COVID-19: Lansing area has 37 cases as state total nears 3,000; death toll hits 60
Ken Palmer
LANSING - The number of COVID-19 cases in the Lansing area climbed to at least 37 on Thursday as Michigan's case total neared 3,000 and the death toll from the disease hit 60.
Ingham County reported six new positive tests for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus, pushing the county's total to at least 25.
Clinton County reported two new cases for a total of eight, and Eaton County reported one new positive test for a total of four.
The state on Thursday reported 564 new positive tests for COVID-19, bumping the total number of cases to at least 2,856. The majority were in the metro Detroit area, and all but five of the people who have died from the disease were from that region.
But the numbers are growing rapidly across the state, with positive tests reported in 52 counties as of Thursday.
Livingston County, which didn't see its first case until the middle of last week, had 21 cases as of Thursday, including one death.
Ionia County reported its first two cases, and Shiawassee County had its first positive test for the coronavirus on Thursday, according to state data.
Jackson County's case total rose from 12 on Wednesday to 17 on Thursday,
In west Michigan, Kent County had 41 cases of COVID-19, including one death, while Ottawa County had 18 cases as of Thursday.
Hospitals in southeast Michigan were at or near capacity because of the coronavirus, and some hospitals outside of that area were agreeing to help, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state's chief medical executive.
Khaldun said Michigan is "probably a few weeks out" from hitting a peak in coronavirus cases.
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It's clear that "community spread" is happening in Michigan, officials said.
Ingham County's first cases involved people who had traveled internationally or in the U.S. But officials are now seeing positive tests for people with no history of travel and no known exposure to an infected person, Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail said.
"We just need people to stay home," Vail said.
Likewise, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a news conference on Thursday, that the executive order telling people to stop gathering and keep at least 6 feet from each other at places like grocery stores was a command, not a recommendation.
"It doesn't mean inviting 10 of your closest friends over for dinner. … This disease cannot spread if we're not out and about," she said.
Whitmer said the vast majority of businesses are "doing the right thing" and keeping their workers home. Grocers, restaurants preparing carry-out food, banks and gas stations can remain open.
"If you're not a life-sustaining business, you're in violation of the law and you're needlessly exposing your employees to COVID-19," the governor said. "You're needlessly endangering our communities by putting more pressure on a health care system that is very close to the maximum already."
Most people who catch COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms and recover completely after a couple of weeks. But for some, particularly older adults and those with other health problems, it can cause severe illness, such as pneumonia.
Information from the Associated Press is included in this report.
Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.