Here’s what to know Jan. 24, 2022 -

DETROIT – Michigan reported 33,551 new cases of COVID-19 and 210 virus-related deaths Friday — an average of 16,775.5 cases over a two-day period.

The deaths announced Friday include 79 identified during a Vital Records review.

Friday’s update brings the total number of confirmed COVID cases in Michigan to 1,866,267, including 29,190 deaths. These numbers are up from 1,832,716 cases and 28,980 deaths, as of Wednesday.

Testing has increased to around 50,000 to 60,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the 7-day positive rate at 32.24% as of Jan. 21. Hospitalizations are still near record-high levels.

The state’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 17,080 on Jan. 21. The 7-day death average was 105 on Friday, Jan. 21. The state’s fatality rate is 1.7%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 455,000 on Jan. 21.

Michigan has reported more than 11.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Jan. 20, with 69.3% of 16+ residents having received at least one dose, while 63.4% of 16+ residents are considered fully vaccinated.

Across Michigan’s entire population, 64.8% have received at least one COVID vaccine dose.

According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 68 million cases have been reported in the U.S., with more than 858,100 deaths reported from the virus. Globally, more than 9.7 billion vaccine doses have been administered, including more than 527 million doses in the U.S. alone.

Worldwide, more than 338 million people have been confirmed infected and more than 5.5 million have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, because of limited testing, different ways nations count the dead and deliberate under-reporting by some governments.

Coronavirus headlines:

COVID cases and deaths trends by Michigan county

VIEW: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schools

Michigan hospital officials cite first signs of early progress since COVID omicron surge

Jan. 19, 2022: For the first time since the start of the COVID omicron surge in Michigan, hospital officials with the Henry Ford Health System said they’re starting to see some signs of early progress.

“These trends are aligning and pointing in the right direction,” said Bob Riney, president of health care operations and COO at Henry Ford Health.

Read here.

Michigan COVID hospitalizations rise above previous record

Jan. 10, 2022: Following a record-breaking week of new COVID-19 cases in Michigan, statewide hospitalizations are at a new record-high.

According to MDHHS data, 4,901 inpatients were in hospitals statewide as of Jan. 10 with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, breaking the previous record of 4,721, set on Dec. 12, 2021.

The number of pediatric hospitalizations dropped to 108 after reaching 130 last week.

The number of inpatients in critical care or on ventilators remained near the same levels from last week, but is a lagging indicator. As of Jan. 10, 857 inpatients were in critical care and 539 were on a ventilator.

Michigan will update COVID quarantine guidance to match CDC

Michigan’s health agency says it’s updating guidance for COVID-19 quarantine to match new CDC recommendations.

On Dec. 29, MDHHS said it would keep its previous guidelines in place while it reviewed the new CDC guidelines, which shortens isolation periods for most, even with a positive COVID test. On Dec. 31, officials said the state will be following the new CDC guidance.

The CDC is recommending a shortening of the quarantine and isolation duration for those who aren’t vaccinated or haven’t received their booster to five days followed by an additional five days of wearing a well-fitting mask around others. The updated guidance is specific to the general public.

11 takeaways from Whitmer’s first COVID briefing since June

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer held a COVID briefing Tuesday for the first time since June, answering questions about whether this surge warrants new mandates and delivering specific messages for both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents.

“We’re in for another tough 4-6 weeks, is what all the experts are projecting, with the omicron variant spreading rapidly across the country,” Whitmer said.

Whitmer spoke from the Hispanic Center in Grand Rapids. She was joined by Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Read here.

Many struggle to find at-home COVID tests in Michigan as demand skyrockets

Most stores and websites are sold out of at-home COVID-19 tests.

Local 4′s Consumer Investigator Hank Winchester went out with hidden cameras to search for tests.

When you walk the aisles of almost any pharmacy in Metro Detroit in search of an at-home COVID test, you’re likely to find a sign indicating they’re sold out.

Michigan COVID-19 daily reported cases since Dec. 1: