Michigan Reaches 10,000 Coronavirus Deaths Tuesday

MICHIGAN — More than 10,000 deaths have been linked to the coronavirus in Michigan, state health officials announced Tuesday during their daily update on coronavirus-related data.

The state reported 191 new COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, just shy of Michigan's deadliest single-day coronavirus report. The influx in new coronavirus deaths brings the state's COVID-19 death toll to 10,138, according to state data.

Michigan also reported 5,909 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state to 410,295.

More than 197,000 people in Michigan have recovered from the coronavirus, state health officials said Saturday.

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Tuesday that she was ordering U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and upon all public buildings and grounds across the state to be lowered to half-staff for 10 days — representing one day per 1,000 deaths.

“Our nation is grieving alongside each of the families who have an empty seat at the dinner table each night or who will be missing family members during the holiday season,” Whitmer said. “Right now, we need to listen to our scientists and medical professionals who are asking us to double down on wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing to prevent an unnecessarily greater loss of life. With a vaccine on the horizon, there is light at the end of the tunnel, but we each need to do our part until then. We will get through this together.”

Tuesday's statewide coronavirus update in Michigan comes after the state on Monday reported that it had reached 400,000 confirmed cases. The high number of cases and concern of spreading the virus has prompted state officials to extend restrictions prohibiting Michiganders from indoor dining and gathering with large numbers of households until Dec. 20.

But on Tuesday, it also led to the cancellation of one of the state's largest sporting events. University of Michigan officials announced Tuesday that the annual matchup between Michigan and its rival Ohio State will not take place as scheduled Saturday.

Michigan cited an increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases and student-athletes in quarantine over the past week in its decision to cancel the game. The university said the decision was made after consulting with medical experts.

Hope remains on the horizon, however, that a COVID-19 vaccine could be distributed soon in the state. The first COVID-19 virus vaccines from Pfizer recently made their way to the U.S. Pfizer's vaccine was just approved in the United Kingdom and is up for emergency use authorization in the United States this week — Cambridge-based Moderna's vaccine is hoping for the same the following week.

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Whitmer said Monday that Michiganders need to keep battling against the spread of the coronavirus until the vaccine is readily available, but noted that time is near.

"We are on the brink of incredible breakthroughs when it comes to vaccines," Whitmer said during a news conference Monday. "We are closer than ever to the day that we begin distributing an effective and safe vaccine. And we've got to do our part to protect one another until we eliminate COVID-19 once and for all."