LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – One day after the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine manufactured by Pfizer at their Portage facility were administered to healthcare workers, Michigan’s top health official said the key metrics showing how the illness is spreading around the state are improving.
At a press briefing in Lansing, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun revealed that newly confirmed cases, hospitalizations, and the percentage of positive cases all are down this month.
“This is a great week for Michigan. Our metrics for how we track COVID-19 are improving,” Khaldun said.
The rate of newly confirmed coronavirus cases statewide has declined for 22 straight days and is dropping in all regions of the state. Hospitalizations have dropped more than 10% since peaking at more than 4,300 on December 14, while the percentage of positive tests dropped from over 14% to about 12%.
“We are cautiously optimistic that there won’t be a post Thanksgiving spike,” Khaldun said, and she expects COVID-19 statistics will continue dropping as more people receive the vaccine.
“The arrival of vaccines in so important. It means 2021 will be a better year and the end of the pandemic is coming.”
However, she said everyone, including people who get the vaccine, needs to continue wearing face coverings, avoiding gatherings, practicing social distancing and washing hands often. Khaldun said medical researchers are still studying whether they can spread COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released additional guidance on wearing face coverings Tuesday. The advice includes wearing only a multi-layer cloth mask or medical grade mask that fits snugly over the nose and mouth.
Khaldun said neck gaiters and other loose fitting face coverings are not as useful.
