting period. 

Detroit remains the hardest-hit area in Michigan, surpassing 10,000 cases. Detroit now has 10,164 cases and 1,236 confirmed deaths. Wayne County has 8,606 cases with 947 deaths. Wayne County and Detroit data are reported separately. 

Macomb County accounts for 6,232 confirmed cases and 728 deaths. Oakland has 7,952 cases and 888 deaths. 

The Michigan Department of Corrections reports 2,171 cases with 56 deaths, more deaths than any other state prison system nationwide. The Federal Correctional Institute reports 115 cases with three deaths. 

The state case fatality rate is currently 10%. The state reported a total of 22,686 people have recovered from COVID-19 as of May 8. This is defined as alive 30 days post-onset from coronavirus.

According to state data, the average age of death is 75.2 years old. The highest percentage of cases is those aged 50-59 at 18% of all cases, while the highest death rate is 80 or older at 42%. The oldest known coronavirus fatality was 107 years old, the youngest 5 years old.

Black residents make up 32% of the total coronavirus cases and 41% of the fatality rate, but are just 14% of the total population. White residents make up 35% of the cases and 50% of the deaths.

State data show 18% of cases and 4% of deaths involved people of an unknown race. 

Woman total 53% of the cases and 47% of the deaths. Men make up 46% of the cases and 53% of the deaths. 

Meredith Spelbring is a news intern with the Detroit Free Press. Reach her at mspelbring@freepress.com or on Twitter @mere0415.