COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Swell in Michigan

The State of Michigan announced 1,012 new coronavirus cases and 52 new deaths on Monday, bringing the total COVID-19 cases in the Midwestern state to 6,498 and death toll to 184.

Wayne County, where the City of Detroit is located, and Oakland County have seen the vast majority of the cases and deaths. The City of Detroit has shown 1,801 total cases and 52 deaths, and other parts of Wayne County have another 1,394 cases and 31 deaths. Oakland County has 1,365 cases and 48 deaths. Macomb County has 728 cases and 27 deaths.

Southeast Michigan, where the counties are located, has been a developing "hot spot" for the coronavirus outbreak and the state now ranks fourth highest in the number of cases (behind New York, New Jersey, and California) and third highest in deaths (behind New York, and Washington). It is unclear why the state has so many cases, but theories range from the automotive-centered economy, which has many ties to China, and the March 10th presidential primary that was held as the virus was starting to spread. The City of Detroit also has a high poverty rate, which could explain the higher-than-average death rate.

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer has had verbal spars with President Trump over the past several days about state and federal responses to the developing crisis. Trump has accused Whitmer of being "way over her head" and not having a clue. He also referred to her in a press conference as 'that woman in Michigan". Whitmer, for her part, said the federal response has been slow and vital medical equipment could not be ordered because it was being directed to the federal government instead. On Monday, Whitmer announced an additional $150 million in new state funding to fight the virus.

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