LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Michigan’s top medical executive says she is seeing a better trend in the state in regard to COVID-19, saying the state’s spread rate seems to be slowing, but residents must not let down their guards.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun at a press briefing in Lansing Tuesday also said she is concerned about what the Thanksgiving holiday may have done to help spread the virus. “Any increases in cases from a Thanksgiving holiday we would not expect to see for two to three weeks in our data. If you did gather or travel during Thanksgiving, you should really make sure you’re trying to stay away from others as much as possible for 14 days after you traveled.”
State officials say the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Michigan has risen to 366,242 as of Tuesday, including 9,324 deaths.
Tuesday’s update represents 5,793 new cases and 190 additional deaths, including 30 from Vital Records review.
“We’re cautiously optimistic, based on what we are seeing more people started doing, doing the right thing towards the beginning of November. That means wearing masks at gatherings and maintaining six feet of distance from others,” said Khaldun. “And we think that is contributing to the decrease in our rate of rise in cases.”