Gerber COVID Inpatient Numbers Rise

Regional Positivity % Takes A Dip But Cases, Deaths Increase and Here Comes Omicron
 
 N3 Note- What we have been posting here each week are facts. Facts and numbers  supplied by our Health Department, the public organization tasked with informing, educating and empowering communities about health issues, and the hospitals who are  charged with delivering necessary medical care, often for acute and complex conditions.
While the folks who are skeptical may cite anecdotal conversations with a medical person they encountered who supposedly knows the “real” story or perhaps might subscribe to the misinformation readily available on social media, we trust the viability of our health care institutions as well as the integrity of those who share the information. 
We trust them because they remain the experts in what has been a constantly evolving base of knowledge about an unprecedented and catastrophic health crisis.  While altering strategies are the appropriate measures taken when new research and information comes to light, the changes have led to suspicion among a populace where suspicion of nearly everything has seemed to become an art form.
This suspicion is not likely to change in any current scenario but neither will our trust in these bastions of health care.
That being said, here are the latest stats from Mr. Powell. 
 
Our jurisdiction’s daily cases per million increased, but the percent positivity has decreased since last update. There was an increase in cases (+62.5%) when comparing the most recent 7 days (12/29-1/4) to the 7 days previous (12/22 - 12/28). There was an increase in deaths (+66.7%) when comparing deaths that occurred in the most recent 7 days to the 7 days previous.  
 
As of today, all of our counties remain in the high transmission level categories. The first Omicron variant in our jurisdiction was identified in Newaygo County, and there are currently 839 confirmed Delta variants in our jurisdiction. As of yesterday, there were 9 COVID-19 inpatients in Munson Cadillac, 7 in Munson Grayling, 4 in Munson Manistee, 15 at Spectrum Health Big Rapids, 11 at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial, and 11 at Spectrum Health Ludington. Attached are graphics from the Munson and Spectrum System websites highlighting vaccination status of hospitalized patients both as of 1/4/22.
 Jordan Powell, MPH, Epidemiologist, District Health Department #10