Michigan Reports 1,476 New Coronavirus Cases, 79 More Deaths

MICHIGAN — Michigan has added 1,476 new cases of the coronavirus and 79 additional deaths attributed to the respiratory illness, state health officials reported Tuesday.

The new figures bring the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Michigan to 552,556. The coronavirus death toll in Michigan is now at 14,405, according to data provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Michigan added 3,011 new COVID-19 cases and 35 COVID-19 deaths Monday. More than 463,000 people in Michigan have recovered from the coronavirus, according to state health officials.

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In addition to the confirmed coronavirus cases reported this year, Michigan also has been dealing with a new, faster-spreading variant of the virus called B.1.1.7. Officials on Monday said the state has confirmed at least 17 cases of the new variant, including 13 cases in Washtenaw County and four in Wayne County.

"This variant is more easily spread from person to person, and that means that for any given case it will likely infect more people and lead to more spread," said Joneigh Khaldun, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services chief medical executive. "This means probably more cases overall, more hospitalizations and deaths."

Meanwhile, there continues to be an ongoing debate between high school student-athletes and district officials in Michigan regarding when winter sports should begin.

Contact sports in Michigan also were set to continue on Feb. 1, but an executive order issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and announced by the governor on Friday that allowed Michigan bars and restaurants to reopen to limited indoor service also pushed the start of basketball, hockey, wrestling and competitive cheer to Feb. 21.

In response, many people have taken to social media to urge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to allow winter sports to begin sooner.