On the same day Michigan’s fourth coronavirus surge hit a grim new milestone, shattering the record highest case rate thus far in the pandemic, the state health department issued an advisory imploring everyone ages 2 and older to wear masks indoors.
“Today, we are at another crucial point,” Elizabeth Hertel, director of the state Department of Health and Human Services, said Friday in announcing the public health advisory that recommends — but does not mandate — mask wearing. “We have a chance to turn the tide and these rising numbers around. … Whether or not we do will depend on everyone in Michigan.”
Hertel urged people to wear masks anytime they’re indoors with people who don’t live in their households and recommended that schools, businesses and other establishments put in place policies requiring masks for all who enter — whether they’re customers, students, contractors, or employees.
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The announcement comes as pandemic trends grow increasingly dire, and Michigan remains the worst coronavirus hot spot in the nation.
As many as 1 in 10 cases in the U.S. are now from Michigan, a Free Press analysis of federal data shows, though the state’s population only accounts for about 3% of the overall U.S. population.
Michigan now has the highest seven-day case rate of 2021, 589.3 cases per 100,000 people, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — nearly double that of Ohio’s.
The seven-day average of new daily cases in Michigan reached 7,654 on Friday — that’s the highest it’s ever been — as the percentage of positive tests continues to climb, averaging 17% for the seven-day period of Nov. 12-18.
The death toll is rising, too. An average of 66 Michiganders have died from the virus each day in the last week.
Hospital leaders say they’re buckling under the strain.
“Many of us have had to curtail services, such as deferring surgeries and other important procedures and redeploy staff,” said Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, president of Spectrum Health West Michigan. “If you imagine hospital staff for the last year, we’ve been dealing with a lot of non-COVID care and increasing amounts of COVID during the surges. It’s almost like we’re running a marathon and the finish line keeps pushing back.”
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On Friday, 3,474 Michiganders were hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 — a 62% increase since Nov. 1, according to state data.
The majority of the sickest COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated, Elmouchi said.
“We are seeing healthy young people in our hospitals, very sick on ventilators and even dying with COVID. The vaccines absolutely work and we absolutely, without a doubt, would recommend everyone to reconsider if you haven’t been vaccinated.
“And if you haven’t been boosted, and you’re eligible, by all means, please get a boost.”
Amid evidence of waning immunity, federal regulators opened eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine boosters Friday to all U.S. adults. Anyone whose last dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine was at least six months ago is eligible now, as is anyone whose only dose of a Johnson & Johnson vaccine was at least two months ago.
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical officer, said predicting how long this surge might last or whether it will continue to worsen is difficult.
“We’re clearly dealing with a variant that is more transmissible and it’s (the) holiday season, (with) people gathering indoors, and that can lead to increased transmission.
“It really depends on people’s behavior. I think if we can change behavior, and if we can get people to start masking and increase those vaccination rates, we have hope of this ending soon. If behavior doesn’t change, I think we’re in for a very rough winter season.”
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State health leaders chose to recommend masks with the advisory, rather than a mask mandate, Hertel said, because “we’ve all been armed with the information that we think we need to have in order to keep people safe.
“So at this point, we feel that it is most prudent to make sure that people are aware of how serious this COVID surge is right now, and give them the ability and information to take steps to protect themselves and others through a public health advisory.”
Since June, when Hertel and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lifted all pandemic restrictions in the state — including mask requirements, the strategy has shifted to stressing personal responsibility around taking COVID-19 vaccines, wearing masks and taking other steps to reduce risk of transmission. They’ve urged local school districts and health departments to set their own mask requirements as well.
Despite ad campaigns and incentives, including a statewide lottery, Michigan’s COVID-19 vaccination rate has stagnated in recent months. About 54.2% of the state’s total population is now fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. That’s lower than the overall U.S. vaccination rate of 58.9%.
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Nicholas Derusha, president of the Michigan Association for Local Public Health, said Friday that widening access to COVID-19 vaccines, along with better treatments, changes the equation when it comes to the public health response.
“It is a confusing time and these rates are very concerning,” Derusha said in a statement. “Local health leaders are watching the numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths very carefully as we move into the winter holiday season.
“However … the key difference between this year and last year is the growing list of tools we have to prevent and treat COVID-19. Anyone over age 5 is eligible for a free vaccine, and we strongly encourage it. Booster shots will soon be readily available for all adults, and we strongly encourage getting one of those as well. There is a growing toolbox of therapeutics to treat and manage COVID-19 cases.
“In short, people this year are in a much better position to take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones. So, the growing trend around Michigan sees local health officers moving from mandates to advisories.”
Hertel wouldn’t say Friday what threshold of coronavirus cases or hospitalizations might trigger a new mask mandate statewide or for K-12 schools.
“Unfortunately, I can’t predict the future,” she said. “And what we’ve all learned is that we really can’t predict the future when it comes to COVID-19.
“We’ll continue to watch case rates and other indicators very closely and make determinations as we see what transpires across the state. However, it is my most sincere hope that Michiganders will take this message very seriously going into the holidays as they start meeting with their close friends and families and the people that they love and do everything that they can to protect themselves and the people that they are around.”
Derusha said protecting yourself and others from the virus comes own to “the same common-sense steps” that have been recommended since the beginning.
“If you plan to be indoors in a crowded place for a significant length of time, use a mask,” he said. “Wash your hands frequently. If you’re not feeling well, stay home. If you believe you have COVID-19, get tested immediately and seek treatment early. If you have not been vaccinated, consult your health professional about whether you should. If you are eligible for a booster, get one.”
Contact Kristen Jordan Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kristenshamus.
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