MI Has The Highest COVID-19 Hospitalization Rate In The Country

MICHIGAN — Although Michigan's COVID-19 hospitalization rate fell for the first since seeing record highs in late November, the state still leads the nation with COVID-19 patients in hospitals.

4,697 people in Michigan were hospitalized with COVID-19, which amounts to a rate of 47 per 100,000 residents, according to data tracked by The New York Times.

The data also showed several other midwestern states with similar COVID-19 hospitalization rates. Indiana was second with a rate of 44 and Ohio third with a rate 43.

The New York Times data further showed Michigan averaging 6,543 COVID-19 cases per day, which is also amount the highest in the nation. However, that number number was a 4% decrease over the past 14 days.

The omicron coronavirus variant has been detected in Michigan and already makes up 2 percent of COVID-19 cases in a region that includes Michigan, heath officials said.

From Jan. 15 to Dec. 3, 85.1% of COVID-19 cases, 88.1% of hospitalizations and 85.5% of deaths were among individuals who were not fully vaccinated, state health officials said Friday when encouraging residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19, as Michigan’s health care systems continue to be overburdened with COVID-19 patients, a majority of which are unvaccinated.

"We all need to do our part to get vaccinated and boosted to keep ourselves, our families and our neighbors safe," MDHHS chief medical executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian said. "In addition to getting vaccinated, it is important to maintain your routine medical care so that any potential illness gets detected early and can be much more manageable. We urge Michiganders to continue seeking medical care but avoid emergency departments unless they have a life-threatening condition. If you don’t have a primary care provider, now is a great time to find one through contact with your local health care system."