Michigan reports nearly 1,000 new cases of COVID-19, citing lab backlog

Michigan confirmed 996 new cases of the disease COVID-19 on Wednesday, including about 300 older cases from a backlog of test results from a commercial lab. 

The overall case tally surpassed 80,000 known cases Wednesday, reaching 80,172 cases and a death count of 6,172, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. When probable cases are added, the total is 88,974 cases and 6,422 deaths.

Michigan also reported about 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday due to a backlog in its system. 

The seven-day average of new coronavirus cases in the state increased to 703 a day through Wednesday compared with a 579 daily average for the previous seven-day period, according to state data.

The state Department of Health and Human Services also reported two additional deaths Wednesday. The state health department last week reported 3,798 cases and 48 deaths, the second highest total in nine weeks.

The percentage of positive coronavirus tests in Michigan has been gradually increasing since June. The positivity rate was reported at 3.2% Tuesday. 

Hospitalizations due to the disease are about the same as two weeks ago, with hospitals reporting 442 COVID inpatients statewide Tuesday, including 211 in critical care and 135 on ventilators.

That's a 3% increase in inpatients over two weeks ago when hospitals reported 428 inpatients with COVID-19, 204 in critical care and 107 on ventilators. Michigan had 3,900 hospitalized with the disease in mid-April.

Michigan ranks No. 14 among the states for its number of COVID-19 cases and seventh for the number of deaths linked to the virus, according to tracking by Johns Hopkins University.

mburke@detroitnews.com