HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — A seventh COVID-19 death has been reported in Allegan County and a 32nd death has been recorded in Ottawa County on Satuday, May 23, 2020.
The Ottawa County patient was a woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions, according to county officials. Allegan County officials do not release details about people who die from COVID-19.
Allegan County health offiicals indicate more than 3,000 tests have been completed, with 204 residents getting positive results; 31 people with probable cases of the virus; and 21 hospitalized. So far, 108 people are considered recovered.
In Ottawa County, where 30 children aged 9 or younger have been diagnosed with the virus, nearly 55 people are hospitalized and 241 are considered recovered.
Ottawa County’s dashboard has expanded, providing more information about the cases being documented.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) officials on Saturday announced in an email to media a change in the way COVID-19 testing data will be reported, to increase accuracy.
This chage is refleced on the state’s website as results of two different types of tests – serology and diagnostic. Michigan – along with some other states – had not separated data for diagnostic and serology tests.
Data on serology testing – also known as antibody testing – is now reported separately from the other testing numbers. Currently, serology testing can be used to help determine whether someone has ever had COVID-19, while traditional viral diagnostic tests determine if someone has active disease.
“Accuracy and transparency are paramount as we continue to respond to this pandemic,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “We continue to expand and improve data reporting to make sure the public understands where their community stands with the COVID-19 outbreak.”
State officials say the change change does not affect the number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan, but does lower the percentage of positive tests over the last nine days – when serology testing became more common.
Michigan’s COVID-19 website now shows results for 512,891 total tests reported to the state – with 450,918 diagnostic test results and 61,973 serology results.
Approximately 12 percent of Michigan’s tests overall have been serology tests; about 60 percent of those have been from the past nine days.
Information around the COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
