Michigan COVID-19 deaths pass 40,000, a pandemic update

I wrote "I'm sure I'll return to the 'tripledemic'" at the end of CNBC explains 'Why Everyone Is Getting Sick' during this year's flu season and WXYZ uploaded two videos that helped me keep my promise. Both reported "Michigan COVID-19 deaths surpass 40,000." Here is the earlier one from last night.

On Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced 8,831 new cases of COVID-19 and 113 additional deaths from the last week. That brings the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the state to 40,085 since the pandemic began.

The second segment from this morning had the same prerecorded interviews, but different commentary and a more comprehensive description.

With Thanksgiving in the rearview and Christmas around the corner, Michigan is juggling a trifecta when it comes to winter viruses. Right now the flu, RSV, and COVID are circulating around the country. According to the CDC map, Michigan is still in the green with low cases but these numbers were taken before the Thanksgiving holiday. Nonetheless, just this week, the state hit a grim milestone when it comes to COVID. According to the state, 40,000 Michiganders have lost their lives to the virus. “It makes me very sad because 40,000 is a huge, huge number," Natasha Ristovski of metro Detroit said. Ristovski lost her father to COVID two years today. “It all happened so very fast and not just to my family, but all the other families because I know how much it hurts losing someone so close to you,” she said.

That's the local picture here in Michigan. ABC News reported on the national situation, with an emphasis on the New York City area, in Health officials fear holiday 'tripledemic' surge l GMA.

Experts fear the holidays may worsen the surge of COVID, flu and RSV, with some hospitals and urgent cares already facing a crush of patients.

As I wrote in February, "the virus isn't done with us even though a lot [of people] are acting as if they're done with it."

That concludes November's blogging, but the health coverage will continue tomorrow on World AIDS Day. In the meantime, may my readers stay safe and healthy!