Michigan Adds 2,698 New Coronavirus Cases, 139 Deaths Thursday

MICHIGAN — Michigan added 2,698 new cases of the coronavirus and 139 more COVID-19 deaths Thursday, state health officials said.

Thursday's updated figures for Michigan bring the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 531,004. Meanwhile, after adding nearly 140 new COVID-19 deaths Thursday — 107 of which were identified through a records review and occurred previously — the coronavirus death toll in the state sits at 13,672.

The state reported 2,694 new cases of the coronavirus and 32 more deaths Wednesday. On Saturday, state health officials reported that 415,079 people in Michigan had recovered from the virus.

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Thursday's numbers come a day after the state announced it will again allow indoor dining at restaurants and bars beginning Feb. 1, albeit with mask requirements, capacity limits and a curfew.

State officials also said that a new Michigan Department of Health and Human Services order will allow indoor group exercises and noncontact sports to resume in Michigan on Saturday.

The state reached its decision to begin allowing noncontact sports and indoor group exercises after state health officials said they identified a stabilization or decline in hospital capacity, overall case rates and positivity rates.

Michigan officials on Wednesday discovered that one of its highest-ranking Republicans had been to the Capitol after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarkdale), who has been critical of many safety measures put in place in Michigan due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, tested positive for the coronavirus on Dec. 23, according to multiple reports Wednesday. He later released a statement that he had been exposed to the virus on Dec. 19, and was in the State Capitol on Dec. 21.