Please note!

This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.

Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

FACT BRIEF

Are coronavirus cases climbing more rapidly in Michigan than in most of the country?

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

By Lisa Freedland

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YES

Since mid-February, coronavirus infections in Michigan have been climbing, while infection rates in the U.S. as a whole have decreased or at worst held steady. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, Michigan is one of the highest-risk states for COVID-19. Michigan's health department blames more contagious coronavirus variants as a reason for the uptick.

Coronavirus cases have risen 128% in the past two weeks, with approximately 5,400 new cases on average per day in the latest week. As of March 29, 27.8% of Michigan's population had received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, just below the national average of 28.6%, according to Johns Hopkins data.

Michigan seeks to slow the spread without increasing restrictions, and instead work to increase testing, vaccinations and mask usage. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the coronavirus can “come roaring back if we drop our guard.”

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

NPR Coronavirus outbreaks by state

NPR Coronavirus vaccine administration by state

State of Michigan Health department ramps up testing to slow spread of COVID-19

NBC COVID-19 cases spiking again in Michigan

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

Gigafact

Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

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About fact briefs published on Gigafact

Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.