Michigan has passed another grim milestone in its battle with COVID-19.
State officials Thursday confirmed that more than 2,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Michigan.
Michigan’s coronavirus death toll now stand at 2,093 after state health officials added another 172 fatalities on Thursday.
Statewide, 29,263 Michiganders have tested positive for the disease, with cases in 76 of Michigan’s 83 counties.
It took less than a month for the state of Michigan to record more than 2000 deaths from COVID-19. More than a quarter of the state’s COVID-19 deaths (546) occurred in the city of Detroit. Mayor Mike Duggan regrets that many Detroit families who’ve lost loved ones have not been able to have funeral.
“We are going to plan a special memorial in this city to remember those who we’ve lost,” Duggan told reporters Thursday. The mayor says it will be a few months before Detroit citizens can get together again.
Thursday’s daily total includes 65 fatalities the state health department gleaned from death certificates which linked the death to COVID-19, but that had not been added to the Michigan Disease Surveillance System records.
According to data from the state, African-Americans continue to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Black Michiganders account for a third of the positive cases and 41% of the fatalities. African-Americans account for only 14% of Michigan’s population.
Age also continues to be a significant factor, with people over the age of 70 comprising 23% of the positive coronavirus cases but 64% of the fatalities.
Women account for a slight majority of the positive test cases (54% to 45%). However, Men account for 57% of the fatalities.
