MI Hospital Leaders Warn Of Growing Coronavirus Hospitalizations

MICHIGAN — Health officials from the state of Michigan and three of the state's largest health systems held a virtual news conference Thursday morning, warning residents of a recent surge in coronavirus cases that have also prompted increased pressure on hospitals across the state.

The officials told residents to take precautions against the virus, which has already infected a confirmed 229,000 Michiganders, while killing ore than 7,700, according to state health leaders. Such precautions include limiting gatherings, practicing good hygiene and wearing masks.

In recent weeks, hospitals across the entire state have seen significant increases in coronavirus hospitalizations, officials said. DTE Executive Chairman Gerry Anderson said a slowdown is "nowhere in sight."

Don't miss important updates from health and government officials on the impact of the coronavirus in Michigan. Sign up for Patch's daily newsletters and email alerts.

"The state is now in a phase of exponential increases in both COIVD-19 cases and hospitalizations," Anderson said. "A 40 percent weekly increase implies cases double every two-to-two-and-a-half weeks."

Michigan has seen record-breaking coronavirus numbers in addition to a surge in hospitalizations from the virus in recent weeks. Michigan has seen a 215 percent spike in hospitalizations related to the virus in the past 26 days, officials said. Meanwhile, there has also been a 146 percent increase in patients requiring ventilators, as well as a 137 percent increase in patients in hospital ICUs during that same span.

Beaumont Health CEO John Fox said the spread of the coronavirus has been accelerating and also warned over an increase in patient numbers at his hospitals. Currently, he said, Beaumont has more than 400 in-patient COVID-19 cases.

"Our in-patient volume has now tripled in less than 30 days — and again that is accelerating," he said.

Many hospitals in the state have begun reimplementing restrictions on visitors.

Beaumont hospitals in Royal Oak, Troy and Grosse Pointe began limiting the visitation of family and friends at its hospitals Tuesday as the number of coronavirus cases in the region continue to rise.

"We've had a notable rise in COVID-19 cases in metro Detroit," said Dr. Nick Gilpin, medical director of Infection Prevention and Epidemiology for Beaumont Health at the time. "Community positivity rates have jumped to 8-11% in the area. Last spring, we took care of the most COVID-19 patients in the state and we know that taking difficult steps like restricting visitors will help us keep our patients and our staff safe."

Henry Ford Health System became the latest southeast Michigan hospital adjusting its visitor policies amid a recent surge in new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.

Schools across the state that had begun face-to-face instruction are, in some instances, returning to virtual classes as cases spike. Detroit Public Schools announced Thursday they would be one of them.

"The District relied on science and the data to reopen schools for in person learning this summer and fall and relied on the same criterium to decide that it was no longer safe for our students and employees to work in an in person school environment," Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said.