Michigan schools reported 22 new COVID-19 outbreaks last week, resulting in the infection of at least 110 students and staff.
Additionally, the state health department has continued to track 203 other outbreaks linked to K-12 schools, in which there has been at least one new case discovered over the last 28 days.
In total, health officials are aware of 225 active school-related outbreaks affecting at least 5,706 students and staff, according to a report published by the state Monday, Jan. 10.
State officials did indicate that holiday breaks, combined with reporting lags and some schools delaying a return to in-person learning, have factored into a reduce total of active outbreaks. The previous weekly outbreaks report included 366 active school-related outbreaks.
An outbreak is defined by the state health department as three or more cases with a link by place and time indicating a shared exposure outside of a household. Earlier in the pandemic, the threshold was two or more cases, but the health department changed it to align with other states.
The largest new outbreaks from last week each involved six students and staff. They were at Apple Tree Cascade in Kent County, Fraser High School in Macomb County, and Owosso High School in Shiawassee.
Below is an online database that allows readers to search outbreak data by school name or by city or county. The number of those infected is a cumulative total since the original outbreak. (Note: Washtenaw County only reports cumulative totals for the past 28 days.)
Can’t see the database above? Click here.
Below is an interactive map showing both new and ongoing outbreaks listed in Monday’s report. You can put your cursor over a dot to see the underlying data.
Can’t see the map? Click here.
The state is no longer reporting outbreaks linked to colleges and universities. A spokesperson for the health department cited Michigan’s high case rates, which make it difficult to keep up with case investigations, as a reason for the reduced reporting.
Vaccination rates remain low for school age children. The 16-19 age bracket leads the way at 52.2% partially vaccinated, followed by the 12-15 bracket at 45.8% and the 5-11 age group at 22.6%.
Outbreak data for K-12 schools includes only cases of people or staff members infected at school or at school-related functions. Those who caught the virus outside of school are not included.
The state notes: “This information does not provide a complete picture of school-related outbreaks in Michigan and the absence of identified outbreaks in an educational institution in no way provides evidence that, in fact, that school is not experiencing an outbreak.”
For more statewide data, visit MLive’s coronavirus data page, here.
If you have any COVID-19 questions that you’d like answered, please submit them to covidquestions@mlive.com to be considered for future MLive reporting.
Read more on MLive:
Michigan reports 102 new COVID-19 outbreaks in Jan. 10 report
Pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations reach record levels in Michigan, reflecting national trend
Michigan’s record COVID cases increase testing demand, but capacity is limited
Scams related to fake COVID-19 testing sites, at-home kits increasing, officials say
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